Will the fungus heal itself after menstruation?

Candidal vaginitis is a very common gynecological inflammation. There are many causes of candidal vaginitis in women. Generally speaking, candidal vaginitis will not heal itself without treatment. If candidal vaginitis is allowed to develop, not only will the condition worsen, but it will also affect a person's physical health. Candidal vaginitis will not heal itself after a woman's menstruation, so those people are more likely to suffer from candidal vaginitis.

Which groups of people are susceptible to candidal vaginitis?

(1) Extensive use of broad-spectrum antibiotics: There are usually many bacteria living in women’s vaginas. These different bacterial communities restrict each other, forming a symbiotic state, and are not pathogenic. The large-scale and long-term use of broad-spectrum antibiotics causes the flora in the vagina to become disordered, the mutual inhibitory effects between them are changed, and Candida albicans is able to multiply in large numbers. With the increasing use of antibiotics, the incidence of candidal vaginitis has also increased.

(2) Pregnancy: During pregnancy, the level of sex hormones in the body is significantly higher than usual, which will increase the glycogen content in the vaginal epithelial cells and increase the acidity of the vagina, forming an environment that is conducive to the growth of Candida albicans. At the same time, pregnancy can reduce the immunity of cells, which makes it easier for Candida albicans to cause disease. According to statistics, one-third of pregnant women have Candida in their vagina, with an incidence rate of about 15%.

(3) Diabetes: After suffering from diabetes, the body's sugar metabolism is disordered, blood sugar rises, and the glycogen content in the vaginal epithelial cells increases, which also increases the acidity in the vagina, making it easier for Candida to grow and reproduce.

(4) Use of corticosteroids: Long-term use of corticosteroids will reduce the phagocytic ability of white blood cells and reduce the body's immunity; at the same time, corticosteroids can also increase the body's blood sugar level, increasing the possibility of candidal vaginitis.

(5) Use of immunosuppressants: This will reduce the body's immunity and make it more susceptible to candidal vaginitis.

(6) Application of estrogen: Estrogen has the effect of depositing glycogen in the vaginal epithelial cells. These glycogens are broken down into lactic acid by vaginal lactobacilli, which increases vaginal acidity and is conducive to the growth of Candida albicans.

(7) Suffering from a serious disease that reduces immunity or when there is a deficiency of vitamin B complex can also easily lead to candidal vaginitis.

Is vaginal candidal infection contagious?

Although 10% to 20% of healthy women carry Candida in their vaginas, and some special circumstances in life such as long-term use of antibiotics and diabetes can induce vaginal Candida infection, in many cases candidal vaginitis can also be infected from the outside. When a woman has sexual contact with a man with a positive Candida culture, the infection rate is 80%; among men who have sexual contact with women with candidal vaginitis, about 1/2 will be infected. In other words, candidal vaginitis can be transmitted through sexual intercourse, which is why when a woman suffers from candidal vaginitis, her spouse must also receive treatment at the same time. In addition, indirect contact infection is also a transmission route of candidal vaginitis. Contact with toilets, bathtubs, bath seats, towels in public toilets, and the use of unclean toilet paper can cause the spread of the disease. When the number of Candida albicans in the vulva and vagina of the infected person reaches a certain level, fungal vulvovaginitis can occur.

What are the clinical manifestations of candidal vaginitis and how to diagnose it?

The most common symptoms of candidal vaginitis are vulvar itching and a significant increase in leucorrhea. The patient's itching symptoms are sometimes mild, sometimes severe, and sometimes come and go. The vulvar itching caused by candidal vaginitis is generally more obvious than that caused by Trichomonas vaginitis. Those with severe itching will be restless and unable to sleep or eat. Women may also have vaginal burning pain, especially when urinating. When the inflammation is severe, frequent urination, painful urination, and painful sexual intercourse may also occur. Increased vaginal discharge is another major symptom of this disease. Leucorrhea is usually thick and viscous, and can be white or yellow in color, or it can be thin. The typical vaginal discharge of candidal vaginitis is in the form of tofu dregs or curds. Gynecological examination revealed: Depending on the severity of the disease, the labia minora and vaginal mucosa had varying degrees of congestion and the labia minora were edematous. There is a lot of sticky leucorrhea in the vagina or the vaginal mucosa is covered with a white film. After wiping off the white film, the exposed mucosa can be seen to be red, swollen, eroded or with superficial ulcers.

If the symptoms are typical, it is not difficult to make a diagnosis, but laboratory tests should be routinely combined to confirm the diagnosis. The commonly used method is the hanging drop method: place a drop of normal saline or 10% potassium hydroxide solution on a glass slide, take a small amount of secretions and put it in it, and examine it directly under a microscope. If pseudohyphae and spores are found, it means that Candida is in a pathogenic state at this time, and candidal vaginitis can be diagnosed. If the patient's symptoms are suspicious but direct microscopic examination of multiple times does not find pseudohyphae, bacterial culture should be done.

How to treat vaginal candidal infection?

Treatment of candidal vaginitis can be done with either Western medicine alone or a combination of Chinese and Western medicine.

(1) General treatment: Actively treat other diseases that may cause candidal vaginitis and eliminate susceptible factors. Keep the vulva clean and dry and avoid scratching. Sexual intercourse is prohibited during treatment. It is not advisable to eat spicy and irritating foods.

(2) Changing the pH value of the vagina: The most suitable pH value for the growth of Candida is 5.5. Therefore, using alkaline solutions to flush the vulva and vagina can change the pH value of the vagina and inhibit the growth and reproduction of fungi. You can use 2% to 4% baking soda water to flush the vagina 1 to 2 times a day, and one course of treatment is 2 weeks. After flushing, wipe the vulva dry and keep it dry to inhibit the growth of Candida.

(3) Vaginal medication: Using imidazole suppositories for vaginal medication has a good effect on candidal vaginitis. Take 1 clotrimazole suppository every night and insert it into the vagina after flushing. 10 to 14 days is a course of treatment; or take 1 Daktarin suppository every night and insert it into the vagina after flushing. 7 days is a course of treatment.

(4) Topical ointments: Applying clotrimazole ointment or dacrylin ointment externally can treat vulvitis caused by fungal infection and relieve symptoms of vulvar itching and pain. Apply externally several times daily for 2 weeks. Yifuqing Ointment is made of econazole as the main drug, with a small amount of local steroid therapeutic agent added. It has a good antipruritic effect and is more suitable for people with candidal vulvitis and vaginitis who have unbearable vulvar itching and pain. Apply externally to the vulva, once in the morning and once in the evening.

(5) Oral medication: Since fungal infections can be transmitted between couples through sexual intercourse, both parties can be treated with oral medication, which can also inhibit intestinal Candida albicans. Fluconazole oral dose: 150 mg once, taken all at once. Or take Sporanox orally: If it is the first infection of candidal vaginitis, take 200 mg each time, take it after breakfast and dinner, and only take it for 1 day; if it is recurrent candidal vaginitis, the dosage of Sporanox needs to be increased, and you can take 200 mg each time, once a day, for 3 consecutive days, or you can take it twice a day, 100 mg each time, for 3 consecutive days. Take the medicine after meals.

(6) Treatment with Chinese herbal medicine: Use Chinese herbal decoctions that have the effects of clearing away heat and detoxifying, killing insects and relieving itching to fumigate and wash the vulva, which can not only relieve symptoms but also inhibit and eliminate Candida albicans. Since the patient's vulvar itching, pain and burning symptoms are significantly alleviated after fumigation, it is more suitable for women with acute candidal vaginitis and can relieve the patient's pain. In addition, Chinese herbal medicines can be made into powders or suppositories and applied vaginally.