Do your yeast infections keep coming back? If yes, you have probably already tried the normal treatments such as creams, oral medicines, and vaginal suppositories, but achieved only temporary relief. If this has been your experience, you may be wondering if it is normal for this to happen.
While having a yeast infection up to four times a year is considered normal, recurrent yeast infections are not. Recurrent yeast infections are an indication that the vaginal microflora is out of balance.
Yeast is naturally present on the vulvar skin, and will gain entrance into the vagina from time to time. When it does, it is normally kept in check by the lactobacilli or ‘good’ bacteria in the vagina. However, there are times when the delicate microflora balance of the vagina is disrupted, and this can cause the yeast to grow out of control, and lead to an infection.
Common symptoms of a yeast infection include itching, burning with curdy white discharge.
Treating recurrent yeast infections
If you keep having yeast infections even though you’ve been treated by a doctor, an altered vaginal microflora may be the underlying cause of the symptoms you are experiencing. This can be confirmed by testing the vaginal constituents, to determine if the microflora is in an altered state. Not all gynecologists have the necessary equipment to do this testing.
At Fowler GYN International (FGI), this diagnosis is done by a vaginal fluid analysis (VFA) test. If the test confirms that there is an altered microflora pattern, FGI will recommend a customized treatment protocol, to restore balance to the microflora. Once the vagina is healthy again, the symptoms will often resolve.
Contact the experts in vulvovaginal health at Fowler GYN International, Paradise Valley, AZ for help. You can reach them at www.fowlergyninternational.com/contact-us, or by calling 480-420-4001. The founding principal is Board Certified Gynecologist R. Stuart Fowler, M.D.