Yeast infectionscan cause a little bleeding, in addition to the symptoms most people are familiar with—itching, burning while urinating, and discharge.
If you have a yeast infection and notice blood after wiping, it might be alarming and make you wonder if you have a yeast infection or something more serious.
This article discussesvaginal yeast infection symptoms, additional causes of vaginal bleeding, and when to see a healthcare provider.
What Is a Yeast Infection?
Yeast infections (also called candidiasis) commonly occur in people when the Candida fungus is overgrown.When it affects thevaginaand the tissues at the opening of the vagina (vulva), it’s called a vaginal yeast infection.
The human body hasCandidaat all times and the immune system is tasked with controlling its growth. If your vaginal chemistry gets thrown off balance, the normal yeast that lives in your vagina can grow too much and lead to an infection.
Yeast Infections and Bleeding
A yeast infection is a type ofvaginitis, which refers to several disorders that cause vaginal inflammation. The inflammation can lead to:
Vaginitis is usually a result of a change in the normal balance of vaginal bacteria, an infection, or reduced estrogen levels aftermenopause. There are seven common types of vaginitis:
When Is Bleeding Not Normal?If the bleeding you are experiencing during a yeast infection is heavy or doesn’t go away after you have gone through treatment, it could be a sign that the cause of the bleeding is not the yeast infection. If that is the case, contact your healthcare provider and they can help determine why you’re bleeding.
When Is Bleeding Not Normal?
If the bleeding you are experiencing during a yeast infection is heavy or doesn’t go away after you have gone through treatment, it could be a sign that the cause of the bleeding is not the yeast infection. If that is the case, contact your healthcare provider and they can help determine why you’re bleeding.
Other Symptoms of a Yeast Infection
Not everyone experiences bleeding when they have a yeast infection, so it’s important to recognize the other signs of a yeast infection. The symptoms that occur in someone with a vaginal yeast infection, include:
Mild to Severe Yeast Infection Symptoms
Other Causes of Bleeding
Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)
These anaerobic microorganisms grow in abundance within the vagina and can lead to symptoms such as a fishy odor and white discharge. It is the most common type of vaginosis in women of childbearing age and has been shown to lead to reproductive complications.
Other common symptoms of BV include pain, itching, and burning in or around the vagina and burning during urination.
Do I have bacterial vaginosis or a yeast infection?Bacterial vaginosis can also cause bleeding similar to that of a yeast infection. Both conditions are very common, so it can be hard to differentiate between the two. Onesymptomthat occurs in BV but not with a yeast infection is a fishy odor.
Do I have bacterial vaginosis or a yeast infection?
Bacterial vaginosis can also cause bleeding similar to that of a yeast infection. Both conditions are very common, so it can be hard to differentiate between the two. Onesymptomthat occurs in BV but not with a yeast infection is a fishy odor.
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
The symptoms of a UTI will differ depending on where in the urinary tract system it affects. For UTIs in the lower urinary tract, symptoms may include:
Trichomoniasis
When people do present with symptoms, they are different in both men and women. In women, the symptoms of the parasitic infection include:
A trichomoniasis infection can heighten the risk of spreading other sexually transmitted infections such as HIV because of the inflammation that occurs in the genital area. Bleeding that occurs in this type of infection stems from thecervixand is often referred to as a “strawberry cervix.”
How Trichomoniasis Is Treated
Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is another STI that can cause symptoms similar to those of a yeast infection. It is the second most commonly reported bacterial STI in the United States, and it is estimated that approximately 1.6 million new infections occurred in the U.S. in 2018.
Most women who have gonorrhea do not show symptoms, but when they do, they include:
Everything You Need to Know About Gonorrhea
Chlamydia
Chlamydia is another STI that is commonly asymptomatic. If a chlamydia infection goes untreated, it can lead to fertility issues or anectopic pregnancy.Studies have shown that cases of chlamydia among young adults were rising steadily from 2007 to 2016, with over 10,000 cases per 100,000 people that year.
The most common symptoms include:
Chlamydia ComplicationsOne complication that can happen if chlamydia is left untreated is a condition known aspelvic inflammatory disease (PID). It occurs when the infection reaches the fallopian tubes and uterus, and it is a medical emergency.
Chlamydia Complications
One complication that can happen if chlamydia is left untreated is a condition known aspelvic inflammatory disease (PID). It occurs when the infection reaches the fallopian tubes and uterus, and it is a medical emergency.
Kidney Stones
Urine filters our waste from the body, but when there isn’t enough urine to do that, crystals begin to form from the waste left behind. These crystals join together with other elements and form akidney stone.
This stone will continue to grow unless it is excreted in urine. In some cases, a kidney stone may be passed out of the body with limited discomfort, but if it doesn’t move out quickly enough, it can cause a blockage and pain.
Since the size of kidney stones differs, the symptoms vary as well. Some kidney stones could be as small as a single grain of sand, while others are pebble-sized. Typically, the size of the stone will determine the severity of the symptoms.Common symptoms include:
In many cases, kidney stones are passed without causing any permanent damage to the urinary tract, but there have been some incidents where repeat bouts with kidney stones can lead to the development ofchronic kidney disease.
Belly Button Yeast Infection: What to Know
Other Factors
Other factors that may cause bleeding include intense exercise, birth control devices, and hormone therapy.
Exercise:Very intense or extreme exercise, commonly running, can cause bleeding but it’s not actually coming from the vagina. Instead, it is blood in the urine and usually resolves within three days after stopping intense activity.
Birth control devices: Using birth control devices such as an intrauterine device (IUD) can cause spotting.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT): A treatment used to relieve symptoms of menopause, one of the side effects can be unexpected vaginal bleeding or spotting.
How to Treat a Yeast Infection
Treatment for vaginitis will depend on the type of vaginitis. Possible treatments include:
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Bleeding for any reason outside of your typical menstrual period warrants a visit to your healthcare provider. If you suspect that a yeast infection is to blame for the bleeding and it continues following treatment and resolution of other symptoms, talk to your healthcare provider because it could be a sign of another health issue.
Summary
There are several conditions besides a yeast infection that can cause bleeding. Thus, any vaginal bleeding outside of your typical menstrual period warrants a visit to your healthcare provider so they can accurately diagnose and then treat the condition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, one symptom of a yeast infection can be feeling like you have to pee more often than usual, and peeing may sting if your vulva is really irritated.Learn MoreAn Overview of Frequent Urination
Yes, one symptom of a yeast infection can be feeling like you have to pee more often than usual, and peeing may sting if your vulva is really irritated.
Learn MoreAn Overview of Frequent Urination
How Yeast Infections Are Diagnosed
21 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Candidiasis basics.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Vaginitis.Turovskiy Y, Sutyak Noll K, Chikindas ML.The aetiology of bacterial vaginosis.J Appl Microbiol. 2011;110(5):1105-1128. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2672.2011.04977.xAl-Badr A, Al-Shaikh G.Recurrent urinary tract infections management in women: a review.Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J.2013;13(3):359-367. doi:10.12816/0003256Office on Women’s Health.Urinary tract infections.Lewis FMT, Spicknall IH, Flagg EW, Papp JR, Kreisel KM.Incidence and prevalence of trichomonas vaginalis infection among persons aged 15 to 59 years: United State. Sex Transm Dis.2021;48(4):232-237. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001383Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About trichomoniasis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About gonorrhea.Tsevat DG, Wiesenfeld HC, Parks C, Peipert JF.Sexually transmitted diseases and infertility.Am J Obstet Gynecol.2017;216(1):1-9. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2016.08.008Shannon CL, Klausner JD.The growing epidemic of sexually transmitted infections in adolescents: a neglected population.Curr Opin Pediatr. 2018;30(1):137-143. doi:10.1097/MOP.0000000000000578Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About chlamydia.National Center for Biotechnology Information.Imaging Tests to Check for Kidney Stones.Keddis MT, Rule AD.Nephrolithiasis and loss of kidney function.Curr Opin Nephrol Hypertens.2013;22(4):390-396. doi:10.1097/MNH.0b013e32836214b9Varma PP, Sengupta P, Nair RK.Post exertional hematuria. Ren Fail. 2014 Jun;36(5):701-3. doi: 10.3109/0886022X.2014.890011Planned Parenthood.What are the side effects of IUDs?National Health Service.Side effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT).Medline Plus.Vaginitis.Fisher J, Sobel J, Kauffman C, Newman C.CandidaUrinary Tract Infections—Treatment.Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2011;52(6):S457-S466. doi:10.1093/cid/cir112MedlinePlus.Fluconazole.MedlinePlus.Miconazole Vaginal.Planned Parenthood.Vaginitis.
21 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Candidiasis basics.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Vaginitis.Turovskiy Y, Sutyak Noll K, Chikindas ML.The aetiology of bacterial vaginosis.J Appl Microbiol. 2011;110(5):1105-1128. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2672.2011.04977.xAl-Badr A, Al-Shaikh G.Recurrent urinary tract infections management in women: a review.Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J.2013;13(3):359-367. doi:10.12816/0003256Office on Women’s Health.Urinary tract infections.Lewis FMT, Spicknall IH, Flagg EW, Papp JR, Kreisel KM.Incidence and prevalence of trichomonas vaginalis infection among persons aged 15 to 59 years: United State. Sex Transm Dis.2021;48(4):232-237. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001383Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About trichomoniasis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About gonorrhea.Tsevat DG, Wiesenfeld HC, Parks C, Peipert JF.Sexually transmitted diseases and infertility.Am J Obstet Gynecol.2017;216(1):1-9. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2016.08.008Shannon CL, Klausner JD.The growing epidemic of sexually transmitted infections in adolescents: a neglected population.Curr Opin Pediatr. 2018;30(1):137-143. doi:10.1097/MOP.0000000000000578Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About chlamydia.National Center for Biotechnology Information.Imaging Tests to Check for Kidney Stones.Keddis MT, Rule AD.Nephrolithiasis and loss of kidney function.Curr Opin Nephrol Hypertens.2013;22(4):390-396. doi:10.1097/MNH.0b013e32836214b9Varma PP, Sengupta P, Nair RK.Post exertional hematuria. Ren Fail. 2014 Jun;36(5):701-3. doi: 10.3109/0886022X.2014.890011Planned Parenthood.What are the side effects of IUDs?National Health Service.Side effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT).Medline Plus.Vaginitis.Fisher J, Sobel J, Kauffman C, Newman C.CandidaUrinary Tract Infections—Treatment.Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2011;52(6):S457-S466. doi:10.1093/cid/cir112MedlinePlus.Fluconazole.MedlinePlus.Miconazole Vaginal.Planned Parenthood.Vaginitis.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Candidiasis basics.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Vaginitis.Turovskiy Y, Sutyak Noll K, Chikindas ML.The aetiology of bacterial vaginosis.J Appl Microbiol. 2011;110(5):1105-1128. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2672.2011.04977.xAl-Badr A, Al-Shaikh G.Recurrent urinary tract infections management in women: a review.Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J.2013;13(3):359-367. doi:10.12816/0003256Office on Women’s Health.Urinary tract infections.Lewis FMT, Spicknall IH, Flagg EW, Papp JR, Kreisel KM.Incidence and prevalence of trichomonas vaginalis infection among persons aged 15 to 59 years: United State. Sex Transm Dis.2021;48(4):232-237. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001383Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About trichomoniasis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About gonorrhea.Tsevat DG, Wiesenfeld HC, Parks C, Peipert JF.Sexually transmitted diseases and infertility.Am J Obstet Gynecol.2017;216(1):1-9. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2016.08.008Shannon CL, Klausner JD.The growing epidemic of sexually transmitted infections in adolescents: a neglected population.Curr Opin Pediatr. 2018;30(1):137-143. doi:10.1097/MOP.0000000000000578Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About chlamydia.National Center for Biotechnology Information.Imaging Tests to Check for Kidney Stones.Keddis MT, Rule AD.Nephrolithiasis and loss of kidney function.Curr Opin Nephrol Hypertens.2013;22(4):390-396. doi:10.1097/MNH.0b013e32836214b9Varma PP, Sengupta P, Nair RK.Post exertional hematuria. Ren Fail. 2014 Jun;36(5):701-3. doi: 10.3109/0886022X.2014.890011Planned Parenthood.What are the side effects of IUDs?National Health Service.Side effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT).Medline Plus.Vaginitis.Fisher J, Sobel J, Kauffman C, Newman C.CandidaUrinary Tract Infections—Treatment.Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2011;52(6):S457-S466. doi:10.1093/cid/cir112MedlinePlus.Fluconazole.MedlinePlus.Miconazole Vaginal.Planned Parenthood.Vaginitis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Candidiasis basics.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Vaginitis.
Turovskiy Y, Sutyak Noll K, Chikindas ML.The aetiology of bacterial vaginosis.J Appl Microbiol. 2011;110(5):1105-1128. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2672.2011.04977.x
Al-Badr A, Al-Shaikh G.Recurrent urinary tract infections management in women: a review.Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J.2013;13(3):359-367. doi:10.12816/0003256
Office on Women’s Health.Urinary tract infections.
Lewis FMT, Spicknall IH, Flagg EW, Papp JR, Kreisel KM.Incidence and prevalence of trichomonas vaginalis infection among persons aged 15 to 59 years: United State. Sex Transm Dis.2021;48(4):232-237. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001383
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About trichomoniasis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About gonorrhea.
Tsevat DG, Wiesenfeld HC, Parks C, Peipert JF.Sexually transmitted diseases and infertility.Am J Obstet Gynecol.2017;216(1):1-9. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2016.08.008
Shannon CL, Klausner JD.The growing epidemic of sexually transmitted infections in adolescents: a neglected population.Curr Opin Pediatr. 2018;30(1):137-143. doi:10.1097/MOP.0000000000000578
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About chlamydia.
National Center for Biotechnology Information.Imaging Tests to Check for Kidney Stones.
Keddis MT, Rule AD.Nephrolithiasis and loss of kidney function.Curr Opin Nephrol Hypertens.2013;22(4):390-396. doi:10.1097/MNH.0b013e32836214b9
Varma PP, Sengupta P, Nair RK.Post exertional hematuria. Ren Fail. 2014 Jun;36(5):701-3. doi: 10.3109/0886022X.2014.890011
Planned Parenthood.What are the side effects of IUDs?
National Health Service.Side effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
Medline Plus.Vaginitis.
Fisher J, Sobel J, Kauffman C, Newman C.CandidaUrinary Tract Infections—Treatment.Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2011;52(6):S457-S466. doi:10.1093/cid/cir112
MedlinePlus.Fluconazole.
MedlinePlus.Miconazole Vaginal.
Planned Parenthood.Vaginitis.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
