Overcoming Pregnancy Challenges

If you recently took an antibiotic for a sinus infection or any other type of infection in your body, there is a chance you might start feeling a yeast infection developing. Yeast infections are miserable, and they commonly occur in women after taking antibiotics. Here are several things to understand about this.

Why do antibiotics cause yeast infections?

Antibiotics are great for killing off all types of infections in the body, but they have side effects. When you take an antibiotic, it actually eliminates bacteria from your body. The goal of an antibiotic is to eliminate the bacteria that is causing the infection; however, most antibiotics do not just target that particular bacteria. Instead, they target all the bacteria, including good bacteria that your body needs.

A yeast infection occurs when the level of good bacteria diminishes, and this is a direct result of antibiotics. When there is not enough good bacteria in your body, your bacteria levels become imbalanced, and this leaves your feminine area with too much yeast. The result is a yeast infection.

What can you do to prevent this from happening?

If you need to take an antibiotic, there is not a lot you can do to prevent a yeast infection from forming. Your doctor might recommend eating more yogurt, as yogurt contains good bacteria, but this is not always enough. You could also try taking probiotics, which are similar to vitamins. Probiotics are filled with good bacteria your body needs. If you consume these before and during your antibiotic, it could help your body keep a high enough level of good bacteria in it. If so, you may not develop a yeast infection.

You can also talk to your doctor about getting a prescription for Diflucan. This is a pill you can take if you feel a yeast infection developing from an antibiotic. You only need one pill to stop the yeast infection from forming. Many doctors will give these to women when they prescribe antibiotics, just to be safe, and you can even ask your medical doctor for this prescription if you are prone to developing yeast infections while taking antibiotics.

If you have problems with chronic yeast infections, you should visit a gynecologist. Your gynecologist might be able to determine why you keep getting yeast infections and ways you can prevent them from occurring in the future. Contact a gynecology clinic today to set up an appointment to see a doctor, or click here for more info about yeast infections and visiting the gynecologist.