Vaginal yeast infection during pregnancy: dangers and how to prevent it

Pregnancy is a period that is most vulnerable to both the pregnant woman and the fetus. That is why, during pregnancy, pregnant women have to make a lot of adjustments to all forms of changes that occur in their body. The reason is, many things can happen during pregnancy. One of them has a vaginal yeast infection.

What are the features and symptoms of vaginal yeast infection?

Yeast yeast infection is the most common type of vaginal infection in women during pregnancy. This infection in medical parlance is called monilial vaginitis or vaginal candidiasis which is caused by an increase in the growth of the yeast Candida albicans - a natural fungus that lives in the vagina.

Some of the symptoms that often arise if you have a yeast infection are that you often have mucus from the vagina. This mucus is normal if it doesn't smell, but if it does, it could be due to a fungal infection. In addition, you also complain that the area around the vagina and labia feels itchy, painful, appears red, sore, even irritated or swollen.

What are the causes of vaginal yeast infection during pregnancy?

Higher levels of estrogen during pregnancy make your vagina produce more glycogen, which then makes it easier for yeast to grow there. Some researchers think this estrogen may have a direct effect on yeast growth, so that the fungus grows faster and sticks more easily to the vaginal wall. Well, this causes the area around the vagina to become itchy, leading to yeast infection.

Apart from being caused by glycogen, the humid environment around the vagina can also trigger the growth of fungi. This is because pregnant women usually sweat very easily, especially if it is very hot outside.

Not only that, you will also be more likely to get yeast infection when you take antibiotics, especially if you take them frequently for a long time. Because the antibiotics you are taking in addition to killing the targeted bacteria, this drug can also affect the bacteria in your vagina which will actually make them grow more and more.

What are the consequences if the mother gets a vaginal yeast infection during pregnancy?

This infection does not endanger your pregnancy. It's just that, the effects will make you uncomfortable in the area around the vagina. However, if the infection still occurs when the baby is born it will have an impact on the baby. One of them is causing the baby to experience oral thrush due to ingestion of the liquid containing the fungus.

That is why, based on this risk, you should immediately treat it if you have a yeast infection during pregnancy. Consult your doctor so you can get safe medicines so that they don't affect your condition during pregnancy.

In addition, it is necessary to know if the vaginal infection is not always caused by a fungus. The reason is, there are also vaginal infections caused by bacteria. So, it is highly recommended to consult a doctor if you see symptoms of vaginal infection during pregnancy.

How do you prevent vaginal yeast infection during pregnancy?

Some things that pregnant women should do to avoid yeast infection during pregnancy, namely:

Make sure to always keep the area around the vagina dry and not damp so as to inhibit the growth of fungi or bacteria.
Clothes that are recommended during pregnancy are those that easily absorb sweat like cotton and don't forget to change your underwear regularly.
When rinsing the vagina, aim for the rinse after urinating from front to back, because if you run from the back to the front you risk getting infected with fungi or other bacteria.
Don't use your pants while they're still wet, it's best to wait for them to dry completely so you don't create a damp environment.
If you still have complaints, you should check your blood sugar level, because if the levels are high it will prolong the healing process for the yeast infection.