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What To Know About Yeast Infections During Pregnancy - Yahoo
Because of the hormone surge, people are more susceptible to yeast infections during pregnancy. Here are ways to manage yeast infections, safely.
Medically reviewed by Andrea Chisholm, MD FACOG
As your body changes during pregnancy due to your growing baby and hormonal fluctuations, you may notice an adjustment in your vaginal discharge. While clear or white odor-free discharge is considered normal, if you begin to feel itching or swelling, accompanied by thicker, textured discharge, you may have what is commonly known as a yeast infection.
We had experts weigh in on safely managing yeast infections during pregnancy, so you can get some relief and start feeling better ASAP.
Related: Everything to Know About Vaginal Infections During Pregnancy
What Is a Yeast Infection?First of all, yeast infections are a frustratingly common vaginal ailment. In fact, if you get them, you are not alone: some studies estimate 3 out of 4 vagina-havers will experience yeast infections in their lifetime. Unfortunately, yeast infections are more common in pregnant people, because higher estrogen levels and glycogen content in vaginal discharge create an environment for yeast to thrive.
Jill Krapf, MD, board-certified OB-GYN, vulvar and vaginal health specialist, and medical advisor to Evvy, explains that yeast is a natural occurrence. "Yeast, known medically as Candida, naturally lives on our skin, in the vagina, and in the gut in small amounts. However, when there is an overgrowth of yeast, there can be symptoms. We commonly call this a yeast infection," she explains.
Related: 4 Vaginal Infections That Are Common During Pregnancy
What Causes a Yeast Infection During Pregnancy?A yeast infection is primarily caused by an excess of yeast, which lives naturally on the skin, in digestive tracts, and, of course, in the vagina. Normally, the pH of a vagina keeps yeast at a low level, but of course, pregnancy changes everything.
Dan Jackowiak, nutritional consultant and holistic health care practitioner who specializes in candida yeast infections, explains that vaginal yeast infections are unfortunately quite common.
"Elevated estrogen levels, which are responsible for glycogen levels in the vagina, can facilitate yeast overgrowth. When you are pregnant, the body has increased estrogen levels, predisposing women to this cause," he confirms.
What Are the Symptoms of a Yeast Infection During Pregnancy?Pregnancy comes with its share of discomforts, but an itching, swollen vagina during a yeast infection is possibly one of the most uncomfortable. "Symptoms of a yeast infection include itch, redness, swelling, and soreness with a white, thick, curd-like vaginal discharge. The irritation can lead to pain with vaginal insertion and stinging with urination," says Dr. Krapf.
So, if you see any abnormally-textured discharge, and are feeling discomfort, it might be time to reach out to an OB-GYN or health care provider. It's important to treat your yeast infection. If you don't, Jackowiak explains, it could ultimately lead to urinary disorders and bladder infections.
Related: 7 Unexpected Ways Your Vagina Changes During Pregnancy
How Are Yeast Infections Treated During Pregnancy?Luckily, there are options for treating yeast infections during pregnancy. Commonly prescribed antifungals, like diflucan, can help get yeast overgrowths back under control. Antifungals are taken either as a pill or via insertion in the vagina with an applicator, as well as in topical creams and ointments for the skin of the vulva, points out Dr. Krapf.
"It is important to have a gynecologic exam and vaginal culture collected because many non-infection vulvovaginal conditions can feel like a yeast infection. In addition, some yeast infections are caused by Candida species that do not respond to commonly-used or over-the-counter treatments," she continues.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), if you take antifungal medications for your yeast infection and the symptoms do not abate, it is very important to go to your OB-GYN, to make sure it isn't a different infection requiring antibiotics.
How Do Yeast Infections Impact Pregnancy?Pregnancy changes hormone levels throughout your body, especially estrogen. These changes can also affect the pH of your vagina. "Yeast infections are more common in pregnancy because hormone changes can disrupt the vaginal pH, promoting yeast overgrowth. Yeast infections do not generally affect pregnancy or the growing baby," Dr. Krapf confirms.
It is vital, though, to treat your yeast infection, especially as you reach full term. "If you are nearing labor, it is important to ensure you mitigate any infections before giving birth, as vaginal yeast can be passed to the baby through the mouth during delivery resulting in an oral yeast infection for them," explains Jackowiak.
It's important to speak to an OB-GYN or health care provider about any recurring infections or lingering symptoms.
When to Contact a Health Care Provider About Yeast Infections During PregnancyIdeally, a pregnant person should contact an OB-GYN or health care provider immediately if they think they have a yeast infection.
"Your doctor will likely do an exam and collect a vaginal swab to determine species of yeast and rule out other infections, including sexually transmitted infections. If symptoms are not improving in a few days or seem to come back after being treated, you should contact your doctor or be seen for further testing," says Dr. Krapf.
If you happened to have reached for the over-the-counter treatment before calling a health care provider, be sure to follow up with a medical professional, especially if your symptoms do not get better. Together, you and health care provider can determine the source of your discomfort and the best route of treatment for going forward.
Related: 24 Weird Pregnancy Symptoms You Might Not Expect
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Selenium Exposure During Pregnancy May Reduce Childhood Streptococcal ...
Higher maternal selenium levels during pregnancy were associated with a lower risk of streptococcal infections in children, suggesting a potential protective effect.
Scientists from Hokkaido University have discovered that exposure to certain metals and trace elements during pregnancy may affect a child's risk of developing streptococcal infections, according to a new study published in PLOS ONE. These infections are common in children, especially those caused by Group A Streptococcus, a bacterium that commonly causes illnesses such as strep throat, skin infections, and, in severe cases, more serious complications like scarlet fever or invasive diseases. The findings could contribute to improved strategies for preventing childhood infections.
The research team tracked more than 74,000 mothers and their children from a nationwide study in Japan. They measured the mothers' blood levels of various metals and trace elements, including selenium, mercury, cadmium, lead, and manganese. The researchers then followed the children to see whether they developed streptococcal infections between the ages of three and four. Statistical analysis was used to explore potential links between maternal metal exposure and infection risk in the children.
"We found that mothers with higher selenium levels during pregnancy were less likely to have children who developed streptococcal infections. " says Hiroyoshi Iwata, the study's first author, from the Center for Environmental and Health Sciences at Hokkaido University. "This association was strongest among mothers with the highest selenium levels in their blood. However, high selenium concentrations during pregnancy can lead to toxicity and adverse effects, so caution is necessary. As this research is based on a single blood sample provided by pregnant mothers, and the results of this study alone should not be used to recommend selenium intake during pregnancy."
Selenium is a trace element that plays a key role in immune function, and previous studies have suggested that it may help the body combat infections by strengthening the immune system. These new findings support the idea that sufficient selenium levels during pregnancy could help enhance a child's immune defenses against bacterial infections.
This study supports the importance of ensuring adequate selenium intake during pregnancy for the benefit of children's long-term health and adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that selenium plays a vital role in immunity. However, this study specifically analyzed the relationship between maternal selenium levels and streptococcus infections only, and did not evaluate the relationships with other infectious diseases. Further research is needed to fully understand how selenium supports the immune system and to determine the optimal levels during pregnancy.
Source Of Pregnancy Complications From Infections ... - ScienceDaily
The first panoramic view of infection pathways in the human placenta has been created, which could highlight potential drug targets to develop pregnancy-safe therapies for malaria, toxoplasmosis and listeria, all diseases that can cause severe pregnancy complications.
Researchers from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, the University of Cambridge, the University of Dundee, and collaborators, used novel 'mini placenta' models to map the placental response to infections in early development. This work is part of the wider Human Cell Atlas consortium1, which aims to map every cell type in the human body to transform our understanding of health and disease.
The study, published today (3 May) in Cell Systems, focused on the pathways involved in malaria, toxoplasmosis, and listeria infection, all of which can cause pregnancy complications and miscarriage. It revealed that secondary inflammation may be the cause of pregnancy complications during these infections and uncovered that placental immune cells are likely to play a defensive role against pathogens.
Future work focusing on identifying potential drug targets in the pathways that cause complications during infection could inform the design of more directed therapies to tackle infections in early-stage pregnancies.
Infections during pregnancy are a major global health concern2 affecting millions of people around the world. These infections can potentially cause maternal death, sepsis, and pregnancy complications, including miscarriage, foetal developmental conditions, low birth weight, and stillbirth3.
Malaria, toxoplasmosis, and listeria are widespread infections that can lead to pregnancy complications. This is of particular concern in regions where these infections are more common. For example, in Sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Southeast Asia where the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum is endemic4.
The placenta acts as a selective barrier during pregnancy, which allows nutrients to cross from mother to baby while blocking pathogens and toxins.
However, the pathogens that cause toxoplasmosis and listeria can cross the placenta, and the parasite responsible for malaria can attach to the outside. The foetus is particularly vulnerable during early-stage development as the immune response is not fully established, meaning that the foetus relies heavily on the placental barrier for protection.
Despite the impact of infections during pregnancy, the pathways and mechanisms these infections use to cross the placenta are poorly understood, partly due to the limitations of laboratory models used and differences between humans and mice.
In the latest study from the Wellcome Sanger Institute and collaborators, the team established ex vivo explant models, or 'mini placentas' from human samples5, which allowed them to map the response to infection at single-cell resolution.
The researchers identified a type of foetal immune cell, known as a Hofbauer cell, that were activated in all three types of infection but in different pathways. This is the first time that placental immune cells have been shown to play a defensive role against pathogens in a model of the human placenta.
The team found that pathogens can infiltrate these immune cells. For example, T. Gondii, the parasite that causes toxoplasmosis, is likely to use these immune cells to evade the ongoing immune response and travel around the body.
They also discovered that all three infections induced a general inflammatory response in the placenta which dysregulated placental functions. This suggests that secondary inflammation may be the cause of some pregnancy complications.
Targeting these inflammation pathways could lead to pregnancy-specific treatment for infections, which is not currently possible.
In addition to this, the 'mini placenta' models developed by this team can be used in future research to gain more insights into placental response to infections as well as wider placental changes during development.
Dr Regina Hoo, co-first author from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, said: "While infections during pregnancy have been known to cause complications, including miscarriage and stillbirth, very little has been known about the underlying mechanisms. Our research shows that even with pathogens that cannot cross the placenta, the secondary inflammation from the immune system may be responsible for disrupting foetal development. Identifying key processes involved with the inflammation pathway could help us develop pregnancy-specific treatments that minimise this in the future."
Elias Ruiz-Morales, co-first author from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, said: "We discovered that placental immune cells called macrophages can protect the placenta against infections. This is the first time that placental immune cells have been shown to play a defensive role in early-stage pregnancy in humans, and that these immune cells can be hijacked by toxoplasma during infection. Understanding more about how the placental immune system works can help give new insights into pregnancy complications."
Dr Marcus Lee, co-senior author from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, now at the University of Dundee, said: "Millions of pregnancies each year are potentially exposed to malaria, and understanding how the parasite adapts during infection and how the body responds will be important in improving outcomes. However, studying the interactions between pathogens and the human placenta is understandably incredibly difficult and therefore the development of new models, such as the placental tissue system we used in this research, are a much-needed step forward."
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