Data from the Center of Disease Control in the USA indicates that up to 90% of all women have at least one candidiasis infection in their lifetime, 40 to 50% have two or more cases, and 15 – 25% of women develop a reoccurring infection. Female fungal infections are no longer a taboo and each of us can do a number of things to protect and treat herself. 

What are fungal infections caused by?

The two most common infectious diseases among women nowadays are bacterial vaginoses and candidiasis. Respectively, the things that cause them are bacteria called Gardnerella and Candida albicans – two Latin words that most women are not aware of. Nonetheless, what doctors often forget to tell ladies is why these bacteria are so stubborn and difficult to treat. 

External factors that can cause fungal infections are many, especially during the summer period.  Frequent pool visits, increased humidity, high temperature, tight synthetic underwear, as well as the use of tampons, excess washing of the vagina, usage of invasive antibacterial soaps for intimate hygiene – all of these creates a favorable environment for the development of infections. On one hand, washing yourself too often kills the good bacteria in your vagina. On the other hand, humidity and heat create favorable conditions for the overgrowth of bad bacteria. In other words, disbalance of the vaginal microflora is much easier to happen than what you might have thought. 

Indeed, underwear made of natural materials and maintenance of good hygiene (specialists recommend washing yourself once a day with a mild soap, odorless soap, suitable for intimate hygiene) can drastically improve the situation. But is this really the problem? As important as external factors might be, we must take into account that all health problems start on the inside. Logically, this is the way to approach them. 

In the case of female fungal infections, there is a growing body of research that proves the connection between vaginal infections and the health of the gastro – intestinal tract. Digestive and urogenital systems are closely linked when it comes to women. Bacteria that inhabit the stomach are the same as the ones living in lady parts. 

Know bacteria so you can say goodbye to them 

Speaking about Candida albicans, this is a bacteria that can be found in the digestive tract of 80% of all people. It normally inhabits the large intestine, where it lives in harmony with all other microorganisms and lactic acid bacteria. Nonetheless, this is true only as long as you maintain optimal probiotic levels. Good bacteria in the digestive tract are responsible for the production of amino acids, vitamins B and K, as well as natural antibiotics, which maintain the population of bad bacteria in the norm. When probiotic levels decrease, fungal colonies increase and start invading new territories. As a result, the vaginal mucosa might get infected, resulting in the development of candidiasis. 

Besides the urogenital system, high Candida levels are a common cause of Leaky gut syndrome (LGS). As the name indicates, LGS is characterized by an increased permeability of the gut mucosa, which allows for larger molecules, antigens and toxins to pass through its barrier. This leads to a number of health problems. People suffering from the syndrome often experience constipation, problems with the musculoskeletal system, irritability, they have skin problems and issues with the thyroid and adrenal glands. 

The way Gardnerella infection develops is similar, but the diagnosis is bacterial vaginosis. 

What can you do to protect or treat yourself? 

Each of us can do plenty of things in order to treat an existing infection or to protect herself from getting one. Firstly, make sure the external environment is good. Never wear underwear that is too tight and made of synthetic material. Avoid using tampons. Wash your intimate parts with a mild soap, which does not destroy natural pH levels of the vagina. Avoid internal contraceptives (diaphragms).

Be careful with medications you ingest. Contraceptive pills and antibiotics are proven to have a negative effect on the gut microflora. Along with pathogens, they also kill good bacteria, thus disrupting its delicate balance. This immediately affects the health of the urogenital system of women. That is thy it is important to take good care of the healthy balance of good and bad bacteria in the intestines and the vagina. 

Such a balance can be maintained through eating probiotic foods. Examples of such foods are yoghurt, kombucha, kefir, fermented vegetables (unpasteurized). It is sometimes difficult to find good – quality foods that are rich in healthy bacteria, or they are often seasonal. As a result more and more women opt for dietary supplements. 

Choosing an appropriate probiotic supplement is determined by your specific needs and the results you expect to get. Candida, as a common precursors of fungal infections and LGS, can be successfully treated with products rich in chitosanase. This powerful enzyme destroys the cell wall of candida molecules and destroys them. 

In case you are specifically aiming at treating LGS, products that regenerate the gut mucosa and restore its normal integrity are the best option. If you are taking probiotics as a preventative action, you should look for a supplement that is rich in probiotic strains. Pro10Biotics is a supplement that contains 10 strains and every dose of the probiotic supplies your organism with 50 billion live cells. 

Probiotics and pregnancy 

Pregnancy is a delicate period when the chance of developing fungal infection is even higher than normal. Compromised health of the mother can cause a number of problems throughout pregnancy. Doctors have established that there is a direct correlation between fungal infections and complications during pregnancy. 

On the other hand, balanced vaginal microflora of the mother has a key role for the proper development of the fetus. During the 9th moths of fetal growth, babies live in a sterile environment – there are no bacteria in their organisms. However, in order to be able to survive in the world (to be able to metabolize food and to fight pathogenic microorganisms), the baby needs a well – developed gastro – intestinal microflora since its birth. This where bacterial balance of the vaginal mucosa comes into place. As the baby passes through the birth canal, it assimilates he microflora of the mother’s vagina and it becomes the foundation of its own microbiota. If it is compromised, the immune system of the newborn will not develop as it should. This can cause many health problems. 

C – section birth is an even more serious issue. In this case the baby has no contact with the mother’s microflora at all. It intakes bacteria from the external environment and the personnel and develops its initial immunity on the basis of foreign to its organism factors. This is the reason normal vaginal birth is crucial for the health of the newborn baby. 

To put it in other words, mothers that take probiotics and choose normal birth are taking care not only of the balance of the microflora of their own bodies, but also of their babies’ health. In this way they provide the baby with a strong immune system since its very first encounter with the world outside of the womb. 

Last but not least, specialist have noticed the link between fungal infections of women in reproductive age and difficulty conceiving. This is yet another reason for every woman to maintain healthy probiotic levels. Let us take care of ourselves and the future generations.