How To Treat A Yeast Infection During Pregnancy
Pregnancy is a stage of a woman’s life when hormones
and body functions do not constantly work flawlessly together. There are
many reasons and treatments for yeast infections, but treating a yeast
infection during pregnancy can be a challenge.
On the whole, a single or few occurrences of yeast infections during
pregnancy do not necessarily raise an alarm. However, if an infection
clears and another begins rather rapidly, it may be time to do a urine
and/or blood test to test for unusually high blood sugar tests.
Because the vaginal area is warm and damp, yeast bacteria remains in the
region. There is a standard level of bacteria that resides in the
body—and its function is to keep these infections under control.
However, if you have been consuming a prescription antibiotic (such as
penicillin) for another reason (such as a urinary tract infection), the
healthy bacteria may be destroyed. This is one reason why yeast
infections usually follow bladder infections—it’s not the same virus,
but the use of the medication that causes the natural appearance of the
two conditions.
If you suppose you might have a yeast infection during your pregnancy
(either by researching the symptoms or by past occurrence), arrange an
appointment to see your gynecologist. He or she will surely do the
routine tests (examination of the area, urine test, possible culture),
as well as rule out other general (and not so general) reasons for the
occurrence. For example, if you have been diagnosed with any of several
immune deficiency diseases or a sexually transmitted disease, further
care needs to be taken to defend your baby’s health during pregnancy.
If all points to the occurrence of a routine yeast infection during
pregnancy, your doctor will recommend one of several different
over-the-counter medications that will best go with your individual
circumstance. It is vital to read labels, and to really understand the
instructions. For example, even the newer one-day treatments recommend
that it may be necessary to repeat the process for up to seven days. So,
for the benefit of your pocketbook, it is at times just as effective to
buy the seven-day treatment and repeat every day to be sure the
infection is disappeared.
If, after the third or fourth day, you feel no improvement at all, or if
you see further symptoms such as a discharge with or without odor, get
in touch with your doctor again and make clear the situation. Be sure to
inform the doctor or nurse how far along in your pregnancy you are, and
what medicine (and dosage or regimen) you have been using, and for how
long. There are more powerful creams and treatments that can be
prescribed for persistent infections, and the key is to stay away from
oral medications for yeast infections during pregnancy.
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