What Causes Yeast Infections To Recur?

Underlying medical conditions like diabetes or HIV/AIDS, or medication, may be responsible for recurring yeast infections, but it can be down to other factors too. One is that the availability of self-medication may have led to both their over-use, and inappropriate use.  As with antibiotics, this may lead other species of yeast, not susceptible to these treatments, to flourish. 

For example, in people with diabetes, yeast infections are often caused by a species called Candida glabrata, which is not very susceptible to fluconazole (the medication in the creams you buy at the chemist).  But this medication will wipe out the Candida albicans, allowing the C. glabrata species to overgrow.

Be sure it really is a yeast infection

There are a number of other possible causes of symptoms similar to those of a yeast infection. If the irritation is accompanied by a bad-smelling discharge which is colored, then another infection, such as bacterial vaginosis or a sexually-transmitted infection (STI) may be the cause. In this case you need to see a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.  Mistakenly treating such an infection with an anti-fungal will not help, and may even worsen, the condition.

The use of perfumed toiletries in the vaginal area, as well as scented pads and panty liners can cause allergies, which can be confused with yeast infections.

Professional help

If there is no obvious reason for recurring yeast infections, such as recent antibiotic treatment, visit your doctor and let him/her know about the problem.  Similarly, if you have found self-treatment with anti-fungal creams to be ineffective, you should seek professional help. 

Your doctor will give you a pelvic examination and take swabs to rule out other causes of infection – such as bacterial vaginosis, or STIs – and determine which yeast species predominates.  (It is very important that STIs are picked up and treated as they can cause other problems such as infertility).  Sometimes repeated yeast infections indicate another health problem, such as undiagnosed, or uncontrolled, diabetes, which is another reason to seek professional help.

Your doctor will be able to confirm whether you have a yeast infection, and be able to run tests to identify the species.  He/she will then be able to prescribe appropriate medication.

If medication is the cause of your recurring infection, your doctor may be able to help by prescribing anti-fungal treatment at the same time as antibiotics, or by reviewing the use of other medications.