| Candidly candida
Alternative treatments for irritating infections, from complimentary therapist Pat Thomas and Dr Sarah Brewer. Pregnancy changes your body in numerous ways, not always for the best. Vaginal secretions increase when you?re expecting a baby, but if your vulva becomes red and irritated, you may have an infection with the yeast, Candida albicans. This yeast normally lives happily in, or on the body of just about everyone without causing any obvious harm. But when conditions are right, Candida changes from its less invasive form, in which it exists as simple yeasts cells, to produce threads (germ tubes, or hyphae) that burrow in between your cells. This causes inflammation with redness, soreness and itching. Overgrowth can also produce a white, cottage cheese-like vaginal discharge. Candida yeast infections can become persistent during pregnancy, aggravated by hormonal changes that alter the acid/alkali balance of your vagina. For most pregnant women, a candida infection automatically means a course of antifungal pessaries or creams. These treat the symptoms but can become ineffective with prolonged use (although in this case, you also need to rule out other infections producing similar symptoms, such as bacterial vaginosis). A better way to tackle candida is to treat its cause. Any persistent infection suggests a poorly functioning immune system. Many things can affect your immunity including over use of antibiotics, which can deplete your levels of the beneficial probiotic bacteria which normally help to keep candida overgrowth at bay by competing with it for nutrients and by secreting acids and other chemicals that inhibit yeast cell growth. As a result, women taking antibiotics are three times more likely to have detectable yeast cells in their vagina than those who are not on antibiotics, and these yeast cells are more likely to overgrow. The most common culprits are so-called broad-spectrum antibiotics (eg tetracycline, amoxycillin, cephalosporins) Candida tends to thrive in conditions that are warm and moist. When the vagina maintains a healthy acidity, yeasts remain relatively inactive. Around the time of your period, however, or when you are pregnant, vaginal acidity reduces and hormonal changes cause vaginal glucose levels to increase. As glucose acts as a fuel for yeast cell growth, many women find recurrences are common around the time of menstruation, and during pregnancy. Vaginal thrush is also more common in women with raised glucose levels, and in women who are under physical or emotional stress. This is because stress hormones increase blood glucose levels to provide instant fuel for muscle cells in case you need to fight or flee from dangerous situations. Lack of iron is another important factor, especially during pregnancy. White blood cells need iron to make the powerful chemicals used to combat infections such as Candida. Even a mild iron deficiency can result in reduced immunity even if iron stores are not low enough to cause anaemia. If you have recurrent thrush, it?s worth asking your doctor to check your blood levels of an iron compound called ferritin. If it is low, treatment with an iron supplement often solves the problem. Interestingly, researchers recently discovered that vaginal lining cells also play a role in regulating Candida growth, by sending out chemical signals that attract immune cells into the area to fight infections. Some women with recurrent Candida appear to have vaginal lining cells that are less able to send out this alarm call for help, and are more susceptible to vaginal thrush as a result of the genes they have inherited. The good news is that changing your diet and lifestyle can help to restore balance in your body, If you have problems with persistent candida, however, it is important to seek medical advice from your doctor. Dietary changes Candida thrives on sugar and it loves an acidic environment. If you are prone to candida infections, it is important that you reduce acidic and sugary foods and refined carbohydrates in your diet. Eat whole foods with plenty of immune boosting, fungi-busting garlic, onions and olive oil. Kale, turnip and cabbage are also thought to inhibit fungal growth. Apart from dietary changes, make sure you are getting enough vitamins A, B complex and C as well as the minerals zinc, iron and magnesium. If taking antibiotics is unavoidable, make sure you also take pro-biotics in the form of Lactobacillus acidophilous and bifidobacteria to help counter their harmful effect on the body’s “friendly” bacteria. This will reduce the chances of opportunistic yeasts taking hold again. Simple alternatives Candida also loves warmth and moisture. Wear loose cotton underwear, which allows air to circulate. If you regularly use bubble baths, stop. They will both irritate the area and deplete your natural skin defenses against infection. Also no douching or vaginal deodorants and try switching to white, unscented toilet paper. Dyes and perfumes can be irritating to the genital area. Early signs of vaginal candida can be treated with plain, live Bio yoghurt. Before going to bed, insert smear a few teaspoons of yoghurt around and into the vagina. Repeat this each evening until the symptoms improve. Caught early enough, the friendly bacteria in the yoghurt will multiply and devour the candida. From the herbal cupboard, calendula cream or tincture will help ease external irritation. For internal use, you can try immune system restoratives such as echinacea or camomile, which appear to be safe to use in pregnancy (check with your doctor, or a pharmacist first, however). The easiest way to take these is as a tincture, two or three times daily, in a little water. In addition, you might try to persuade your partner to be tested for candida. You can become re-infected through sexual contact, although candida is not classed as a sexually transmitted disease. Finally, if you have a recurrent candida problem, visit a genito-urinary medicine clinic for a full screen to rule out bacterial vaginosis ? a bacterial imbalance whose symptoms can mimic those of candida. You may also want to consider consulting a qualified nutritionist, herbalist or homeopath who may be able to work with you to support and strengthen your immune system during pregnancy and beyond. References
Bland J, ed, Medical Application of Clinical Nutrition, New Canaan: Keats, 1983 |