Can Trichomoniasis be Caused by Yeast Infection?
Trichomoniasis is very different from yeast infection. While the former is usually a sexually transmitted disease caused by a form of parasite, yeast infection occurs due to excess growth of a form of fungus in the genitals. Although the symptoms may look similar, yeast infection and Trichomoniasis are not the same.
How Does Yeast Infection Occur?
When it comes to women, a small number of yeast is usually present in the vagina which is responsible for its self-cleaning system. However, it may happen so that such form of the fungus called the Candida albicans undergoes an overgrowth in the vaginal area. This may happen due to various reasons like diabetes, pregnancy, use of antibiotics or even steroids. It is seen that such growth may occur if the woman wears tight and damp clothes, creating the environment which promote the growth of the infection.
How do the Symptoms of Trichomoniasis Differ from Yeast Infection?
Sometimes it may be difficult to make a correct diagnosis because some symptoms of Trichomoniasis may overlap with those of yeast infection. However, there are certain differences between the two. They include-
- Patients having Trichomoniasis have a foul smell in their urine while patients having yeast infection may not have such a foul smell.
- The discharge occurring in yeast infection somewhat resembles like “cottage cheese”. This does not occur in Trichomoniasis.
- Trichomoniasis is more of a sexually transmitted parasitic infection which needs to be treated with antibiotic medications, while yeast infection can be treated with antifungal medications.
- The best way to know if one has Trichomoniasis or yeast infection is to get checked by the doctor. The doctor may ask the patient to go for some tests which will confirm the type of infection the patient has, so that further treatment process can be carried out.
Are There Any Complications Of These Infections?
According to the medical research, any kind of infection, if left untreated may bring serious complications. If infection is not treated, it may spread to the fallopian tube which may be dangerous. Thus, no matter what symptom one has, it is advised to visit a doctor so that early treatment can be done.
How Can Yeast Infection Be Prevented?
- It is important to have a look on the diet of the person having yeast infection. One may include yogurt into the diet as it keeps yeast infection and growth of fungus away.
- One must avoid douching. Douching is essentially not safe and is known to kill the good bacteria and invite the growth of fungi. It should be remembered that a woman’s vagina is blessed with a self cleaning system and douching is not really required. It damages the natural pH level of the vagina making is all the more prone to infections.
- Wearing of tight and damp clothes should be avoided. Damped and tight garments create a moist and dark environment which is suitable for the rapid yeast growth. Thus it is important to always wear fresh and loose garments especially underwear. Wearing clean and fresh garments reduces the risk of having such diseases.
- It is important to keep the genitals clean. People, especially women must clean the area with warm water to get rid of the sweat and dirt so accumulated. Also, it is important to keep the genitals dry.
Conclusion
Trichomoniasis is usually accompanied by greenish-yellow discharge and foul smelling urine, while no form of smell is noticed in yeast infection. Discharge in the latter is quite thick and resembles the cottage cheese. Both the infections are treatable. While Trichomoniasis is treated by antibiotics, yeast infection needs antifungal medications. It is important to visit the doctor for a proper diagnosis of the disease and it’s following treatment.
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