At some time during their lives, most women will experience an irritating condition such as yeast infection. Vaginal infections are not uncommon in women, and yeast infections are especially prevalent. It seems that pregnancy and yeast infections are a fact of life for many women, you will be more susceptible to yeast infections and at the same time, there may be less you can do to prevent them.

Monilial vaginitis and vaginal candidiasis are additional terms sometimes used to describe yeast infections. A fungus called Candida is thought to be the cause of the disease. Most vaginal yeast infections are caused by the fungus Candida albicans. Candida is a fungus that is normally found in the human body. In fact it occurs naturally in the body and in most cases is not a problem.

In terms of pregnancy, the hormones that support the changes in the body also encourage yeast infections. Not surprisingly, the body stores more glucose when a woman is pregnant to support the growing baby. But that means that yeast gets fed, too. Glycogen is how the body stores glucose. The glycogen feeds yeast, making you more likely to have a yeast infection. It might even make the yeast speed up growth and it could even make them adhere more closely to vaginal walls.

Use of antibiotics can cause fungi to proliferate. Long-term use of antibiotics kills bacteria, both good and bad and can weaken the body's natural ability to fight infection. This allows the bad bacteria to grow uncontrollably because the good bacteria have been reduced in number and is unable to fight the bad bacteria. This is when an infection may occur.

Symptoms of yeast infection include itchiness, burning, soreness and redness of the genital area. These are the initial signs of the condition. As the yeast continues to grow, there may be a liquid, cottage-cheese like discharge and you may experience discomfort. It is important to refrain from sex while you have this infection.

Treating yeast infections during pregnancy does not differ substantially from standard treatment. However, it is wise to check with your doctor to determine if any treatment might be harmful to your or the fetus. Antifungal creams are available over-the-counter and your doctor can tell you which will be helpful for your. It is possible that he or she will recommend a particular product meant just for pregnant women.

The good news is that a yeast infection in the mother will not have any affect on the developing fetus. It is believed that as much as 15% of all pregnant women end up suffering from a some yeast infection complaint during pregnancy. Indeed it may be difficult to avoid a yeast infection during pregnancy given the changes in the hormone levels. With this said, yeast infection during pregnancy doesn't need to be worrying or miserable as it is fairly easy to treat quickly and successfully.