What Causes Yeast Infection As We Get Older?
-
Yeast
-
Yeast is a fungus that normally lives on the skin and in the vagina in small numbers. Under normal, healthy circumstances this yeast is controlled by other fungi and bacteria, as well as the body's own immune system so that the yeast doesn't spread and multiply. However, when something happens to upset the normal balance in a woman's body (such as a sickness that kills off the bacteria that normally keep the yeast under control, or a suppression of the immune system) then the yeast can grow and cause a yeast infection. This upset can also occur over time, as a woman ages and her body chemistry changes.
Yeast Infections and Age
-
A woman's age can impact how often she gets yeast infections. As women age, their immune systems grow weaker, and they get sick more often, which can create more opportunity for yeast infections. Additionally, a woman's hormone levels can effect how often she gets yeast infections (which is why women on hormone replacement therapy tend to get more yeast infections). This is why women who begin to enter menopause as they age (which involves a significant drop in their hormone levels) may be prone to more frequent yeast infections as well.
-
Cause and Prevention
-
The basic cause of a yeast infection, as well as the symptoms and treatment, don't change as women age. Yeast infections are still a fungal growth that causes pain and a white discharge in the vagina, and they can still be cured through creams and pills. Rather, it's the aging body that becomes more prone to yeast infections because it can't control the yeast as easily as it could when it was younger. However, the best way to fight the effects of aging in this area is to stay active and to eat well to make sure that the immune system stays in top form, and to keep the body running as normally as possible. And when a yeast infection is detected, it should be treated as soon as possible.
-
