What is the Cause of Yeast Infection?

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Possible Causes of Yeast Infection | Main Causes of Yeast Infections | Medical Review by Dr. Rana | Questions About the Cause of Yeast Infections

Updated 12/06/2022

Medically reviewed by Dr. Vibhuti Rana, PhD - Written by Dan Jackowiak Nc, HHP

Dr. Vibhuti Rana, PhD who says... The information pertaining to the many possible causes of yeast infections provided on this page is medically correct.

This article takes a look at the cause of yeast infection in the human body. What is obvious and the not so obvious, and how this knowledge can be applied to any form of fungal infections today. All 400 species of fungi that affect the body basically work on the same principles, although the main species of yeast infects you from within. After you read this, you will understand what to avoid in your diet and life so you can speed your recovery and prevent further yeast infections.

Adult humans have 3 to 4 pounds of beneficial bacteria, which number to about 70 trillion individual microorganisms (10 times the number of human body cells!), living in our digestive system. Yeast is present in many of us in very small proportions. In healthy people, this healthy level of yeast is undetectable using stool tests. The shear strength in the number of the beneficial bacteria keeps the yeast overgrowth in check. If this balance is altered and the good bacterial levels are reduced, the opportunistic yeast will spread rapidly and take over as a yeast infection. Given the right conditions, it can double its population every hour! An overgrowth can cause a wide variety of unhealthy side effects and diseases as the yeast tries to turn your body into filth.

However, I have also seen stool test results that show high numbers of good bacteria as well as high levels of Candida yeast. Usually, these species of Candida are not Candida albicans but one of the other non-albicans Candida species, especially Candida glabrata. Many times these infections are because of the predisposing causes of yeast infection discussed below.

Possible Causes of Yeast Infection

Trauma
Altered Physiological states
Drug Addiction
Indwelling catheters
Blood disorders
Neutropenia
Corticosteroid therapy
Reduced or dysfunctional phagocytosis
Irradiation therapy for Transplantation
Diabetes
Malnutrition
Burns
Collagen disease
Birth control pills
Steroids

According to Talha H. Imam, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor in Internal Medicine and Nephrology, University of Riverside School of Medicine, fungal urinary tract infections usually occur with catheters. C. albicans prostatitis occurs infrequently in patients with diabetes too. Candida kidney infections usually occur only in high risk patients with diabetes and those who are immunocompromised because of tumors, AIDS, chemotherapy, or subjected to immunosuppressants.

With catheters, the yeast simply grows on the plastics from unsanitary conditions or from airborne yeasts in the hospital environment. It can then enter the urethra and can possibly get to the kidneys if not treated. It can also originate from the gastrointestinal tract and occurs mainly in patients with nephrostomy tubes, or other permanent indwelling devices and stents. Once it reaches the kidneys, the person usually succumbs to death as the yeast literally eats the kidneys and shuts them down.

The mold growing in ventilation systems - Although this is not a cause of yeast infection, it does create many health problems so I should mention it. I have personally seen this condition inside air conditioners. These mold spores blow into the homes, and once you breathe them, they travel throughout your respiratory system, causing asthma, bronchitis, and chronic allergies.

The Main Causes of Yeast Infections

In the links below I talk about what the main cause of yeast infections are in otherwise healthy adults and children and how to recover from them. If I were you, I would read each one to see if it applies to you; helping you to rectify the particular cause.

Antibiotics can cause yeast infections
Without a doubt, antibiotics are a cause of yeast infection because they deplete the good bacteria that keep the yeast growth under control. On this page you'll find out how they do this and how to fix and prevent this from happening.

Toxic foods can also kill your good bacteria
While we discussing antibiotics, did you know that Roundup was originally patented as an herbicide? Read the page and find out that Roundup poisoned foods you've been eating are killing your good bacteria and causing your yeast infection.

The presence of mercury in the body contributes
It has been proven that candida yeast infections are 67% more prevalent in those hosts that have mercury in their bodies. So if your levels are high and you do nothing to solve the problem, it will be extremely hard to get rid of your Candida yeast infection. This webpage gives you the resources to find out if this is a problem for you.. and if it is, how to correct it?

Excess estrogen fuels candida yeasts growth
The hormone link as a cause of yeast infection for women is very common. Almost all women who suffer from recurring vaginal yeast infections will tell you that they do indeed get flare ups around the third week of their cycle. Check the symptoms list on this page and see if it applies to you. If it is relatable, you can take the recommended steps to re-balance your hormones.

Processed high carbohydrate foods contribute
The Western diet is far from ideal so some foods contribute to the cause of yeast infections. On this page you will learn what you should and shouldn't be eating.

Sugar is the primary food source for yeasts
This page gives you the details about sugar and what it is doing to your immune system and body.

Stress contributes due to lowered immune function
Too much stress can reduce immune strength by up to 50% and it is proven that a healthy immune system is needed when fighting yeast. On this webpage you will learn how stress affects your body and how to get it under control.

This webpage contains a list of medical candida tests you can do as well two home tests you can use, to verify if you really do have a yeast infection or not. Many of these tests will also reveal the cause of yeast infection in your body, typically low good bacteria counts.

Medical Review by Dr. Vibhuti Rana, PhD

While there are multiple causes of yeast infections, the primary target of all these infections is to create dysbiosis - an imbalance between the friendly and hazardous bacteria residing in the host body. Abuse of antibiotics is a chief cause of yeast infections and a myriad of other diseases. The well known case of Dewayne Johnson, who developed cancer due to years of use of Roundup (a product of an agrochemical corporation Monsanto) in his job as a school groundskeeper, is enough to portray the ill effects of products like Roundup.(1)

A very important finding published in 2014 showed indiscriminate and rapid removal of C. albicans by ant-fungals from the adult system with a significant body burden of mercury, may cause the abrupt secretion of toxic metals contained within them and be very harmful for human body.(2)

A number of sources claim that there is an increased risk of yeast infections, especially, vulvovaginal candidiasis during the pregnancy or luteal phases of women’s menstrual cycle. This is because the levels of progesterone and estrogen are quite elevated.(3)(4)

An increase in the quantity of germ tubes was observed in Candida strains upon treatment with 17-β- estradiol and ethynyl estradiol.(5)

Additional factors such as high sugar and processed food diets, along with stress and lack of sleep are also associated with recurrent infections

1. The man who beat Monsanto: 'They have to pay for not being honest' The Guardian Wed 26 Sep 2018 00.00 EDT
2. Rice KM, Walker EM Jr, Wu M, Gillette C, Blough ER. Environmental mercury and its toxic effects. J Prev Med Public Health. 2014;47(2):74–83. doi:10.3961/jpmph.2014.47.2.74.
3. Fidel PL Jr, Cutright J, Steele C. Effects of reproductive hormones on experimental vaginal candidiasis. Infect Immun. 2000;68(2):651–657. doi:10.1128/iai.68.2.651-657.2000.
4. Xiaoqian Zhang, Michael Essmann, Edward T. Burt, Bryan Larsen, Estrogen Effects on Candida albicans: A Potential Virulence-Regulating Mechanism, The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 181, Issue 4, April 2000, Pages 1441–1446, https://doi.org/10.1086/315406.
5. Cheng G, Yeater KM, Hoyer LL. Cellular and molecular biology of Candida albicans estrogen response. Eukaryot Cell. 2006;5(1):180–191. doi:10.1128/EC.5.1.180-191.2006.

Have Any Questions About the Cause of Yeast Infections?

Do you have any questions about the cause of yeast infections or yeast infections in general? Ask your question here or contact us using the contact page of this website. It is also always a good idea to talk to your doctor as well.

Questions From Other Visitors

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How do I treat Candida and H.Pylori?
I have had H. Pylori about 5 years ago. I have had another positive test. I was treated with quadruple antibiotics. I was also told that I have a lot …

What could be causing my vaginal yeast infection?
Have been on Herbalife shake for 8 days, given up sugars, bread and pasta and 3 days ago the yeast infection appeared and I am miserable. I am trying …

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