Hey kingpin


I’m not a doctor, but taught high school health classes from 1996 through 2004. I’m certainly no authority on this subject, but had to attend many hours of lectures and information on the subject on STD’s.

Sexually transmitted diseases exist in two categories. Bacterial and viral. The most commonly discussed STDs are HIV/AIDS, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, human papillomavirus, genital warts, trichomonas, nongonoccal urethritis (NGU), cervicitis, molluscum contagiosum, chancroid, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Candida is basically a yeast infection, meaning that it’s curable, which is good. While it’s possible to transmit it sexually, it’s not normally labeled as a sexually transmitted disease.

Websites are a good source of info although they’re often contradictory in their desire to avoid alarming people. For example, herpes-coldsores.com says, “Yeast infections are generally caused by an organism called Candida albicans or Candidiasis and there is no direct evidence that it is passed through sexual intercourse.”
Further along, on the SAME page it gives transmission information saying that you, “...can pick up the infection through sexual contact, although sexual contact with an infected partner does not usually spread the fungus.” 

A great website to learn more about Candida is:
http://www.ninazu.com/whatis.html

For general information about how yeast infections can be passed other than through sexual contact, visit:
http://www.herpes-coldsores.com/std/yeast_infection.htm

Candida Albicans is a yeast like fungus which grows in the same places other fungi grow - where it's warm and dark. So your mouth, vagina and anus are highly desirable places for the Candida to live. While Candida can cause thrush which can be spread through sexual activity, it is not sex but rather diet which perpetuates the existence of Candida in the human organism. However, like with jock itch or athlete's foot, those who come in contact with the spores can become affected.

Candida is naturally present in the body at low levels and helps with the digestion process. When there is too much sugar intake, Candida blooms and an overgrowth occurs. This is the point when Candida morphs from a beneficial agent into a disease. The best way to avoid or help treat Candida is to avoid sugars of any and all form.