Candidiasis woman

It is a colonization of the vulva and vagina produced by the candida albicans fungus. Candida albicans is usually found in small amounts in the mucosa of the mouth, vaginal, digestive tract, and skin. The problem occurs when the balance in which it is with other microorganisms with which it lives in the vagina is broken and the number of candida increases compared to the other microorganisms.

Protective factors of the vagina

• Hormonal status: the natural hormonal cycles of the ovary produce estrogens that have a protective effect on the mucosa of the vagina.
• Glycogen: it is a way of storing sugar in cells. When, naturally, the most superficial cells of the vagina are shed, so does the glycogen contained in them.
• Döderlein bacilli: are bacteria that usually live in the vagina. They ferment glycogen producing lactic acid.
• Lactic acid: It is produced by Döderlein bacilli and maintains an acidic pH in the vagina that hinders different infections.

The imbalance between the candida and the other microorganisms of the vagina It is produced by the alteration of some of the protective factors of the vagina. In these cases there may be two different situations, that there is an environment that favors the or that there is an environment that hinders the growth of the rest of microorganisms.

There are physiological situations that alter the protective factors of the vagina, such as menstruation, pregnancy or. Menstrual flow is alkaline so it changes the pH of the vagina and therefore facilitates the proliferation of some infections. Pregnancy and menopause change the hormonal status of the vagina, which is why they are also situations with a special incidence of infections.

Situations that alter these protective factors

• Contraceptive treatments alter the hormonal status of the vaginal mucosa and therefore favor episodes of candidiasis.
• antibiotic treatments for any infection, even if it is not genitourinary, alters the usual bacteria in the vagina and therefore favors the growth of candida albicans.
• Some diseases such as diabetes increase the episodes of candida. Immunosuppressive diseases such as HIV, or immunosuppressive treatments such as those used in transplant patients also increase the frequency of appearance of candidiasis.
• Situations of stress or depression that weaken the immune system.

Gynecology and Obstetrics Specialist Advance Medical Consultant Physician