Can You Get Pregnant While You Have a Yeast Infection

Yeast Infection

Also known as thrush and Candida, a yeast infection is something that a high percentage of people, particularly women, will experience at some time of life. Yeast infection can be found in the mouth and also the genitals of both males and females.

Yeast infection is not a dirty infection, it is simply caused by an overgrowth of bacteria that breed specifically in warm, moist environments. Since it can be passed on to others, kissing and unprotected sexual intercourse is not recommended when oral or genital thrush is known to be present. Treatment for yeast infection is simple by means of medication which comes in a tablet, liquid drops (for oral thrush in children), and creams and pessaries to treat vaginal thrush. Once the diagnosis has been clearly sought treatment can be purchased over the counter and the thrush can be almost entirely clear within approximately seven days.

Can You Get Pregnant While You Have a Yeast Infection: Good Question

A vaginal yeast infection is not a pleasant experience as symptoms can cause a great deal of discomfort until treatment offers relief and an eventual cure. Common symptoms of thrush include:

• Vaginal itching
• Soreness
• Pain on passing urine
• Discomfort or pain during intercourse
• Creamy discharge from the vagina

If trying to conceive, it is always best to get the body into optimum shape with pre-conception health being pivotal to success. Individuals often worry a great deal about optimizing diet and exercise, however, less talked about issues such as sexually transmitted infections, yeast infections, and urinary tract infections often get left out of the equation. It is not until routine examinations that these less obvious problems are identified.

There is no evidence to suggest that vaginal yeast infections cause any issues when trying to conceive. When asking “can you get pregnant while you have a yeast infection,” the simple answer is yes, you can. Many women continue attempts to conceive while they have a yeast infection and this is perfectly fine to do, but there may be a few reasons why is it best to refrain until the infection has been cleared up:

• Soreness during intercourse – vaginal yeast infections can be incredibly painful and the soreness may make couples abstain from sexual intercourse altogether.
• Treatments may hinder nature – it has been suggested that the natural pH of the vagina can be affected by thrush and that creams used to combat the problem can also prevent the transportation of vital sperm along the vaginal canal. Effects are not catastrophic, but attempts to conceive may be hindered by this.
• Simply to avoid the stress – many couples stress out about the implications of trying to conceive when vaginal yeast infections are present. The sheer stress that some individuals go through at times just isn’t worth it, therefore, it may be just as productive to wait until the infection has been fully cleared.

Risk to the Unborn Baby

There is nothing to suggest that conceiving while you have a yeast infection will cause birth defects or any other harm to the unborn infant. It is a fact that thrush can sometimes be passed on to the baby during a vaginal delivery, but only if the woman has the infection at the time of delivery. Pregnancy in itself is a known trigger for vaginal yeast infection simply due to changes in hormone levels. If you are prone to yeast infections and become pregnant, it is important to check throughout the pregnancy for any reoccurrence.

The important factors to remember when trying to conceive are not the potential risks of hindering the pregnancy but the need to identify the problem early and seek the appropriate treatment. Pay particular attention during the preconception phase to:

• Avoid douching and cleansing the genitals with perfumed products.
• Wear underwear that is cotton or made of natural fibers so there will be no irritation from synthetic fibers, which can create a hot environment.
• Refrain from wearing clothing such as jeans and trousers that are tight fitting as this simply promotes heat and moisture to the area, which is then perfect for bacteria to form.

Maximizing wellbeing and the potential to conceive is a better use of time rather than worrying about issues that do not prevent attempts to conceive. Use your energy wisely in relation to prevention, detection, and treatment for such problems, instead. If you are at all worried about issues relating to yeast infection and attempts to conceive, then it is always best to consult a physician, particularly if you have been trying to conceive for a lengthy period of time.