What are vaginal yeast infections?
Yeast called Candida is a type of fungus. Some Candida live in your vagina all the time. Your vagina connects your uterus (where a baby grows when you're pregnant) to the outside of your body. Some people call it the birth canal. A vaginal yeast infection happens when too many yeast cells grow in your vagina.
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These infections are very common and aren't usually serious
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Yeast infections are most common when you’re pregnant, have diabetes, or are taking antibiotics
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Symptoms may get worse the week before your monthly period starts and include vaginal itching and discharge
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Antifungal medicines are used to treat yeast infections
What are the symptoms of yeast infections?
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Itchiness of your vagina and vulva (the area on the outside of your body at the opening of your vagina)
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A thick, white vaginal discharge that looks a little like cottage cheese
Symptoms may get worse the week before your monthly period starts.
How can my doctor tell if I have a yeast infection?
Your doctor will suspect a yeast infection based on your symptoms. To tell for sure, your doctor will do a pelvic exam. During a pelvic exam, your doctor looks at your vulva and inside your vagina. In order to see inside, your doctor will hold your vagina open with a small instrument called a speculum. During the exam, your doctor will use a cotton swab to take a sample of discharge from your vagina and test it.
How do doctors treat yeast infections?
Yeast infections are treated with antifungal medicines. These are available as:
The oils in antifungal creams and ointments can weaken condoms made of latex. If you plan to have sex while using one of these medicines, use a different form of birth control, like a diaphragm, but also use a condom to prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
If you have a high risk of getting yeast infections, you may need to take an antifungal medicine by mouth to prevent them. Needing to take antibiotics for a long time puts you at a high risk for yeast infections.
