Becoming pregnant is a joyous experience with the ability to introduce a new human life into the world. With the good comes the potential for the bad as well though. Yeast infections are gradually developing into a major concern as it is becoming increasingly apparent in individuals. Studies have shown that yeast infections during pregnancy are even more common than before.

It is scary to think that 80 percent of women will have a yeast infection at least once in their life. Then you consider that women are more susceptible to a yeast infection during pregnancy than any other time in their life. To narrow it down even further, during the second trimester of pregnancy is when studies have shown the most yeast infections become apparent.

The reason yeast infections during pregnancy are so common is because of the ups and downs your body is experiencing hormonally. The more acidic your vaginal pH level is the better chance you have of fighting off a yeast infection. However, during the second trimester there is an increase of sugar in vaginal secretions. This causes a great deal of growth in the baby and gives way to an increased amount of sugar for yeast to feed on.

While there has been no evidence showing that a yeast infection during pregnancy can harm the baby, it certainly makes things unpleasant. Because of the fact that you are pregnant, the amount of drugs normally used to treat the infection is limited. With the decrease in drugs, it takes longer to get rid of the infection and will make things that much more unpleasant.

The best way to assure yourself that your baby is not born with a defect and does not become damaged by the yeast infection during pregnancy is to treat it as soon as possible. If you go without treating the infection for too long, the infection can be passed on to the baby through the mouth.

There are various treatment methods to choose from, but a simple over-the-counter and prescription cream of some sort. As mentioned, it is best if you try to avoid a high amount of medications while pregnant for the good of the baby.

Being pregnant is a pain itself, which is why it is troubling to see such high numbers of women dealing with yeast infections during pregnancy. For the sake of your baby, if you limit the amount of medications you use to treat the infection and act quickly, the baby should not be affected whatsoever. Overall, it will take between one to three weeks to completely heal you from a yeast infection during pregnancy.