- Main symptoms
- How to get candidiasis
- How the treatment is done
- Care to speed up treatment
- Natural treatment option for candidiasis
Candidiasis in pregnancy is a very common situation among pregnant women, because during this period estrogen levels are higher, favoring the growth of fungi, especially Candida Albicans, which naturally lives in the woman's intimate region.
Candidiasis in pregnancy does not harm the baby, but if the baby is born by normal delivery and, on that day the woman has candidiasis, the baby may be infected and present candidiasis in the first days of life.
If the baby is infected, he may have whitish plaques inside his mouth, oral candidiasis, popularly called "thrush" and when he suckles he can pass the fungus back to his mother, who may develop mammary candidiasis, ultimately hindering the process of breast-feeding. See other symptoms of this infection in the baby and how it is treated.
Main symptoms
Candidiasis in pregnancy may be present without any symptoms, but the most common situation is the appearance of:
- White discharge, like cut milk; Severe itching in the vagina; Burning or pain when urinating; Pain during sexual intercourse; Swollen and reddened intimate region.
The obstetrician may suspect candidiasis only by looking at the woman's intimate region and by assessing the symptoms. However, as candidiasis can favor the development of other microorganisms, the doctor can also request a pap smear to check if there is any other infection developing.
How to get candidiasis
In most pregnant women, candidiasis arises due to hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy and, therefore, is not caught by sexual contact with someone infected or by the use of panties. However, and although hormones cannot be controlled, there are some precautions that can reduce the risk of developing candidiasis, which include:
- Wear cotton underwear to facilitate skin breathing and hinder the growth of fungi; Dry the intimate area well after bathing, to reduce humidity and prevent the growth of fungi; Avoid placing products in the intimate area, such as perfumed soap or perfumes; Sleep without panties and pants, as it allows the skin to breathe at night; Avoid making intimate showers, as they alter the vaginal flora and facilitate the growth of fungi.
In addition, the pregnant woman can also bet on increasing foods with Lactobacillus acidophilus , such as yogurt, as they are a type of "good" bacteria, known as probiotics, which help control the growth of fungi in the intimate region.
How the treatment is done
Treatment for candidiasis in pregnancy is usually started with the use of vaginal creams or antifungal ointments prescribed by the obstetrician or gynecologist. Candidiasis that does not cause symptoms also needs to be treated, because the infection does not pass to the baby during delivery.
Some of the most used remedies for candidiasis in pregnancy include Nystatin, Butoconazole, Clotrimazole, Miconazole or Terconazole. These drugs should always be advised by a doctor, to ensure that they do not harm pregnancy.
Usually, ointment remedies for candidiasis should be applied daily to the vagina twice a day, for 7 to 10 days.
Care to speed up treatment
To complement the treatment indicated by the doctor it is also advised:
- Avoid sweet or carbohydrate-rich foods; Always wear cotton panties; Avoid wearing too tight pants; Only wash the intimate area with water and soap or chamomile tea; Prefer white and odorless toilet paper; Avoid perfumed panties protectors.
Watch in the video below what to eat and how to make an excellent home remedy using plain yogurt:
Natural treatment option for candidiasis
A good natural option to complete the treatment of candidiasis in pregnancy indicated by the doctor, and to relieve the symptoms of itching is to make a sitz bath with 2 liters of warm water and 1 cup of apple cider vinegar. The pregnant woman should keep the intimate area inside the mixture for at least 30 minutes and do this once a day, before taking a bath, for example.
