Three out of every four women will get a yeast infection at some point in their
lives. And up to 45% of women will get stuck dealing with it more than once.
Yeast infections often occur the week before your
period, resulting from fluctua-
tions in estrogen levels. Yeast infections are diagnosed through a pelvic exam.
Your healthcare provider might also do a culture for yeast cells.
With proper treatment, infections are typically cured
within a few days. Untreated
yeast infections, while very uncomfortable, are not normally harmful to women.
But it’s important to be certain you have a yeast infection, and not something
else
more serious.
About 5% of women experience recurrent yeast
infections, getting them more
than four times over a 12-month period. Recurrent infections that are hard to
get
rid of can be an early sign of a more serious condition like HIV or diabetes.
If you
have recurring symptoms of yeast infections, it is especially important to see
your
doctor as soon as you can.
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Yeast
infections are more common than you might think.
