Causes Of Yeast Infection

Causes Of Yeast Infection

PHYSICIANS' COMMENTS 

Richard Mabray, M.D., a Victoria, Texas, board-certified gynecologist, tells me he has had good results with progesterone, given as intra-muscular shots and sublingual (under the tongue) drops.
 
Other doctors give women sublingual drops as needed their menstrual cycles and increase the amount they take during the days when they most frequently experience PMS symptoms.

Causes Of Yeast Infection

Another colleague, Russell Roby, M.D., of Austin, Texas, used this method. He responded to my questions about PMS and candida: 

When I see a woman with recurrent PMS, I look at thyroid first, insulin metabolism and diet second, and then I start looking at allergies and candida as a third choice .... In answer to your question about whether I've found anti-yeast treatment helps other symptoms - my answer is "Absolutely yes." Because I tend to "shotgun" my treatment program for women with these problems, I don't know which therapeutic intervention helps the most. I just know that it's a combination, and if I leave anything out, they're not as likely to get well. 

I'm also impressed by the success rate of mother colleague, Pamela Morford, M.D., of Tucson, Arizona.

I've probably treated 400 to 500 women with PMS. The majority came in complaining of bloating, irritability and depression before their periods. Many were very concerned about being out of control and unable to handle their anger. Some had lost their confidence. Another major complaint: "spaciness" and inability to concentrate.
 
Within a month after starting anti-yeast treatment, including Diflucan (200 mg. for several weeks), many of these symptoms diminish considerably and occasionally disappear. Many women, however, found that they could not vary much from their diet without experiencing a return of their symptoms.
 
Treating PMS patients with antifungal medications is standard practice at the PMS clinic at St. Luke's Hospital in Denver.
 
Nystatin therapy and diet are the primary means of treating 90% of the patients who come to the clinic, says Jean Rowe, R.N., the clinic's director. She also uses low-dose estrogen and progesterone therapy for some patients. But candida is a prime consideration:
 
I would say that most every woman I see who has PMS has a lot of symptoms that resemble yeast overload. I tell them if they'll treat the yeast, it will give them a lot of benefit besides helping their PMS. So they get healthier and sometimes slimmer, which they really like.
 
Dr. Jay Schinfeld published a controlled study indicating that nystatin relieves PMS in women with recurrent vaginal infections.
 
NATURAL APPROACHES 

There are dozens of natural approaches to PMS, including some discussed above.
 
One often recommended herbal remedy is chasteberry or Vitex agnus castus. This herb has been used traditionally to relieve menstrual disorders. It contains mild levels of hormones such as androstenedione and progesterone. Doses up to 500 mg. a day are considered safe.
 
In an article published in a 2001 issue of the British Medical Journal, chasteberry was found to cause "significant improvement" for sufferers of PMS.
 
The progesteronic action attributed to chasteberry seems to be important in relieving symptoms of PMS. Many practitioners recommend getting a topical cream containing chasteberry. Chasteberry is an ingredient in some progesterone creams, including Phyto-Gest and Estro-All.
 
Naturopathic doctor Tori Hudson, N.D., author of Women's Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, adds, "Since natural progesterone is a hormone, I think it is best to seek the advice of a qualified health care practitioner who is experienced with its use. This assures proper usage and therefore maximum results."
 
Other natural recommendations come from Michael Murray, N.D., who offers a laundry list of lifestyle recommendations:

• Follow a vegetarian or predominantly vegetarian diet.
• Reduce your intake of fat.
• Eliminate sugar from your diet. 
• Reduce your exposure to environmental estrogens. 
• Increase your intake of soy foods. 
• Eliminate caffeine from your diet. 
• Keep your salt intake low. 
• Supplement your diet with vitamins and minerals. 
• Select appropriate herbal support. (He recommends chasteberry in tablet or capsule form, 175-225 mg. daily.) 

And, he says, if you're bothered by PMS water retention, take licorice root three times a day, beginning on the 14th day of your cycle, and continue until menstruation begins.
 
Dr. Dean wrote about the natural treatment for PMS in several journal articles and in her practice had great success with the following nutrients taken twice daily two weeks before the beginning of your menstrual period:

• Vitamin B6, 50-100 mg.
• Magnesium, 400 mg.
• Gamma linoleic acid, 120-240 mg., in the form of evening primrose oil, borage, or black current oil 

Good vitamin and mineral supplementation is important to overall good health, as is addressing the deficiency of B vitamins in women with PMS. One scientific study affirms the need for vitamin B6. The author of the study published in the British Medical Journal wrote: "Results suggest that doses of vitamin B6 up to 100 mg/day are likely to be of benefit in treating premenstrual symptoms and premenstrual depression."
 
Other natural ways of approaching PMS:

1. deep breathing for 5-10 minutes twice a day
2. exercise
3. aromatherapy using essential oils such as sandalwood, juniper or geranium 

Causes Of Yeast Infection

MY COMMENTS 

PMS, like all of the disorders I've discussed in this blog, develops from a combination of many different causes. There is rarely a quick fix. But if you're bothered by PMS and made a high score on the yeast questionnaire, a sugar-free special diet, probiotics, oral antifungal medications and nutritional supplements could change your life. To find out more, you can check out Causes Of Yeast Infection.