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Yeast Infections

Treatment and Prevention of a Common Condition

By Shel Franco

Most health professionals would agree that there is room to speculate about what induces yeast infections in certain women. Many believe that excessive moisture and vaginal irritation are also to blame.

"If I leave my bathing suit on too long after swimming, I get one," says Rebecca Greene* of Erie, Pa. "I have to take my suit off immediately."

And what about genetics? Are some women simply predisposed? Greene can't help but wonder. Both she and her grandmother share a history of chronic urinary tract infections and yeast infections.

At least one study seems to support the notion. A 1997 study that appeared in the Journal of Infectious Diseases concluded that women who bear a specific blood factor (the Lewis factor) are three to four times more likely to have recurrent yeast infections.

If you have never had a yeast infection before, you may wonder how you'll know if you have one. Symptoms are likely to appear before your menstrual period and may include uncomfortable feelings of itchiness in the vagina, a burning sensation while urinating, skin irritation and a white, odorless, cottage-cheese-like discharge from the vagina. If your symptoms differ, your doctor will conduct a vaginal exam and take a culture of the discharge to see which, if any, organisms are causing your problems.

Whether it's your lifestyle or your genes that predispose you to this common condition, one thing is certain: Relief is what you need. Your doctor is always your best source of information on yeast infections and their treatment. Even if you think you have one, the only way to be sure is by having the discharge looked at under a microscope. That's why it's important to see your doctor, especially if you are unfamiliar with yeast infections.

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