Millions of women every year experience the symptoms of a yeast infection. This overgrowth of yeast in the vagina can cause various unpleasant symptoms. For many women, these symptoms come back repeatedly, even with treatment. If your yeast infections return over time, it may be time to see a vulvovaginal specialist.
What is a Yeast Infection?
Yeasts are single-celled microorganisms that exist at low levels in a healthy vagina. In this situation, the lactobacilli population maintains the proper acidity of vaginal secretions and keeps yeasts from overgrowing. You may develop an altered vaginal microflora (AVMF) when something disrupts this balance. Without the usual controls, yeasts can overgrow, changing the vaginal secretions.
What Does a Yeast Infection Look Like?
If you have a yeast infection, you will often notice a discharge from the vagina. The AVMF resulting from yeast overgrowth causes irritation, itching, and burning symptoms. When Dr. Fowler at Fowler GYN International performs a Vaginal Fluid Analysis, a yeast infection will appear as an unusual number of yeasts accompanied by lower-than-usual numbers of lactobacilli.
Why Do I Not Get Relief From Yeast Infection Treatments?
Some women get occasional yeast infections and think nothing of it. They may have experienced a transient change in their vaginal microflora that rebalanced itself. Other women struggle with repeated yeast infections that disappear temporarily but return. Your yeast infections keep coming back because your AVMF continues to allow the yeast to overgrow. Until the conditions promoting yeast growth are eliminated, your infections will continue.
How is a Yeast Infection Treated?
Dr. Fowler will begin your treatment with a Vaginal Fluid Analysis (VFA). This test examines many factors affecting the vaginal microflora, including the health of the vaginal walls and the populations of various microflora components. It allows Dr. Fowler to assign you to one of 42 different treatment protocols designed to restore your vagina’s natural balance. When your vaginal microflora maintains its balance, yeasts will stay under control and harmless. Your plan may include dietary changes, medications, and other treatments that restore your vaginal health.
Why See a Vulvovaginal Expert for Your Yeast Infections?
Most doctors, even gynecologists, are not experts in conditions of the vulva or imbalances in vaginal microflora. They will treat yeast infections with antifungal treatments. These temporarily reduce the yeast population, but without the controls of a healthy lactobacillus population, it will rebound as soon as the medication stops. A vulvovaginal specialist like Dr. Fowler can treat the underlying cause of your symptoms so the yeast can return to its status as a harmless vaginal resident.
Take the Next Step
The experts in vaginal health at Fowler GYN International (FGI) Phoenix, AZ specialize in the treatment of vulvovaginal conditions. The team at FGI is led by Dr. R. Stuart Fowler. Dr. Fowler is an Emeritus Mayo Clinic board-certified gynecologist.
You can reach FGI at https://www.fowlergyninternational.com/, or by calling (480) 420-4001.
