Among the things that shouldn’t be so taboo to talk about, vaginal health is one of them. For far too long, proper treatment of the vagina has been plagued by misinformation for years due to lack of research and education. Two of the biggest prices to pay for poor “down there health care” are UTIs and vaginal yeast infections, which can prove to be extremely uncomfortable and painful when left untreated.
1. What are vaginal yeast infections?
2. The causes, signs, and symptoms
3. Healthy habits and what to prevent
4. What to do if you get a yeast infection
While the subject may not be widely discussed, vaginal yeast infections are incredibly common and affect as many as three out of four women at some point in their lives, according to the Mayo Clinic (1). Usually, the length of time your yeast infection is left untreated has a direct impact on how severe your symptoms may become. Due to this, it’s important to break down all the facts behind vaginal yeast infections including symptoms, causes, and treatments so you’re able to catch them early.
When the vaginal chemistry gets thrown off balance, this can lead to an infection. Vaginal yeast infections, which are also sometimes referred to as vulvovaginal candidiasis, occur in the body when the healthy yeast that normally lives in the vagina grows out of control (2). The medical term for vaginal yeast infections are "candidiasis," because they’re usually caused by a type of yeast called candida.
Yeast infections aren’t considered STIs, but they can still be contagious. You can pass a yeast infection during oral sex, vaginal intercourse, through sharing unclean adult products, or by kissing someone with oral thrush (yeast infection of the mouth).
While bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common form of vaginal yeast infections, its primary causes are bacterial imbalances from douching and sexual activity, so it’s not a fungal infection like typical vaginal yeast infections are (3). BV has similar symptoms as a yeast infection, including discharge, burning, and itching. This can make distinguishing between the two infections difficult, but having vaginal yeast infections doesn’t cause long-term issues, while untreated BV can lead to fertility problems, and premature delivery (if you get infected while pregnant), and a higher risk of contracting STIs.
Fungal overgrowth often occurs when there is a disruption to the balance of pH or good bacteria in the vagina, which can be due to factors like antibiotic use, high estrogen levels, or even by using scented products to clean the vagina – just to name a few. Vaginal yeast infections have a common set of symptoms, such as:
Despite how common they are, it’s important to treat vaginal yeast infections early. This way, you can also reduce the chances of the infection becoming more widespread in your body. Unfortunately, recurring vaginal yeast infections are common, especially if you are pregnant, have diabetes, or have a weakened immune system. If you have more than four yeast infections per year, talk to your doctor.
Other common factors not mentioned above that can cause vaginal yeast infections include:
Some things that can lead to changes in your vagina’s environment are:
Healthy habits to take up to avoid vaginal yeast infections are:
Each yeast infection is different. So, to best meet your body’s needs, your doctor will suggest a treatment that’s best for you. Treatments are generally determined based on the severity of your symptoms.
As a word of advice, if this is your first suspected vaginal yeast infection, it’s vital to have a proper diagnosis from a doctor to make sure that your symptoms are really a yeast infection and not another condition like BV. To make the diagnosis, your doctor will conduct a pelvic exam, ask you about your symptoms, and will possibly also order a vaginal fluid test. The fluid test involves sending a sample to a lab, so once your doctor has determined the cause, or if the infection is actually a yeast infection, then they will prescribe the correct type of treatment based on the severity of your case (5).
For simple vaginal yeast infections, your doctor will usually prescribe a 1-to-3-day regimen of an antifungal cream, ointment, tablet, or suppository (6). These medications can be in either a prescription or over-the-counter form. One of the most common medications is known as Monistat.
However, in the case of treating severe cases of vaginal yeast infections, possible treatments include: 14-day cream, ointment, tablet, or suppository vaginal treatment, prescription medication, or use of a topical antifungal medication over a long period of time (6).
Written by Selena Ponton
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