When you feel an itching and burning sensation in the vaginal area and the sensation seems to persist, you may have a yeast infection. It is estimated that 50 percent of women in the world will suffer from vaginal candidiasis throughout their lives. So you are definitely not alone. However, some conditions may be more serious than others.
The fact is that inside our body, there are already various strains of yeast. Its presence is important to maintain our general health and help in the digestive process.
Symptoms of a vaginal yeast infection can include pain and discomfort when performing normal bodily functions, such as urination, during sexual activity, or after intercourse. There may also be itching and irritation or a burning sensation in the vagina. Also, an infected person may have vaginal discharge. This discharge may vary from person to person. The consistency of the discharge can be thick or watery and milky in color. A non-offensive odor may also be present.
Some people can leave their yeast infection untreated. This may be fine for some people as they see the infection go away after a few days. But for some people, untreated yeast infection can persist. This may be an indicator of a more serious health problem.
If candidiasis is not treated, the symptomatic pains of this infection can continue and this can worsen the severity. It is important to note that sometimes the infection can progress normally and the body wonderfully heals the condition on its own. But that doesn’t mean yeast infection is gone. It’s just a temporary relief. An example of this is during the menstrual cycle. During menstruation, blood flow increases the pH level inside the vagina. This reduces the activity of the yeast cells because these cells do not grow in a high pH environment.
Aside from the pain, itching, and discomfort that come from yeast infection, the chance of an untreated yeast infection developing into another complication is rare. However, it does occur, especially in chronic yeast infections. One such medical condition that can develop as a result of an untreated yeast infection is a blood condition called sepsis. This is a deadly bloodstream condition that results from the spread of bacteria.
Another medical condition that can arise if candidiasis is not treated is vulvovaginal candidiasis. It is an inflammation of the vulva and vagina. Such a condition is more common in women who have three or more yeast infections in a year.