Why Antibiotics Cause Yeast Infections

The leading cause of a yeast infection is the use of antibiotics.

These drugs kill off bacteria that usually keep the yeast in check. The yeast population then grows too quickly for your immune system to control it. When this happens, yeast may then change over to its infectious form and go on the attack.

“Hidden” antibiotics cause yeast infections

Antibiotics have been added to many products, so the prescription type you get from your doctor are not the only ones that can upset the yeast/bacteria ballance.

Women quite often experience their first yeast infections after taking a prescription for antibiotics, but you can also get an infection if you use one of the popular brands of soap that contains disinfectants. Other women have no problems with most antibiotics, but may get yeast infections if they take specific types of antibiotics, or if they are treated for an extended time for chronic problems like acne. Long-term use of acne antibiotics cause yeast infections in men, as well.

Some condoms have a spermicide containing nonoxynol-9, which has been shown to increase the incidence of yeast infections. If you get a yeast infection after having sex using a condom, check the package to see if it has an antibiotic or spermicide. If it does, you might consider changing brands.

Our food supply is also full of antibiotics, because beef and poultry are fed these drugs on a regular basis to keep them healthy in crowded conditions. Some practitioners believe the widespread use of antibiotics in both humans and animals is the cause for both the recent increase in drug-resistant bacteria, and the increased incidence of more virulent types of yeast infections.

If you have a child who gets yeast infections, including diaper rash and oral thrush, and there is no obvious cause, you may want to switch to certified organic beef, chicken and eggs. (“Free range” is not a regulated term, and does not guarantee that the chicken or egg is antibiotic free.)

The following list includes some of the medications that have been shown to trigger Candidiasis

Remember that anti-fungal herbal remedies can also kill beneficial bacteria.

Many herbal yeast infection remedies are “non-specific,” which means that they can kill both bacteria and fungi. This is one reason why popular natural yeast infection remedies may get rid of your current yeast infection, but contribute to the possibility that you’ll get another one soon. Bacteria are our first line of defense against an overgrowth of Candida yeast, that’s why both medical and herbal antibiotics cause yeast infections.

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