This article is for informational purposes only. It is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice.
What Can Cause a Yeast Infection?
Yeast infections are caused by yeast overgrowth and can be contracted through sexual contact. However, yeast infections can also result from antibiotic usage, pregnancy, and menopause. The most common causes of yeast infections:
1. Sexual Contact
Yeast infections can be spread through sexual contact but are not considered a sexually transmitted disease. This is because yeast is present in the body of both men and women and, while it can overgrow under certain conditions, sexual contact is not always the cause.
Yeast infections can be spread through sexual contact but are not considered a sexually transmitted disease. This is because yeast is present in the body of both men and women and, while it can overgrow under certain conditions, sexual contact is not always the cause.
2. Antibiotics
Antibiotics kill both the good and bad bacteria in your body, which can lead to an overgrowth of yeast. If you're consistently on antibiotics, yeast infections may become more common for you.
3. Pregnancy
Another common cause of yeast infections is pregnancy. Pregnant women are more likely to get yeast infections because hormonal changes during pregnancy create a more yeast-friendly environment.
4. Birth Control
Women who take hormonal contraception such as the pill are also more likely to get yeast infections because these medications also change hormone levels and can allow yeast overgrowth.
5. Diabetes
When a woman has diabetes, their urine contains excessive sugars, which is harmful to the vagina. This may also create yeast overgrowth.
6. Menopause
Decreased estrogen levels during menopausal years can also lead to yeast overgrowths in women who have previously experienced them. This is due to changes that occur in the vaginal environment that make it more yeast friendly.
