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A vaginal yeast infection is an imbalance in the vagina caused most commonly by an overgrowth of yeast. You usually know pretty quickly if you have a yeast infection because you start experiencing vaginal itching, burning, redness, and a thicker white vaginal discharge. If this is your first yeast infection, don't try to diagnose or treat it yourself. The only way to know for sure is to see a doctor. If you do have one, you may be asking “why me”? There are some pretty common reasons that, happily, you can control. Suffering from stress or fatigue, using perfumed soaps and wearing damp or tight clothing can all increase your risk of a yeast infection so avoid them if you can. Other causes include antibiotic use, diabetes, hormone level changes (either from your menstrual cycle or pregnancy, birth control pills, estrogen therapy), and a weakened immune system. Ask your doctor for help with managing these situations. What’s sex got to do with it? Not much actually. Women who aren’t sexually active can get it as often as those who are. Okay so if you’ve got one, how can you get rid of it? There are a lot of products available that may provide temporary relief from some of the symptoms such as vaginal itching. However, these treatments do not actually cure the infection. Your best treatment is a curative antifungal product, which relieves the symptoms and provides a cure. MONISTAT* miconazole nitrate, for example, is the #1 over-the-counter recommendation of doctors and is chosen by more women than any other brand because of its proven effectiveness. Ask your pharmacist if you need help.
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