What
is a vaginal yeast infection?
What are the symptoms of vaginal yeast infections?
What causes vaginal yeast infections?
How is a yeast infection diagnosed?
How is a yeast infection treated?
How can I prevent yeast infections?
What is
a vaginal yeast infection?
Yeast
infections are a common cause of irritation of the vagina and
vulva (area around the opening to the vagina). About 75 percent
of women have a vaginal yeast infection during their lives.
A
kind of fungus called Candida causes vaginal yeast infections.
It is normal to have some yeast in your vagina. Usually yeast
is in balance with other organisms. But sometimes the balance
is lost, and yeast overgrowth occurs. Hormonal changes can affect
the acidity of the vagina and lead to yeast overgrowth. Another
common cause of yeast infections is taking antibiotics.
What are
the symptoms of vaginal yeast infections?
Symptoms
of vaginal yeast infections in women may be mild or very uncomfortable.
Symptoms may include:
Itching,
burning, and irritation of the vagina
Itching,
redness and irritation of the vulva
Painful
urination and/or intercourse
Abnormal
vaginal discharge, usually described as looking like cottage cheese.
But discharge may vary in amount and appearance. It does not have
a bad odor.
Symptoms of yeast infections can be similar to
symptoms of other kinds of vaginal infections.
What causes
vaginal yeast infections?
Conditions that may make yeast infections more likely include:
Pregnancy
and other causes of hormone changes.
Use
of oral contraceptives (birth control pills).
Diabetes
that isn't well controlled. High blood sugar can help yeast to
multiply.
A
weakened immune system.
Use
of steroid drugs.
Use
of antibiotics.
Antibiotic drugs kill bacteria in the body including the vagina,
allowing yeast to multiply and cause an infection.
Yeast infections seem to be only rarely passed from one person
to another through sexual contact. A male partner of a woman with
a yeast infection usually will have no symptoms, but some men
may get an itchy rash on the penis.
How is
a yeast infection diagnosed?
Your
health care provider will examine you and use a swab to take a
sample from the affected area. A lab test of the sample will show
if yeast is the cause of your symptoms.
How is a
yeast infection treated?
Yeast
infections are treated with antifungal drugs, such as clotrimazole
or miconazole. There are creams and tablets used in the vagina,
skin ointments, and pills.
Antifungal
drugs usually work well to treat a vaginal yeast infection. But
infections that do respond to treatment are becoming more common.
Taking antifungal drugs when they are not needed can help make
yeast resistant to the drugs. For this reason, you should not
use antifungal drugs unless you are sure that you have a yeast
infection.
If
you are sure that you have a yeast infection, you can buy over-the-counter
products to treat the infection. Be sure to follow the directions
for using the product. If you are not sure whether you have a
yeast infection or another type of infection or problem, you should
see your health care provider. You should also see your health
care provider if you have recurring yeast infections.
How can
I prevent yeast infections?
Don't
use douches, perfumed vaginal sprays, or other scented products
that irritate the vagina. Wear cotton underpants and pantyhose
with a cotton crotch to help keep the genital area ventilated.
If you have a problem with recurring yeast infections, ask your
health care provider about ways to prevent them.
For more information…
For more information on yeast infections, call the National Women's
Health Information Center (NWHIC) at 800-994-WOMAN or contact
the following organizations.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Phone Number (s): (800) 448-0440
Internet Address: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Phone Number (s): (800) 311-3435 (Public Inquiries) or (888) 232-3228
(Information Request System)
Internet Address: http://www.cdc.gov/
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Phone Number (s): (202) 863-2518 or (800) 762-2264 x 192 (for
publications requests only)
Internet Address: http://www.acog.org
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Phone Number (s): (800) 230-7526
Internet Address: http://www.plannedparenthood.org
This information was adapted from fact sheets from the National
Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention.
The above information has been presented with permission of the
Office on Women's Health in the Department of Health and Human
Services
This FAQ has been reviewed by Sarah Landry of the National Institute
of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health
July 2002
