WOMEN’S BODIES: VAGINAL PROBLEMS. CANDIDA
Abnormal vaginal discharges are a common reason for medical consultation. Some women are plagued again and again by irritating discharges.
Consultations about vaginal discharges need a sensitive approach. Most of us feel much more uncomfortable seeing a doctor about a vaginal discharge than we would, say, about a discharge from the ear or a wound, particularly if the discharge is bad-smelling. On top of modesty about having our genitals examined, most of us feel particularly embarrassed and ashamed if we think we’re smelly ‘down there’. Also, there’s often the fear that the discharge may be due to a sexually transmitted infection.
The normal vaginal discharge varies a great deal from woman to woman. An abnormal discharge is something different from the usual for you, and is commonly associated with other symptoms such as itching or tenderness of the genital skin and an unusual or unpleasant odour.
Most vaginal discharges result from vaginitis (inflammation of the vagina), which can have many causes.
Candida albicans (also called Monilia) is a fungus, and is the most common cause’ vaginitis. Candida is one of the many fungi that are widespread in nature. We have small amounts of it on our skin in our mouths, bowels and vaginas, causes no problems as long as its growth is kept down by body defences and competition from other micro-organisms that normally live on our skins and lining membranes. When circumstances allow an overgrowth of Candida it attacks the underlying tissue, causing the inflammation called candidiasis or moniliasis. Candidiasis of the mouth and vagina is also known as ‘thrush’.
Why do people get candidiasis?
Health problems from Candida are what are called ‘opportunistic infections’: the fungus grabs the opportunity to grow when immunity is low or when the competition is reduced (either because there are less other germs or there is more Candida around). So in fact you usually ‘catch’ Candida from your own vagina, genital or other skin, or bowel.
Candida gets you when you’re down. If you’re otherwise ill, run-down or under emotional stress your general immunity is lowered. The defences of the vagina can also be reduced by lack of oestrogen after the menopause or while breast-feeding, or if it is inflamed from any other cause. If you take broad-spectrum antibiotics for any bacterial infection, all the Döderlein’s bacilli and other competitors may be killed, giving Candida an opportunity for unopposed growth. You can also wash out all the competition by douching, especially with antiseptic solutions.
*232/31/5*
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.