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LISA CLARK: I'm Lisa Clark. Welcome, and thanks for joining us for this webcast. Our topic today is something that most women are, unfortunately, quite familiar with: yeast infections. It's estimated that 50% of college women in the U.S. have been diagnosed with at least one yeast infection by the age of 25. It's usually easy to treat, but it's very important to know how to recognize the symptoms and when you should consider a visit to your doctor. Joining me to discuss this topic we have gynecologist Dr. Gloria Bachmann and Dr. Joseph Apuzzio. Thanks to both of you for joining me. Let's start with the basics. What exactly is a yeast infection? JOSEPH APUZZIO, MD: A yeast infection is an overgrowth of yeast in the vagina severe enough to cause the patient to have symptoms. LISA CLARK: So this is a naturally occurring yeast that's there all the time ,and it just gets out of control? GLORIA BACHMANN, MD: Correct. Only when it overgrows does it become a problem or a vaginitis. LISA CLARK: Let's talk about some of the very common causes, and there are a lot of them. Dr. Apuzzio? JOSEPH APUZZIO, MD: I think first of all, diabetes. If the patient has diabetes, they're more prone to have yeast infections of the vagina. Also, if the patient is taking a steroid preparation for some medical illness, that also puts her at high risk. Antibiotics, patients who are taking antibiotics for a long period of time are also at high risk, because the antibiotic kind of suppresses the other flora in the vagina and allows the yeast to overgrow. LISA CLARK: What about the pill? I understand that can be a cause sometimes. JOSEPH APUZZIO, MD: Birth control pills in some patients may actually be a cause as well, so that certainly is the case. LISA CLARK: Dr. Bachmann, there are a lot of environmental factors having to do with what women wear. GLORIA BACHMANN, MD: That's right, lifestyle, if they wear tight-fitting jeans. Even toilet habits. Wiping from back to front rather than front to back is important. Wet bathing suits, all these things are really critical. LISA CLARK: And douching has been considered problematic for some women. JOSEPH APUZZIO, MD: Yes. What douching may do is actually kill off organisms in the vagina that suppress the growth of the yeast, so in essence, one should not douche unless they consult their doctor. LISA CLARK: And it's also important to mention that HIV can be a contributing factor as well to recurrent yeast infections. Is that right? JOSEPH APUZZIO, MD: Yes, that's correct. Any time the patient's immune system, their natural way of fighting off infections, is suppressed, such as a patient who has HIV, they can also get yeast infection. LISA CLARK: Let's talk about what a woman notices when she's getting a yeast infection? What are some of the symptoms, for those who have not experienced one? GLORIA BACHMANN, MD: Probably the most important symptom that a woman notices at the time that she's in the throes of it is itching, severe itching. She almost feels that she wants to scratch the skin away, it's so intense. Another is erythema, or redness, of the external area of the vagina. Cheesy discharge is another common complaint that women have. Burning, irritation, even intercourse pain are symptoms that women will report. |