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Vogue Singapore
5 days ago
- Health
- Vogue Singapore
Ask a doctor: What are vaginal yeast infections?
The body is a temple; sacred, and to be protected. Yet most women would know, the task is a trying one. The female body, after all, is one carved in crevices and endless mystery. Growing up, the first scare comes in a sudden streak of red—the day we begin menstruating. Girls, in the throes of becoming women. It is also then, that we realise our bodies can be so different—even woman to woman. Some are fraught with irregular periods, whilst others might discover that they are affected by PCOS ( Polycystic Ovary Syndrome). Then, there are the slew of vaginal issues that may occur to any woman at any point in time. Vaginal yeast infections, for one, are more common than one might think. In a study published by the Journal of the Turkish-German Gynecological Association, it is estimated that 75% of women will have a vaginal yeast infection at least once in their lifetime. Caused by a range of both internal and external factors—from diseases like diabetes and major hormonal changes, to the use of vaginal washes and sexual intercourse—yeast infections can similarly manifest in a number of symptoms such as abnormal, clumpy discharge, pain in the genital area or discomfort during sex. And yet? Ask any of your female peers around you, and most would come up blank when asked about it, despite how common it is. Not to fret though; here, we speak to the women health's expert Dr Michelle Chia of Ezra Clinic for the full lowdown: what to look out for, whether you should be vaginal douching or yoni steaming, and treating it when it happens. What are yeast infections? What are the main causes of it? Yeast infection, or thrush, is a very common fungal infection that leads to vaginal infection. The main causes are due to overgrowth of the fungal organism candida albicans, caused by a disruption of the bacterial flora or vaginal pH levels. There are a range of factors that can lead to it. Taking antibiotics as treatment for another illness could increase the chances of vaginitis or inflammation, as is kills off the good bacteria in the vagina, hence disrupting the bacterial balance which causes an overgrowth of thrush. Sexual intercourse too is an extremely common trigger as it disrupts the vaginal pH. Other major hormonal changes that happen within the body are also common causes such as pregnancy or birth control pills. The use of vaginal washes or wearing very tight clothing are also external factors that might result in infections. What is it often confused with? It can be confused with vaginal bacterial infections or sometimes even sexually transmitted infections. What are the most common symptoms? How do we test for it? Common symptoms include vaginal itching, burning sensation, discomfort, abnormal vaginal discharge that is yellowish greenish or clumpy. You might also suffer from pain, soreness or discomfort from the genital area during sexual intercourse or when passing urine, especially if its a recurring issue for you. To test for it, you are ultimately advised to see a medical professional, who will make a diagnosis based on a vaginal swab test, which is quick and painless when done by an experienced practitioner. Courtesy of Ezra Clinic Can a yeast infection be treated with home remedies such as yoni steaming? It is not recommended to treat yeast infection with home remedies, as it disrupts the natural vaginal pH. If you are experiencing any abnormal symptoms, it is recommended to consult a medical professional. Should I wash it with a vaginal wash or douche? No, you should not be using vaginal wash or douche. These products often cause more irritation due to chemical contents and leads to further disruption of vaginal pH levels. Contrary to what many women believe that vaginal washes or douches are more hygienic, these products often lead to more infections. What sort of clothing should I wear when I have a vaginal yeast infection? It is recommended to wear loose-fitting, breathable clothing like cotton underwear and dresses. Try to avoid exercise tights or non-breathable synthetic materials. The use of tight clothing prevents ventilation around the vaginal region especially with the humid weather in Singapore. The humidity and moisture can also lead to vaginitis and skin irritation. Can it be sexually transmitted? Does one have to abstain from sexual activity if they have it? Yeast infection is not an STI and are unlikely to be transmitted through sexual contact. In contrast, STIs like chlamydia and gonorrhoea are caused by bacteria transmitted through sexual activity. The symptoms may often be similar to that of a yeast infection. However, sexual activity can trigger an infection. It is recommended to abstain from sexual activity until the condition is properly treated. Do yeast infections commonly recur? According to a study, about five to eight percent of women who have been affected by vaginal yeast infection before can experience recurrent infections, which might mean having four or more yeast infections within just one year. This might be due to a weakened immune system or certain conditions like diabetes, where certain medications suppress immune function. Lifestyle factors like stress, poor hygiene or sexual activity might also be influencing the recurrence. Are there other ways to prevent or treat it? Treatment will depend on what medication is required after your doctor examines you and takes a look at your medical history. This might include a range of over-the-counter antifungal medications such as creams and ointments or oral prescriptions. To avoid vaginal yeast infections, don't do vaginal washes or douching, avoid wearing panty liners, wear cotton underwear, and avoid tight fitting clothes. You are also advised to consider adding vaginal probiotics to your regime.
New Straits Times
04-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Bank Negara may need to do more as liquidity strains persist
KUALA LUMPUR: A month after Bank Negara Malaysia reduced the amount of reserves that banks must set aside, early signs show the move has helped ease liquidity pressures in the financial system, but analysts say it may not be enough. The 100 basis-point reduction in the Statutory Reserve Requirement (SRR) on May 16 injected RM19 billion into the banking system. CIMB Securities said the additional cash helped bring down short-term borrowing costs, but deeper funding stress remains. "These actions had a measurable impact in easing funding conditions, as seen in the reduction in interbank rates," CIMB Securities senior economist Azri Azhar and head of research Michelle Chia said in a note. They were referring to the Kuala Lumpur Interbank Offered Rate (KLIBOR), the interest rate banks charge each other for short-term loans. A commonly watched measure, the spread between the three-month KLIBOR and the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR), has narrowed from 65 basis points (bps) to 49 bps since the SRR cut. However, that spread is still wider than the pre-pandemic norm of 35-45 bps, suggesting that borrowing costs in the system remain higher than ideal. In short, banks still face some difficulty accessing affordable short-term funds, which can limit their ability to lend. Credit growing faster than deposits One of the key reasons is that loan growth continues to outpace deposit growth. For the past 16 consecutive months, banks have been lending more than they have been able to collect from depositors. CIMB Securities said this has pushed the loan-to-deposit ratio to 87.9 per cent, close to its upper comfort limit. "Liquidity has improved, but it has not recovered to the more comfortable levels above RM60 billion, which support a more constructive loan-deposit ratio," the firm said. It added that the situation is further compounded by how Malaysians, both consumers and businesses, are choosing to hold their money. In May, fixed deposits, traditionally a stable source of bank funding, shrank by 1.2 per cent year-on-year. At the same time, foreign currency deposits surged by 16.7 per cent, as more Malaysians shifted their savings into US dollars or other currencies in search of better returns or to hedge against ringgit volatility. This trend reduces the availability of ringgit funding in the local banking system, making banks more reliant on short-term interbank markets to meet demand. External risks and policy room CIMB Securities said these funding pressures are occurring against a backdrop of uncertain global conditions, including the potential economic fallout from US President Donald Trump's tariff regime. It noted that Malaysia's economy grew 4.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2025, the slowest pace in a year, partly due to a front-loaded export push ahead of the anticipated tariff changes. More concerning, the firm said, is that money supply growth continues to lag behind nominal gross domestic product, signalling that monetary conditions remain tighter than ideal for an economy facing mounting external risks. With the SRR now at one per cent and the OPR unchanged, CIMB Securities said there is still policy space for further action, either by cutting interest rates or by making more liquidity available through additional SRR tweaks. It noted that funding pressures typically intensify toward year-end, with the KLIBOR–OPR spread widening sharply in December, reaching as high as 93 bps in 2022, 77 bps in 2023, and 73 bps in 2024. A preemptive move now, the firm added, could help Bank Negara avoid another seasonal crunch and keep credit flowing smoothly through the second half of 2025.
Business Times
26-06-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Indonesia's yield curve may steepen as Bank Indonesia unwinds intervention
[JAKARTA] Indonesia's sovereign yield curve is set to steepen as the central bank reduces its use of short-term rupiah securities, prompting a shift in demand towards government bonds. The spread between 2- and 10-year bond yields this week reached the widest since June 2023. Bank Indonesia (BI) is in an interest-rate cutting cycle and investors are redirecting funds from a set of rupiah-denominated tools, so-called SRBI securities, into sovereign bonds, thus likely sinking front-end yields. The unwinding of SRBI intervention amid rupiah stability is seen complementing interest-rate cuts and steepening the Indonesian bond curve, CIMB Bank economists including Michelle Chia wrote in a recent note. That's a tailwind for shorter-dated bonds, they said. The shift in demand towards sovereign bonds is set to lower government borrowing costs, reinforcing BI's push to ease financial conditions and support the economy. Investors are keeping a close eye on Indonesia's fiscal outlook, with President Prabowo Subianto planning to release a number of costly programmes during his term. The amount of outstanding SRBI notes, which were launched in September 2023 to lure foreign inflows and support the rupiah, has declined about 17 per cent from a November peak. In the latest auction on Friday, BI sold just 18 trillion rupiah (S$1.4 billion) – well below the 56 trillion rupiah in total bids, the highest since January. The bid-to-cover ratio jumped to 3.10 times. The Friday auction saw 6-, 9- and 12-month SRBI notes priced at record lows, making shorter-dated Indonesia bond yields more attractive in comparison. Meanwhile, longer-dated bond yields may not have much scope to fall further. Indonesia's 10-year spread over Treasuries is already a standard deviation below the one-year average. Fiscal consolidation is also unlikely to play a major role. While Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati reiterated this week that the government is on target to hit the fiscal deficit of 2.53 per cent of gross domestic product this year, economists surveyed by Bloomberg offer a median budget gap prediction of 2.8 per cent. The 'Indonesian bond curve has steepened largely because it is in the midst of an easing cycle but reflecting in part some fiscal risk premiums', said Winson Phoon, head of fixed-income research at Maybank Securities. He expects an additional half-point cut by BI, which may help the curve 'steepen slightly further'. BLOOMBERG
