If you suffer from recurrent yeast infections, you may feel frustrated with the constant cycle of treatments and returning symptoms. See a vulvovaginal doctor like Dr. Fowler at Fowler GNY International if you want to break this cycle for good. These specialists in vulvovaginal health treat various conditions to restore vaginal balance and prevent yeast infections from recurring.
What is a Yeast Infection?
A yeast infection usually refers to an overgrowth of a fungus called Candida albicans. This single-celled fungus lives at low levels on your skin and in a healthy vagina, forming part of the normal vaginal microflora. When they become too numerous, they change your vaginal environment, causing burning, itching, and discharge. Yeast infections cause vaginal secretions to become an irritant that causes trauma to the vagina and vulva.
Will a Yeast Infection Go Away on Its Own?
A yeast infection occurs due to altered vaginal microflora (AVMF). When your vaginal is healthy, a population of lactobacillus bacteria maintains an acid environment. Yeast struggles to grow in this environment, but if something affects the lactobacilli, the vagina becomes less acidic, and yeasts can thrive.
If you have AVMF, yeast populations may rise and fall in response to changing bacteria levels. However, they will continue overgrowing until the underlying factors are treated. The goal of treatment is not to eliminate yeasts from the vagina, where they occur without problems at low levels. The goal is to restore a healthy vagina that manages your yeast population to keep it under control.
How are Yeast Infections Diagnosed?
Yeast infections are relatively easy to diagnose. Your regular gynecologist can test for excessive yeast growth and offer you treatment. This treatment kills off most of the fungi, relieving your symptoms. However, yeast overgrowth will keep returning without treatment of the underlying imbalance.
Dr. Fowler tests your vaginal secretions using a Vaginal Fluid Analysis (VFA). This test allows him to understand the complex interactions between your body and its natural residents. Signs of imbalance include too many yeasts, not enough lactobacilli, and many other factors. The results of this test will guide his treatment plan.
How Do I Make Yeast Infections Stop Coming Back?
The best way to keep yeast infections from returning is by restoring the body’s natural defense against them. When Dr. Fowler addresses the cause of your AVMF, your vagina will house a thriving lactobacilli population that maintains an anti-yeast environment. With your vaginal microbiome restored, yeasts become another minor resident.
Dr. Fowler uses one of more than 40 treatment protocols to find one that achieves results for your condition. Women who follow this treatment plan can achieve extraordinary results and find the lasting relief they have sought for many years.
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.