Female Yeast Infection Signs and Symptoms- Do I have Yeast Infection?
February 22, 2010 by admin
Filed under Featured Articles
Yeast infection, also known as Candidal infection, is very common in women. In fact, more than half of sufferers of yeast infection are women, and three out of four women experience this infection once in their lifetime. One way to determine whether you have the infection is through manifestations of yeast infection signs and symptoms.
Yeast infection is caused by an overgrowth of Candida albicans, an organism that normally thrives in low levels in a woman’s vagina and in the intestinal tract. But this does not mean men couldn’t get infected. Through sexual intercourse with an infected woman, the disease can be transferred to men as well.
Yeast infection tends to have similar symptoms with other medical conditions. In fact, it is quite difficult for men to determine whether they already have the yeast infection because symptoms may be mistaken with other medical conditions. Many infected men even don’t manifest yeast infection symptoms.
Female Yeast Infection Signs and Symptoms
How can a woman tell she has the infection? The signs and symptoms that a woman has yeast infection include odorless discharge that looks like cottage cheese. Not every woman who has yeast infection, though, may experience discharge. In fact, only about 20% of infected women experience it.
Vaginal itching, accompanied by a burning sensation and pain especially during intercourse, is another indication that a woman could have already been suffering from a yeast infection. Burning sensation during urination is also a symptom of a urinary tract infection as well. But to know whether this burning sensation during urination is due to urinary tract infection or due to a yeast infection is to pay close attention to when the burning sensation begins and stops. With a female yeast infection, the burning is felt when the acidic urine starts to hit the vulva’s irritated skin. It stops when the urine is already out of the vulva. Other important signs and symptoms include pelvic pain and fever. Women suffering from yeast infection may also experience weakness and irritability.
The yeast infection signs and symptoms are actually just initial signs of the condition. If ignored and left untreated, it can lead to more serious illnesses, such as arthritis, fatigue, and depression. In fact, studies suggest that male yeast infection is linked to prostate cancer. It is, thus, best to consult a physician for proper diagnosis and medical care, and to know the severity of the condition.
