Changes in your hormone balance can bring on a yeast infection, and that’s why so many pregnant women are infected.
(Pregnant women should never attempt to treat an infection themselves – always talk to your doctor first! The symptoms could actually be caused by a bacterial infection that could be dangerous to you or your baby.)
Other things (beside pregnancy) that can change your hormone balance
- Contraceptive pills can change your hormone levels, and some women report that they get a yeast infection once a month when they’re on the pill. If this is the case, talk to your doctor about another birth control option.
- Hormone replacement therapy at menopause can cause yeast infections by raising the levels of estrogen. And some women experience yeast infections only at certain times in their menstrual cycle, due to the natural hormone changes.
- Obesity can cause changes to your normal hormone balance, especially insulin, an important hormone. This imbalance can lead to both yeast infections and diabetes, so anyone who is overweight and who experiences chronic yeast infections should have her blood checked for diabetes, too.
- Steroids, often prescribed for chronic conditions such as arthritis, can also cause yeast infections. If you need these medications and suffer from chronic yeast infections, talk to your doctor to see if there may be something you can do to reduce your risk of infection. Steroids are artificial hormones, and they also affect the functioning of your immune system, which makes it more difficult for your body to fight off infection.
Illnesses related to hormone imbalance can also cause yeast infections
There are times when a yeast infection is the first symptom of a more dangerous underlying condition. As mentioned above, diabetes is caused by changes in the way the body manufactures or responds to insulin. Many people are first diagnosed with diabetes when they go to their doctor about their yeast infection. That’s why getting a checkup is so important, instead of trying to treat your infection on your own.
Other conditions, such as a thyroid imbalance, can lead to a compromised immune system, which will make it difficult to fight off a yeast infection.