Female sex workers
Candida
What is candida?
- In the vagina there are bacteria and fungi, this is very normal.
- Between the different kinds of bacteria and fungi there is a natural balance.
- Sometimes this balance is disturbed. Certain fungi may dominate. This causes a fungous infection, also called candida infection.
- A lot of women have this yeast without noticing it.
What causes candida?
Several factors can disturb the balance between bacteria and fungi in the vagina:
- Hormonal change seems to increase the growth of fungi. During the fertile age vaginal infections often occur.
- Some women get a fungous infection around each period. Others get it during pregnancy.
- Avoid washing with soap (including ph neutral soap) thoroughly. It is often sufficient to wash the genital area with clear water.
- Antibiotics can kill certain bacteria in the vagina, so that fungi get the chance to develop.
- Also other medicines such as corticosteroids can increase the risk of developing fungous infections.
- Also a reduced general condition, such as worries or stress, may seem to disturb the balance between bacteria and fungi.
What are the complaints?
- You can get some itching and white, sometimes somewhat crumbly, not smelly, vaginal discharge.
- The mucous membrane of the vagina can be red, swollen and painful.
- Urinating or sexual intercourse may hurt or cause a burning feeling.
How is candida diagnosed?
- A candida infection is usually easy to recognize from the kind of discharge and the irritation of the vaginal mucous membrane.
- Sometimes the discharge has to be examined to be certain.
Treatment
- A fungous infection usually disappears spontaneously.
- If the discharge or burning feeling seriously bothers you, treatment is possible.
- When you work it is best to take the medicines orally.
- Sometimes vaginal tablets or creams are prescribed which you can use internally as well as on the outside of the vagina and labia.
- Be careful: these contain oil which may deteriorate a condom!
Warning partner
- A fungous infection is not a sexually transmitted infection.
- Everyone has this fungus on the skin and the mucous membrane.
- It depends on the circumstances whether this fungus gets the chance to cause an infection (for instance if the mucous membranes are irritated or scraped).
- Your partner does not have to be treated. If your partner gets complaints, such as itching or a rash on his penis, it often disappears spontaneously, if necessary, he may use the same external cream as you.
Work advice
- When you have applied the cream or inserted a tablet in your vagina, you may not work.
- The cream and vaginal tables contain oil which may deteriorate a condom.
- In case of oral administration, you may continue to work.
- If you have too many complaints, it is better to stop working for a while to let your vagina heal well.