Yeast Infection During Pregnancy:
PROTECT Yourself and Your Baby

Is the woman's body especially prone to yeast infections during pregnancy? This question occupies many women who are about to give birth. In fact, the chances of being infected with Candida are twice as high during childbearing compared to normal conditions. In this article, a former yeast infection sufferer and certified nutritionist discusses the internal factors that contribute to yeast infections, the reasons behind its prevalence during pregnancy, and ways to overcome this medical condition safely and effectively. Before discussing the complex relationship between pregnancy and the tendency to develop Candida infections, let’s briefly discuss the immediate biological causes of yeast infection as a medical condition.

Yeast infection, also known as Candidiasis, is a fungal infection that can manifest systemically or locally, and is especially common among women living in western countries. The most prevalent subtype of yeast infection is vaginal infection. The typical symptoms of vaginal infection include burning and itching in the vagina area and the surrounding outer tissues; white, thick, "cottage cheesy" vaginal discharge; pain during sexual intercourse etc.  Nearly 75 percent of all women in western countries will have at least one such infection in their lifetime, whereas many of them suffer from recurring Candida infections.

“Yeast” is a medical term for single-celled fungi. The common name for the variety of fungi often present in the human body (even in normal conditions) is Candida. While most people have these organisms to some degree in the genital or intestinal tract - fungi overgrowth can lad to painful debilitating symptoms and severe health complications.

Like many other medical conditions, Candida overgrowth is caused by numerous factors, co-factors and the interaction between them. Various genetic, psychological, lifestyle, internal and external elements form directly or indirectly the environment in which Candida multiplication occurs.

During pregnancy, a woman's body goes through a series of hormonal, physiological and psychological changes. These alterations significantly contribute to Candida overgrowth and its related symptoms. The hormonal changes, which are typical during pregnancy, alter the environment of the vagina, making the fungi more likely to overgrow. In addition to that, many pregnant women experience emotional instability while expecting a child. Emotional stress may lower one’s immune system and contribute to yeast cultivation. Finally, pregnant women often crave foods rich in sugar and white flour. Since a widespread cultural tradition encourages expecting women to consume foods they crave with no limitations –sugars and refined carbohydrates feed the yeast that thrives in sugary environments.

Curing candidiasis in pregnant women is of high importance, since an infected woman can pass the infection to her baby during pregnancy or childbirth, through the birth canal; or during breastfeeding. Moreover, neglected candidiasis can develop into severe systemic yeast infection, which can impact the infected woman’s life and well being in an extremely negative way. Since most antibiotic treatments and OTC antifungal medications are not recommended to pregnant women, finding an alternative solution for candidiasis during pregnancy is essential.