Yeast Infections: When to Treat Yourself

" I'm Lisa Clark welcome and thanks for joining us for the -- cast our topic today is something that most women are unfortunately quite familiar with. Yeast infections. It's estimated that 50% of college women in the US have been diagnosed with at least one yeast infection by the age of 25. It's usually easy to treat but it's very important to know how to recognize the symptoms and when you should consider a visit to your doctor. Joining me to discuss this topic we have gynecologist doctor Gloria Bachmann thank you. And doctor Joseph because you know thanks to both of you for joining me now let's start with the basics what exactly the yeast infection."

" A yeast infection is an over growth of east into the China. Severe enough to cause the patient to have symptoms."

" So this is a naturally occurring you that's there. All the time absolutely and it just gets out of control correct only when it over growers has become a problem are bad tonight it's. Let's talk about some of the very common causes and there are a lot of them doctor --"

" Well I think first of all diabetes stringent patient has diabetes. Are more prone to have yeast infections of the vagina. Also the patients taking a steroid preparation. For some medical illness that also puts her at higher risk. Antibiotics patients who were taking antibiotics were prolonged period of time. Also at higher risk because you antibiotic kind of suppresses the other floor into the China and allows you used to over grow."

" What about but still I understand can be a cause sometimes the birth control pills and some patients may actually be of course as well."

" So that that certainly is is -- case."

" And doctor Bachmann -- a lot of environmental factors having to do with what women winner a threat lifestyle and if they weren't tight fitting jeans and even toilet habits are wiping from back to front rather than on the back is important. Our bathing suit wet bathing suits all these things are really -- critical and dishing it has been considered problematic for some women yes I think. We do she may do is actually. The kill off organisms in the vagina that's suppress the growth of the each so in -- want should not pollution lest they consult your doctor. And it's also important to mention. That HIV. Can be a contributing factor as well to recurrent yeast infections with the right yes that's correct any time the patient's immune system to -- natural way of fighting -- infections is suppressed such as a patient as HIV. They can also get yeast infection talk about what a woman notices when she's getting yeast infection what are some of the symptoms for those who have not experienced one. Probably the most important sense and that a woman notices at the time that he's not in the throes of it is itching severe itching. Channels feels that she wants to scratch the -- why it's so intense. Another is our theme our readiness of the external area of the vagina. Some cheesy discharges and other common complaint that women have. Earnings irritation. Even intercourse -- are symptoms that women report. Now are these symptoms -- home for every woman that you have seen in your practice. Well I I think the answer is yes but there's variations some nations have more discharge other patients may have more pitching is of the -- area but pretty much the descent into our program like. That the woman has these symptoms that you mentioned that she definitely happy yeast infection. Or could it is something else. Many times women know that they had a vaginal yeast infection if they've been to their position and know exactly what symptoms to expect. With this infection however for women who are having the symptoms the first time. They should absolutely go to their physician. Because these things these symptoms can mean any type of vaginal infection. Or vaginal inflammation for instance for kimonos. Bacterial vaccine doses. These are all men knickers on east bad tonight this -- so getting an accurate diagnosis doctor conceal his first. The first step that we should give us immediately if it's really crucial --"

" One should go to the doctor to -- the symptoms the doctor can then do certain tests. To see if the patient has -- They're causing the symptoms wanted to test his dislike test where the doctor would take some secretions from the vaginal area look at it under a microscope. And for the garden variety series B infection one concede the east under the microscope that makes it diagnosis and then the treatment can be specific. And there's another test that you can do with it's a yeast culture. Well one can also culture east from the vaginal secretions from home but usually patients who have the infection for the first time one does not have to do at the microscopic examination in the doctor's office where once she's used under the microscope is really sufficient. Only the war recurrent or resistant cases but I should one have a vegetable culture --"

" And you most doctors do this is a matter of course if someone comes in with these complaints did they do these cultures or these these slides. Many times positions well. Diagnosed because of the symptoms that the patient comes in with I think it's really important for women to say doctor have you looked. At the secretions. To verify that I have used in fact I think it's a good dialogue on the part of the woman ask the physician. That anti cheer he has looked at the secretions. And made a definitive diagnosis and he's so let's say get the right test and live results come back positive and having yeast infection. What sort of treatment might be undertaken at this point well I think it depends."

" On the patient's preference one can give oral therapy. Wore a vaginal cream Morse a positive Torre to treat the east. Either of which are about the same success rate so it's not that one gets better success in the other."

" In your practice why do some women choose the hill over the Cranium or vice Versa."

" Well there are actually two types of women who -- type of woman who chooses -- pill absolutely will use nothing in the vaginal area and move that she feels that some untouchable area and that she prefer as a pill. Whereas there are women who say I only wanna treat. The area that has infected -- that has been faction and there I want to put something bear and know that it's working rather than having something systemic. Doctor -- when he -- a woman consider treating herself it's certainly easy to do any drugstore carries a number of these products well."

" A patient who has recurrent infection. Where she knows it's recurrent because she's visited her doctor and he's made to diagnoses in the past with a microscope. Slide cast -- prep. And also potentially culture. Those are patients who -- treat themselves. Because they know what they're dealing with. However the patient should not treat yourself if he hasn't had that kind of valuation."

" At least from one or two locations by the doctor and a woman have any doubts or concerns about what her symptoms and may really be even if she thinks. This might be used infection should have went before what do you recommend she should see her doctor absolutely. Bottom line well thank you both for joining us we appreciate your time thank you for joining us for our web cast -- Clark."