WEARING tight-fitting clothes, keeping on a wet swimsuit for too long or using deodorant tampons, feminine sprays and douches can result in miserable days for women and girls, resulting in them possibly having to take a vaginal therapy.
This was disclosed by medical practitioner Dr. Saska Sertimer this past week in a talk with the Sunday Chronicle about Vaginal Candidiasis commonly called Yeast Infection, which is common among females of all ages.
Vaginal Candidiasis or Yeast Infection, as it is popularly known, is a “fungal infection which causes irritation, discharge and intense itchiness of the vagina and the vulva”.
CAUSE
According to the Dr. Sertimer, most fungal vaginitis is caused by the organism ‘Candida albicans’.
“It should be noted that a healthy vagina has many bacteria and a small number of yeast cells. The most common bacteria Lactobacillus Acidophilus, help keep other organisms like yeast under control. However when something happens to change the balance of these organisms, there can be an overgrowth of yeast which can result in symptoms.”
She explained that Risk Factors include diabetes, use of broad spectrum antibiotics, steroid medications, high estrogen levels caused by pregnancy or hormone replacement therapy, wearing constrictive undergarments, stress, lack of sleep, hermonal changes related to menstrual cycle, and certain immune-compromised illnesses such as HIV and cancer.
The doctor notes some three out of four women will have a vaginal infection at some point, and someone infected once is highly likely to have a repeat infection.
TYPICAL SYMPTOMS
Typical symptoms include itching; burning; a vaginal discharge of a thick, white cottage-cheese-like substance; soreness, redness and swelling of vagina; and pain during urination or sexual intercourse.
Though the condition is not sexually transmitted, a man having naked sexual contact with an infected woman can experience mild irritation and itching of the penis but do not need treatment unless symptomatic.
TREATMENT
Although most vaginal yeast infections can be treated with over-the-counter medications, a woman should confirm diagnosis with her doctor to ensure correct and proper treatment. This is because other conditions may produce similar symptoms, and some yeast infections may have a more serious disease as an underlying cause.
If someone has recurring episodes of four or more proven episodes per year, she should seek professional medical help.
Treatment comes in various forms including oral medications, vaginal pessaries and creams, and for mild to moderate symptoms and infrequent episodes, doctors may even recommend short-course vaginal therapy, single-dose oral medication, or over-the-counter drugs.
However, when infections are recurrent, a longer course of treatment may be needed.
Prevention includes eating a balanced diet; control of blood sugar level if one is diabetic; and avoiding unnecessary use of anti-biotics.
According to Dr. Sertimer, practicing good genital hygiene plays a major role in preventing such infection. These include avoiding tight-fitting clothes, such as tight-fitting jeans and panty hose since these increase body heat and moisture in the genital area; changing a wet swimsuit immediately; avoiding the use of douches, deodorant tampons or feminine sprays since these can change the normal balance of organisms in the vagina; wearing underwear which helps keep the genital area dry and doesn’t hold in warmth and moisture (eg., Cotton underwear); after using the toilet, wipe from front to back with tissue to avoid spreading yeast or bacteria from anus to vagina; keep your vaginal area clean. Wash with mild, unscented soap and water; and change pads and tampons often.
Dr. Saska Sertimer is the Primary Care Physician at Industry Health Centre, a branch of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and is the holder of an MBBS as well as a Post Graduate Diploma in Family Medicine.

Vaginal Candidiasis or Yeast Infection
– every woman’s recurring nightmare!