Yeast Infection

What is Yeast?

Yeast is a fungus, also called Candida (or thrush). Vaginitis is caused most commonly by a specific type of fungus called Candida albicans. Yeast is common in moist areas of the skin like the mouth or vagina. Around 20% - 50% of women carry yeast in the vaginal area.

What is Vaginitis?

Vaginitis is vaginal inflammation, it is very common and 75% of women will have it throughout their lives. The most common form of vaginitis is vaginal candidiasis, witch is a vaginal yeast infection.

Definition of Vulvitis

Vulvitis is the inflammation of the vulva, the external genitals organs. The vulva is the clitoris, entrance to the vagina and labia.

General Causes of Vaginal Yeast Infection

When new yeast is introduced to the vaginal area, then vaginal yeast infection occurs. If a women is taking antibiotics or immunosuppressive drugs, then the protective bacteria suffers, and the yeast can multiply and cause irritation.
Chemotherapy can cause injuries to the inner vagina, and this can also cause a vaginal yeast infection. Women with a bad immune system are more prone to vaginal yeast infection then women with a good immune system.
Pregnancy, taking oral contraceptives and diabetes mellitus are conditions that can increase the risk for a women to develop vaginal yeast infection. Vaginal yeast infection is not a sexually transmitted infection, because Candida can normally be present in the vagina. Men can develop a skin irritation on the penis after intercourse with a women with vaginal yeast infection. Also, there is a special site dedicated to yeast infection in children.

Symptoms of Vaginal Yeast Infection and Vulvitis

Vaginal yeast infection has symptoms that can occur with many other conditions. These symptoms are itching in the vulvar and / or vaginal area, soreness, vaginal discharge, pain during intercourse and / or urination, burning. Vulvitis can also cause pain along with these symptoms, this pain is also called vulvodynia. For more details please visit our yeast infection symptoms page.

Do I Have to Go See My Doctor Every Time I Have a Vaginal Yeast Infection?

When you notice the symptoms, go and see your doctor, it is important to know if it is a yeast infection and not a more serious infection. If you treat yourself for yeast infection while it is some other infection you can make your condition much worse.

Treatment for Yeast Infection

Anti fungal medications can be used to treat vaginal yeast infection and vulvitis, they can be applied in or around the vagina (creams: butoconazole, miconazole, terconazole, clotrimazole) or taken orally (fluconazole). Sometimes infections with more than one microbe may have to be treated with combinations of medications. Vaginal yeast infection is most commonly treated with vaginal tablets (miconazole, nystatin, terconazole, clotrimazole) rather than orally. Also, there is a several of very efficient yeast infection home remedies.

Expected Duration

With the proper treatment, 90% of vaginal yeast infections are treated within two weeks, commonly by 2-3 days. Some women will have repeat infections, if they are very common, then the person should be tested for diabetes and HIV, because these two conditions can lower the immune system.

How to Avoid Vaginal Yeast Infection?

Here are some tips on how to avoid vaginal yeast infection: Don't use tampons or vaginal perfume spray, avoid wearing wet swimsuits and wet clothes, wear cotton panties, wipe from front to back after using the toilet. Please find more on our yeast prevention page.