Is it Yeast?? & pH

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

Hope this might be helpful to someone. Just FYI from an article I read:

Dee~

PS at the bottom I added using pH levels to possibly test this out.

====================================

ome female IC patients are plagued with what are thought to

be chronic yeast infections (caused by the yeast, candida albicans).

But no matter how many different treatments they try, from topical and

oral antifungals to home remedies, the vulvar itching and irritation does

not go away. Is it possible there is something else going on here?

A frequently misdiagnosed, little known, yet apparently quitecommon condition, called cytolytic vaginosis (CV), is often confusedwith a true yeast infection. However, the two actually share almostnothing in common, except for symptoms. Like a yeast infection,cytolytic vaginosis is characterized by itching and burning, painfulintercourse and a slight discharge.

It also tends to become more symptomatic premenstrually (right before our periods start) . Since the symptoms are so similar, physicians often mistake cytolytic vaginosis for a yeast infection.To distinguish CV from other conditions, the physician must rule outother possible causes of symptoms, such as vulvodynia, bacterialvaginosis (an infection of the vagina caused by the bacteriumgardnerella) and trichomonas.

This can be done with a high-powered microscopic examination of vaginal secretions. Herein lies the biggest clue to differentiate between a yeast infection and CV:

Under a microscope, candida has a distinctive appearance—abundant yeast-likefungal growth, and a low number of lactobacilli (the so-called "goodbacteria"). CV, on the other hand, presents with an ''overabundance'' oflactobacilli, few yeast-like growths, and few white cells.

It is thought that CV is an overgrowth of normal vaginal bacteria (lactobacilli). Thevagina has both lactobacilli and candida (as well as many otherorganisms) as part of its normal, healthy flora. It is all a matter ofkeeping the proper balance between these....which involves pH.The overgrowth of organisms that occurs with CV causes the vaginalenvironment to become too acidic.

This damages the epithelial cells of the vagina, and can cause itching, burning and irritation.Candida overgrowth tends to occur in an alkaline environment.This, too, can result in pain, itching and burning. (see note at end, DT)

Management of CV consists of 'stopping' all antifungal treatments (oraland intravaginal), using pads instead of tampons so that menstrual bloodcan flow unimpeded and re-balance the pH of the vagina, and takingbaking soda sitz baths.

It may also be a good idea to 'stop' taking any probiotic supplements that you may be using, such as lactobacillus acidophilus.

Yogurt has also been found to 'exacerbate' CV. In other words, everything you have been told to do to treat a yeast infection is the wrong approach for CV!!

The vaginal flora is a complex ecosystem that requires checks andbalances. Many different things, from birth control pills andantibiotics, to diet, can have an effect on the environment of thevagina. If you think you may have CV, please consult a physicianknowledgeable about this condition (as well as about IC) beforeundertaking any new course of therapy.

END.

=========================================

To tie in with the above, using pH levels to possibly help determine, this is from an article I read:

"Vaginal pH can be assessed by touching one of the sample swabs to pHpaper, wiping a piece of pH paper against a vaginal wall, or dipping astrip of pH paper into the secretions remaining on the speculum after ithas been withdrawn.

In candidiasis, pH is normal-between 4 and 4.5.

A pH of 5 or more is common in bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis.

A pH of 'less' than 4 suggests cytolytic vaginosis.

Take care not to retrieve cervical mucus with your sample, its high pH can taint your cultures.''

Dee~

[Guest guest]

Dear Dee

Is cytolytic the same as glabrata,

as I am sure I remember reading the almost identical article about glabrata ?, I

asked my homeopath re: this and if it could be true and he told me that I am

reading far too much and that one cant have too many good lactobacilli ?

Kind regards

Mandy

-----Original

Message-----

From: DTroll

Sent: 05 July 2004 07:28

To: VulvarDisorders

Subject: Is it Yeast?? &

pH

Hi all,

Hope this

might be helpful to someone. Just FYI from an article I read:

Dee~

PS at the

bottom I added using pH levels to possibly test this out.

====================================

ome female IC patients are plagued with what are

thought to

be chronic yeast infections (caused by the yeast, candida albicans).

But no matter how many different treatments they

try, from topical and

oral antifungals to home remedies, the vulvar

itching and irritation does

not go away. Is it possible there is something else

going on here?

A frequently misdiagnosed, little known, yet apparently quite

common condition, called cytolytic vaginosis (CV),

is often confused

with a true yeast infection. However, the two actually share almost

nothing in common, except for symptoms. Like a yeast infection,

cytolytic vaginosis is characterized by itching and burning, painful

intercourse and a slight discharge.

It also tends to become more symptomatic premenstrually (right

before our periods start) . Since the symptoms are so similar, physicians often

mistake cytolytic vaginosis for a yeast infection.

To distinguish CV from other conditions, the physician must rule out

other possible causes of symptoms, such as vulvodynia, bacterial

vaginosis (an infection of the vagina caused by the bacterium

gardnerella) and trichomonas.

This can be done with a high-powered microscopic examination of

vaginal secretions. Herein lies the biggest clue to differentiate between a

yeast infection and CV:

Under a microscope, candida has a distinctive appearance—abundant

yeast-like

fungal growth, and a low number of lactobacilli (the so-called " good

bacteria " ). CV, on the other hand, presents with an ''overabundance''

of

lactobacilli, few yeast-like growths, and few white cells.

It is thought that CV is an overgrowth of normal vaginal bacteria

(lactobacilli). The

vagina has both lactobacilli and candida (as well as many other

organisms) as part of its normal, healthy flora. It is all a matter of

keeping the proper balance between these....which involves pH.

The overgrowth of organisms that occurs with CV causes the vaginal

environment to become too acidic.

This damages the epithelial cells of the vagina, and can cause

itching, burning and irritation.Candida overgrowth tends to occur in an

alkaline environment.

This, too, can result in pain, itching and burning. (see note at end, DT)

Management of CV consists of 'stopping' all antifungal treatments (oral

and intravaginal), using pads instead of tampons so that menstrual blood

can flow unimpeded and re-balance the pH of the vagina, and taking

baking soda sitz baths.

It may also be a good idea to 'stop' taking any probiotic

supplements that you may be using, such as lactobacillus acidophilus.

Yogurt has also been found to 'exacerbate' CV. In other words,

everything you have been told to do to treat a yeast infection is the wrong

approach for CV!!

The vaginal flora is a complex ecosystem that requires checks and

balances. Many different things, from birth control pills and

antibiotics, to diet, can have an effect on the environment of the

vagina. If you think you may have CV, please consult a physician

knowledgeable about this condition (as well as about IC) before

undertaking any new course of therapy.

END.

=========================================

To tie in with the above, using pH levels to possibly help

determine, this is from an article I read:

" Vaginal pH can be assessed by touching one of the sample

swabs to pH

paper, wiping a piece of pH paper against a vaginal wall, or dipping a

strip of pH paper into the secretions remaining on the speculum after it

has been withdrawn.

In candidiasis, pH is normal-between 4 and 4.5.

A pH of 5 or more is common in bacterial vaginosis and

trichomoniasis.

A pH of 'less' than 4 suggests cytolytic vaginosis.

Take care not to retrieve cervical mucus with your sample, its

high pH can taint your cultures.''

Dee~