There are 2 good reasons to learn a bit about the causes of vaginal yeast infections. first, if you have recurring yeast infections, you can figure out what's causing them and then work to prevent them, rather than just working to kill the yeast every time they take over. second, if you know what kinds of things cause you to get yeast infections, you can be alert for symptoms and treat them early on with the generally-milder do-it-yourself remedies, rather than bombarding your body with drugs.

Are yeast infections sexually transmitted? Many women think so, but in fact yeast infections almost always appear on their own, with or without sexual activity. Still, some forms of birth control may increase a woman's risk, while others should be avoided during a yeast infection. Tune in as doctors discuss what women should know about yeast infections and sex.

Candida is a fungus often present in the human body. It only causes problems when there's too much of it. Then infections can occur not only in the vagina but in other parts of the body as well -- and in both sexes. Though there are four different types of Candida that can cause these infections, nearly 80 percent are caused by a variety called Candida albicans.

Tabebuia impetiginosa (Pau d'arco bark) contains the active constituents Lapachol and beta-lapachone, which are also known as naphthaquinones. Laboratory tests have demonstrated that both Lapachol and beta-lapachone have anti-fungal properties as potent as ketoconazole, a common antifungal drug, used in the treatment of Candidiasis and yeast infections. Pau D'arco is not soluble in water and is best taken in tincture form where the active ingredients have been extracted medicinally in pharmaceutical ethanol. To prevent side effects, it is also important that the whole bark is used in the extraction process.

Yeast infection may follow a course of antibiotics (particularly tetracycline) that were prescribed for another purpose. The antibiotics change the normal balance between organisms in the vagina by suppressing the growth of protective bacteria that normally have an antifungal effect.

The most common treatments for yeast infections are medications inserted directly into the vagina. The medicine may be a cream that you insert with a special applicator or a suppository that you insert and allow to dissolve on its own.

If you use a cream or suppository to treat the infection, don't depend on a condom or diaphragm for birth control. The oil in some medicines weakens latex, the material often used to make these devices.