Yeast infections, also known as vaginal candidiasis, can be a pain, and they are extra common during pregnancy! Let’s cover everything you could need to know about vaginal health, yeast infection with pregnancy, is a yeast infection a pregnancy symptom (yeast infection in pregnancy symptoms), yeast infection pregnancy discharge, how to treat yeast infection pregnancy, and does yeast infection affect pregnancy.
Are Yeast Infections in Early Pregnancy Common?
Yeast infections are a type of fungal infection that can come on their own or follow a bacterial vaginal infection. 75% of women will have at least one yeast infection in their lifetime [1].
But during pregnancy, studies have found that 20-30% of women develop a yeast infection [2].
What Causes Yeast Infection in Pregnancy?
Yeast infections occur when the normal pH levels and yeast in the vagina are out of balance. This allows the yeast to overgrow causing a yeast infection.
A yeast infection with pregnancy can be caused by one or more of the following:
- Hormonal changes that come with pregnancy (or before your period if you aren’t pregnant)
- Taking hormones or birth control pills
- Taking antibiotics or steroids
- High blood sugar, as in gestational diabetes. In fact, if you are having repeated yeast infections in pregnancy, this could indicate gestational diabetes.
- Sex
- Douching
- Blood or semen
What makes vaginal yeast infections more common in pregnancy is the hormonal changes.
During pregnancy there is an immense increase in the hormone estrogen which creates a more hospitable climate for yeast to colonize the vagina because it binds to the protein factor H on the surface of the cells that cause vulvovaginal candidiasis [1].
Is a Yeast Infection a Pregnancy Symptom?
A yeast infection is not really a symptom of pregnancy.
They are less common to occur early on in pregnancy. Plus, many women don’t have them at all during their pregnancy.
Most women will miss their period before they would get a yeast infection as a symptom of pregnancy.
Yeast Infection with Pregnancy: Symptoms
Symptoms of a yeast infection with pregnancy can include:
- Irritation on the vulva (the external tissues at the opening of the vagina)
- Vulvar redness
- Vulvar swelling
- Intense itching
- An increase in thick white or tan vaginal discharge
- Other discharge may be greenish or yellowish
- Discharge may have a bread-like or sweet (yeasty) odor
- Burning sensation during urination or sex
Vaginal yeast infections can occur any time throughout your pregnancy, but they are the most common during the second trimester.
If you notice any of these signs of a vaginal yeast infection during your pregnancy, contact your midwife or OB if you would like their advice and a conversation to figure out the best vaginal yeast infection treatment options for you.
Can a Yeast Infection with Pregnancy Cause Bleeding?
A yeast infection can cause very light bleeding or spotting. But never heavy bleeding that persists.
If you’re experiencing heavy bleeding during pregnancy, this could indicate a different underlying condition.
Be sure to contact your midwife or OB if you would like some answers on why you might be bleeding during your pregnancy.
Is a Yeast Infection in Pregnancy Dangerous?
Thankfully, a yeast infection won’t affect your developing baby!
This is why, if you do not have any symptoms, you don’t even need treatment for the vaginal yeast infection!
However, if you do have symptoms, finding some method of treatment is greatly beneficial. Most symptomatic yeast infections get worse when they are left untreated. This means more intense itching, redness, and inflammation.
Plus, if your skin gets torn from repeated scratching, a skin infection can result from the open wound.
Furthermore, a recent study did not find evidence of an increased risk of preterm birth or other adverse perinatal outcomes in pregnant women with symptomatic or asymptomatic yeast infection in pregnancy [3].
How to Treat a Yeast Infection in Pregnancy (OTC Methods)
Before we get into my favorite natural remedies for yeast infections that I have always used, let’s discuss the OTC (over-the-counter) options that you have for a vaginal yeast infection.
Antifungals
Topical creams or vaginal suppositories are commonly used during pregnancy and breastfeeding for vaginal yeast infections. And since yeast is a fungus, the common over the counter medications are antifungals.
Over the counter medications such as Miconazole, Clotrimazole, and Terconazole have been shown to eliminate a yeast infection safely and effectively. They are usually applied for three to seven days. It is important to finish the entire course of medication to prevent the infection from coming back.
The oral medication Diflucan (fluconazole) is not recommended for pregnant women. Although this medication is a single pill, studies have found that fluconazole carries an increased risk of miscarriage, birth defects, or stillbirth, especially at high doses taken over long periods of time [4].
Antiseptic
Boric acid is an antiseptic that has been found to be helpful for both bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections. It can be used at the first onset of symptoms, but it is not recommended to use long-term.
There is little published information regarding the safety of boric acid, but research has found that a limited amount of boric acid is absorbed systemically, therefore there is little theoretical risk to using boric acid suppositories and no proven risk of its use [5].
The typical dose of boric acid is 600 mg with a vaginal suppository per night for 14 consecutive nights [5].
However, due to the lacking evidence on its use during pregnancy, it’s recommended to avoid boric acid during pregnancy.
Nevertheless, if you get a yeast infection while you aren’t pregnant, I recommend The Honey Pot Boric Acid Suppositories as these also contain tea tree oil which is extremely beneficial in treating yeast infections.
Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids can reduce symptoms of itchiness and redness, however, a high-quality study found that mothers who used oral corticosteroids had an increased risk of a baby with a cleft palate compared to mothers who did not have oral corticosteroids [4].
Vaginal Yeast Infection Home Remedies
Luckily, there are multiple home remedies for vaginal yeast infections that you can use!
tea tree oil & coconut oil
Using tea tree oil and coconut oil have been how I have treated every vaginal yeast infection since becoming an adult and a mother. I also used it as treatment once while I was pregnant!
Tea tree oil is an essential oil that has antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties [6].
It’s been used for hundreds of years to help treat skin infections and heal wounds.
In one study, researchers looked at a formulation where the main ingredient was tea tree oil and found that it fought against yeast infection strains and had beneficial bioadhesive properties which could help prevent future yeast infections [7].
I love and trust Plant Therapy as my source of essential oils, including my Plant Therapy Tea Tree Essential Oil. Their prices are reasonable, they are not an MLM (multi-level marketing scheme), and they are third party tested for gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, with batch numbers included on your bottle to check anytime.
For making the use of tea tree oil more safe and effective, I use pure, unrefined, and organic coconut oil as a carrier oil for vaginal yeast infections.
Coconut oil is a fatty oil derived from the flesh of the coconut.
It has antifungal properties with research showing that it is effective against C. Albicans (the most common candida strain to cause yeast infections), making this a fantastic ingredient for fighting a yeast infection [8, 9].
Boost your immune system
This isn’t a treatment that would very quickly attack the overgrowth of C. Albicans.
However, I highly recommend boosting your immune system to help your body fight off a yeast infection and to prevent them!
Methods for boosting your immune system include:
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin C
- Probiotics. Tip: When looking for a vaginal health probiotic, choose one that is refrigerated, has high CFUs (colony forming units/the number of viable cells), and says it is for women’s or vaginal health! Renew Life Women’s Care Probiotics is a great choice if you’re interested!
- Echinacea. Or, check out my favorite echinacea tea!
- Zinc
- Elderberry
- Get enough sleep
- Reduce stress. Check out 6 Miracle Herbs for Hormonal Balance!
- Move your body
- Eat nutrient dense meals and snacks
- Spend time outdoors
- Remove or reduce chemicals and toxins in your home and lifestyle. Check out The Beginner’s Guide to Non-Toxic Living to help you out!
diluted apple cider vinegar bath
Apple cider vinegar has antifungal, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties [10].
Therefore, another beneficial way to fight a vaginal yeast infection is to have a lukewarm perineal bath using 1/2-1 cup of apple cider vinegar depending on how much water is diluting the apple cider vinegar.
Against Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli (which can cause bacterial vaginosis), apple cider vinegar worked even when diluted by ratios of 1:25 or 1:50 [11].
Probiotics
Probiotics support the immune system, but they also are effective against C. Albicans [12].
You can receive probiotics from yogurt, some cheeses such as gouda, or raw milk that has been gathered and handled safely from a clean, local, and trusted farm.
Note: Raw milk is not good for babies as they have underdeveloped immune systems for the first years of their lives, therefore I do not recommend giving a baby raw milk.
Otherwise, you could buy and take probiotic capsules or powders that contain Lactobacillus acidophilus.
These bacteria help promote a healthy environment in your vagina, and they can help address an overgrowth caused by a bacterial imbalance.
Garlic
Evidence has found that garlic can kill Candida and inhibit the growth of Candida Albicans [13, 14].
However, another study found that although garlic was very effective against Candida Albicans, it was less effective than Nystatin, and antifungal pharmaceutical mentioned above [14].
Keep in mind, taking garlic can definitely help with preventing yeast infections. I take Now Garlic Capsules daily to fight bad bacteria in my body to prevent me from getting sick, in addition to garlic’s many other benefits!
hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is an antiseptic known to kill bacteria and yeast [15].
Lactobacillus bacteria in your vagina actually produce hydrogen peroxide naturally. Therefore, some people have found using hydrogen peroxide topically to work great in fighting a vaginal yeast infection.
To use hydrogen peroxide when fighting a yeast infection, you can add it to a bath or dilute it in water before applying it to your vulva. Dilute with a 1:1 ratio of hydrogen peroxide and water.
Avoid douching or ingesting hydrogen peroxide internally in any way.
Vitamin e
Vitamin E is a fantastic oil that I would add to the tea tree essential oil and coconut oil mixture to treat a vaginal yeast infection naturally.
Research has found that vitamin E can reduce inflamation, soothe itching, and burning caused by Candida Albicans [16].
How to Reduce Your Risk of Vaginal Yeast Infections
During pregnancy and beyond, you can reduce your risk of vaginal yeast infections by:
- Wiping front to back after using the toilet
- Supporting your immune system
- Avoid using scented tampons, pads, or pantyliners. Check out Are Organic Tampons and Pads Really Better for You?
- Avoid many very hot baths and hot tubs
- Wear cotton underwear to promote airflow
- Avoid douching, this kills many healthy vaginal bacteria that prevent infections
- Learn how to clean and care for your vagina the right way
- Wear loose fitting clothing
- Sleep naked
- Manage your blood sugar if you have diabetes or gestational diabetes
- Remove wet workout clothes and swimsuits as soon as possible after activities
Questions or Comments on Yeast Infection with Pregnancy?
If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below👇🏻
Talk soon, mama!
– Katelyn Lauren
Pin “Yeast Infection with Pregnancy: Symptoms and Treatments” for Later!
Save this post to your Pinterest to view again anytime!
References:
[1] UT Southwestern Medical Center: Yeast Infection During Pregnancy
[2] Aguin, T.J., Sobel, J.D. Vulvovaginal Candidiasis in Pregnancy. Curr Infect Dis Rep 17, 30 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11908-015-0462-0
[3] Gigi, R.M.S., Buitrago-Garcia, D., Taghavi, K. et al. Vulvovaginal yeast infections during pregnancy and perinatal outcomes: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Women’s Health 23, 116 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-023-02258-7
[4] Zhu Y, Bateman B T, Gray K J, Hernandez-Diaz S, Mogun H, Straub L et al. Oral fluconazole use in the first trimester and risk of congenital malformations: population based cohort study BMJ 2020; 369 :m1494 doi:10.1136/bmj.m1494
[5] Soong, D., & Einarson, A. (2009). Vaginal yeast infections during pregnancy. Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien, 55(3), 255–256.
[6] Wróblewska, M., Szymańska, E., & Winnicka, K. (2021). The Influence of Tea Tree Oil on Antifungal Activity and Pharmaceutical Characteristics of Pluronic® F-127 Gel Formulations with Ketoconazole. International journal of molecular sciences, 22(21), 11326. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms222111326
[7] Wróblewska M, et al. (2021). The influence of tea tree oil on antifungal activity and pharmaceutical characteristics of Pluronic® F-127 gel formulations with ketoconazole.
mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/21/11326
[8] Shino, B., Peedikayil, F. C., Jaiprakash, S. R., Ahmed Bijapur, G., Kottayi, S., & Jose, D. (2016). Comparison of Antimicrobial Activity of Chlorhexidine, Coconut Oil, Probiotics, and Ketoconazole on Candida albicans Isolated in Children with Early Childhood Caries: An In Vitro Study. Scientifica, 2016, 7061587. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/7061587
More references:
[9] Ogbolu, D. O., Oni, A. A., Daini, O. A., & Oloko, A. P. (2007). In vitro antimicrobial properties of coconut oil on Candida species in Ibadan, Nigeria. Journal of medicinal food, 10(2), 384–387. https://doi.org/10.1089/jmf.2006.1209
[10] Gopal, J., Anthonydhason, V., Muthu, M., Gansukh, E., Jung, S., Chul, S., & Iyyakkannu, S. (2019). Authenticating apple cider vinegar’s home remedy claims: antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral properties and cytotoxicity aspect. Natural product research, 33(6), 906–910. https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2017.1413567
[11] Yagnik, D., Serafin, V., & J Shah, A. (2018). Antimicrobial activity of apple cider vinegar against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans; downregulating cytokine and microbial protein expression. Scientific reports, 8(1), 1732. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-18618-x
[12] Kunyeit, L., K A, A. A., & Rao, R. P. (2020). Application of Probiotic Yeasts on Candida Species Associated Infection. Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland), 6(4), 189. https://doi.org/10.3390/jof6040189
[13] Shuford, J. A., Steckelberg, J. M., & Patel, R. (2005). Effects of fresh garlic extract on Candida albicans biofilms. Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy, 49(1), 473. https://doi.org/10.1128/AAC.49.1.473.2005
[14] Investigation of antifungal effect of aqueous extract of garlic on Candida albicans (INVITRO)
[15] McDonnell, G. (2014). The Use of Hydrogen Peroxide for Disinfection and Sterilization Applications. In PATAI’S Chemistry of Functional Groups, Z. Rappoport (Ed.). https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470682531.pat0885
[16] Barros, S., Ribeiro, A. P. D., Offenbacher, S., & Loewy, Z. G. (2020). Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Vitamin E in Response to Candida albicans. Microorganisms, 8(6), 804. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8060804
DISCLAIMER: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may get a commission if you decide to purchase something through my links at no cost to you. Please read my Disclaimer for more info.
DISCLAIMER: This post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding you or your baby’s health. Please read my Medical Disclaimer for more info
Leave a Reply