home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- $Unique_ID{BRK00482}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Yogurt to Cure Yeast Infections}
- $Subject{vaginitis fungus yogurt douche infection infections parasite
- parasites Genitourinary Vulval irritation vaginal discharge genital
- candidiasis monoliasis antibiotics oral contraceptives diabetes mellitus
- pregnancy menstruation steroids steroid medication medications lactobacillus
- contraceptive contraception contraceptions treatment treatments}
- $Volume{A-14,R-14}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
-
-
- Yogurt to Cure Yeast Infections
-
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- QUESTION: My girlfriend, who is most knowledgeable about such matters, swears
- this is no joke and that it really works. She suffers, as do I and I suppose
- many other women, from frequent yeast infections of the vagina. Her cure is
- to use cultured, but not pasteurized, plain yogurt in a large syringe, which
- is used to put the yogurt in her vagina. She does this once a day for three
- to four days, and claims it never fails to cure the yeast infection. Do you
- believe this is possible?
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- ANSWER: Vulval irritation and vaginal discharge is indeed common in women,
- and when caused by a yeast, is named genital candidiasis or monoliasis. It is
- noted most commonly in individuals who have take antibiotics for one infection
- or another. The medication kills not only the unwanted infection, but also
- the bacteria that normally inhabit the vagina. With the extinction of these
- harmless bacteria, the yeasts, which also live in this area, begin to
- reproduce in an uncontrolled fashion, and soon provoke a vaginitis. Other
- contributing factors may be oral contraceptives, diabetes mellitus, pregnancy,
- menstruation, steroid medications, and constrictive undergarments. If these
- situations can be controlled, yeast vaginitis may be prevented. The yogurt
- theory is based upon the fact that yogurt is produced by another harmless
- germ, a lactobacillus, and that if this bacteria can be introduced into the
- vagina, it might grow and control the over production of yeasts. While it may
- sound like a simple solution to a common problem, I failed to find any real
- scientific evidence to prove its effectiveness, and so feel unable to
- recommend it to you. At any rate, any flavored or pasteurized yogurt
- preparations would certainly be a no-no, as they usually contain no useful
- living bacteria.
-
- ----------------
-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
-
-