Wednesday, July 1, 2009

I'm Worried, Is Yeast Infection Contagious!


Are you wondering about Yeast Infection Contagious? I'm sure it is something lots of people are worried about. You may be asking me, "how do you get a yeast infection?" What happens, what is the reason for someone getting a yeast infection? As you can see their are lots of questions that we have to think about. Before I can answer the question "Is Yeast Infection Contagious?" it is necessary to find out how one gets a yeast infection.

Is Yeast Infection Contagious - A Look At Yeast Infections



Before deciding whether a yeast infection is contagious it is good to have a look at what yeast infection really is and how we get a yeast infection. Once we know this it will be easier to discuss the fact, is yeast infection contagious or not.


Why is the question: "Is Yeast Infection Contagious?" so important?


When we think of yeast infections, most of us assume that it's just another "female" problem. Actually, yeast infections, known also as Candidiasis or Candida - are pesky fungal infections that can affect men, women and children.

Candida Albicans, a scientific name for a fungus that lives throughout our body, usually resides unnoticed in our mouths and gastrointestinal tract - kept in check by our immune system, and other microorganisms, until the delicate chemical balance is thrown off by either internal or external upsets.

When an upset does occur, what results can range from a relatively minor infection such as a vaginal yeast infection or oral thrush (a yeast infection in the mouth) where people experience inflammation and relatively minor discomfort, to a full-blown systematic and potentially life-threatening disease.

Yeast Infections Occur In Many Forms:




Yeast infections manifest themselves in the dark, moist areas of our bodies, and can occur inside or outside of the body. While we're most familiar with yeast infections in a woman's vaginal area, did you know that diaper rash is also a form of yeast infection?


Yeast infections occur in these areas as well:


  • Oral Thrush - a yeast infection in the mouth

  • The foreskin or penis area on a man

  • Ears, nose, nailbeds, and even armpits can be affected

  • Internal organs - such as the intestines, bladder, and even the esophagus
All this makes the question: "Is Yeast Infection Contagious?" even more important, so let's have a look at it.


Is Yeast Infection Contagious?


To answer the question whether yeast infection is contagious is not as easy as it may seem at first. While it's true that a yeast infection can be transferred via mucous membranes by direct contact i.e. contact with a sexual partner; to a newborn through the mother's birth canal; and through poor hygiene, still experts can't seem to agree as to whether the infection can truly be called contagious.

However, if we were to go by the Merriam-Webster's Dictionary's definition of contagious as "communicable by contact," then, by definition, a yeast infection could be considered contagious.

Although, a yeast infection can't be "caught" like an airborne virus, it can be spread by the scaly platelets of the infection being transferred from one source to another. So in the end, it all depends on how you look at it whether you will say yeast infection is contagious.

So - Is Yeast Infection Contagious?



What Exactly Activates A Yeast Infection?



Here is a further look at yeast infection and why it is important to decide if yeast infection is contagious.


Candida Albicans is a fungus that resides throughout our bodies - living primarily in the gastrointestinal tract and mouth - and is considered to be perfectly normal. However, when some factor - either internal or external - upsets the Candida's delicate chemical balance - a yeast infection can occur.

What causes the relatively benign Candida fungi to suddenly overpopulate into an uncomfortable, unsightly, and perhaps even deadly yeast infection? There are numerous reasons, some within our control, and some that are not.

The Reasons For An Outbreak Are Many


A yeast infection can occur for a number of reasons:


  • When our hormones change - say during pregnancy, for example

  • It can also occur as a result of sexual contact

  • Oral contraceptives, and various antibiotics can trigger an infection

  • Candida thrives in dark, moist places, so wearing tight clothing can invite a vaginal yeast infection

  • Douching, or even certain types of detergents, can throw off the delicate Ph balance of a woman's vagina

  • Using glycerin-based lubricants during sex

  • Even the kinds of food we eat can cause an infection
People with a weakened immune system as a result of HIV/AIDS, malnutrition, cancer, diabetes and various antibiotics are particularly subject to outbreaks of Candidiasis throughout their entire bodies.

This is know as a systematic yeast infection - resulting in the risk of a number of opportunistic infections taking place. The consequences of which can be life threatening.

For example, when you hear the odd story of an individual dying from a mysterious staph infection they caught while in the hospital for a routine surgery, it's possible that it may be the result of Candidiasis having paved the way for an infection.

Immunocompromised people have to be particularly careful not to come into contact with those having a yeast infection. While a yeast infection cannot be "caught", it can be passed through close physical contact i.e. sexual contact, or by coming into contact with the scaly platelets of the infection. So, it would be best to say "yes" to the question: "Is Yeast Infection Congatious?" it can very well be seen as contagious.



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