What Are Vaginal Yeast Infections?
Yeast infections (also known as candidiasis) are common infections caused by Candida
albicans yeast, which is a type of fungus.
Yeast infections usually happen in warm, moist parts of the body, such as the mouth,
and moist areas of skin.
A yeast infection in the vagina is known as vulvovaginal candidiasis (pronounced:
can-dih-DYE-uh-sis). Vaginal yeast infections are common among teen girls, and about
75% of all females will have one at some point.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Vaginal Yeast Infections?
Vaginal yeast infections can cause:
- itching and irritation in the vagina
- redness, swelling, or itching of the vulva (the folds of skin outside the vagina)
- a thick, white discharge that can look like cottage cheese and is usually odorless,
although it might smell like bread or yeast
- pain or burning when urinating (peeing) or during sex
If you have any of these symptoms, see your doctor or gynecologist. It's easy to
confuse the symptoms of a yeast infection with those of some STDs
and other vaginal infections. Your doctor can give you the right diagnosis so that
you can be treated appropriately.
If you have a vaginal yeast infection, your doctor can prescribe treatment to clear
up the symptoms in a couple of days and cure the infection within a week.
What Causes Vaginal Yeast Infections?
Having small amounts of Candida on the skin and inside the mouth, digestive
tract, and vagina is normal. A healthy immune system and some "good" bacteria keep
the amount in a person's body under control.
But yeast in the vagina can sometimes "overgrow" and lead to symptoms of a yeast
infection. Stress, pregnancy, and illnesses that affect the immune system may allow
yeast to multiply. So can certain medicines, including some birth control pills and
steroids. If you're taking antibiotics, such as for strep throat, the antibiotics
can kill the "good" bacteria that normally keep the Candida in check. Yeast
also can grow a lot if a girl's blood sugar is high. Girls who have diabetes that
isn't controlled are more likely to get yeast infections.
Many girls find that yeast infections tend to show up right before they get their
periods because of the hormonal changes that come with the menstrual
cycle. Clothing (especially underwear) that's tight or made of materials like
nylon that trap heat and moisture might make yeast infections more likely. Using scented
sanitary products and douching can upset the healthy balance of bacteria in the vagina
and make yeast infections more likely.
Yeast infections can happen to any girl. They're not considered sexually
transmitted infections. Although yeast infections may spread from one sexual
partner to the other, it's rare. The partner of someone who has a yeast infection
does not automatically have to be treated unless symptoms appear.
How Are Vaginal Yeast Infections Diagnosed?
Treating a yeast infection is simple, but it's important to visit your doctor for
the right diagnosis, because other infections can cause similar symptoms but require
different treatments.
At the visit, your doctor might take a urine sample (to rule out a urinary
tract infection) and swab some discharge from your vagina to examine under a microscope.
How Are Vaginal Yeast Infections Treated?
If you do have a yeast infection, your doctor will probably prescribe a pill to
swallow or a cream, tablet, or suppository to put in the vagina. When you get home,
follow all the directions on the package carefully. Creams, tablets, and suppositories
often come with an applicator to help you place the medicine inside your vagina, where
it can begin to work.
If you're using a vaginal treatment and are sexually active, you should not have sex
until the infection has been completely treated because these medicines can weaken
condoms and diaphragms.
All of these types of medicine can clear up your symptoms in a couple of days and
cure the infection within a week. It's important that you take the medicine for the
whole time that your doctor prescribes. If you stop taking it too soon, the infection
could come back. If you're not feeling better within a few days of finishing treatment,
call your doctor.
Some of the medicines used to treat yeast infections are available without a prescription,
but you shouldn't just buy one if you think you have a yeast infection. It's important
to see a doctor for your diagnosis because if you actually have another type of infection,
it could get worse if not properly treated. Also, over-the-counter medicine should
not be used by anyone younger than 12 or girls who might be pregnant without talking
to a doctor first.
Do Guys Get Yeast Infections?
Guys can get an infection of the head of the penis that is caused by the same Candida
that causes vaginal infections in girls. Guys who have diabetes or are on antibiotics
for a long time are more prone to this infection. A guy with a yeast infection may
not have any symptoms or the tip of the penis may become red and sore or itchy. Some
guys might have a slight discharge or pain with urination as well.
Guys who are not circumcised need to take extra care to clean properly beneath
their foreskins. The warm, moist folds of the foreskin are the perfect environment
for yeast to thrive. Keeping the area clean and dry may help prevent an infection,
but if symptoms do show up, a doctor can treat the infection.
Can Vaginal Yeast Infections Be Prevented?
For most girls, there's no way to prevent yeast infections. You may feel more comfortable
if you wear breathable cotton underwear and clothes and avoid vaginal sprays and douches.
But there's no scientific proof that this will prevent yeast infections.
If you have diabetes, keeping blood
sugar levels stable is a way to avoid yeast infections.
If you think you have an infection, call your doctor for advice. Don't take leftover
antibiotics or someone else's antibiotics or medicine. They might be the wrong choice
for your condition, and taking antibiotics when they're not needed can make yeast
infections more likely.
Yeast infections can be annoying, especially if they happen regularly. To help
avoid them, follow your doctor's advice, wear cotton underwear, and try to wear loose-fitting
clothes. Your body will thank you.
Date reviewed: April 2015