Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesWhen to Get HelpTreatmentPreventionFAQ
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
When to Get Help
Treatment
Prevention
FAQ
It’s possible to get a yeast infection after sex. This type of infection is usually easily treatable.There are also steps you can take to prevent yeast infections after sex and any other time.
Yeast infections are fungal infections that can show up indifferent parts of the body, including in the vagina or on thepenis.
Fungal infections like yeast infections are notsexually transmitted infections(STIs), but they can be related to sexual activity. It’s possible to treat, and many times prevent, yeast infections—including those that develop after sex.
This article will go over how to tell if you have a yeast infection after sex. You’ll also learn how yeast infections after sex can be treated and prevented.
Verywell / Dennis Madamba
Signs of a Yeast Infection After Sex
You might feel discomfort immediately after you have sex, but it still takes time for a yeast infection to develop. Symptoms of a yeast infection may develop within a few days or a week after sex.
Yeast infections can affect the vagina or the penis. A yeast infection of the vagina is calledvulvovaginitis. Ayeast infection of the penisis calledbalanitis.
Thesymptoms of a yeast infectioninclude:
Some people with a yeast infection have pain when urinating. This symptom is sometimes confused with abladderorurinary tract infection(UTI).
How Common Are Yeast Infections?The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that females have a 75% chance of developing at least one vaginal yeast infection in their lifetime.While less common, penile yeast infections are not unusual.
How Common Are Yeast Infections?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that females have a 75% chance of developing at least one vaginal yeast infection in their lifetime.While less common, penile yeast infections are not unusual.
Mild to Severe Yeast Infection Symptoms
Can You Have a Yeast Infection With No Symptoms?
You can also have a yeast infection without symptoms. For example, an infection can be spread to a penis after vaginal intercourse, but there may be no sign of apenile yeast infection. But, even if you’re asymptomatic, you could spread the infection to your partner.
What Is Vaginitis?
How Does Sex Cause a Yeast Infection?
The most common fungus associated with a vaginal or penile yeast infection isCandida albicans.All healthy people have small amounts of the Candida fungus in the intestines, mouth and throat, and outer layers of skin.
Candida is also a normal part of the vaginal flora. A healthy vaginal flora protects the vagina from infections and normally doesn’t cause problems. However, if it gets disrupted or becomes imbalanced, the Candida fungus can grow out of control and give rise to yeast infections.
What Is Candidiasis?
Yeast Infections and Penetrative Sex
Yeast infections are not STIs but can be spread between partners during penetrative sex. The use of a barriermethod of birth control, such as condoms, can help prevent yeast infections from being passed on during sex.
Personal hygiene practices, including washing after sex, can also help prevent yeast infections.
How to Use Condoms on a Penis
Yeast Infections After Oral Sex
While it’s less common, it’s possible for a yeast infection to occur inside the mouth (thrush) after oral sex.
Performing oral sex on someone with an ongoing yeast infection is not likely to lead to thrush, but providers still recommend holding off on oral sex or using adental damor condom while a partner has a yeast infection.
Taking precautions is very important for people with a weak immune system, such as those with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) because they are more likely to get fungal infections and thrush.
How to Tell If You Have Thrush
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Most yeast infections after sex are easy to treat and do not cause major problems. However, you should talk to your provider if:
How to Get Rid of a Yeast Infection
Treatment for Yeast Infections After Sex
A yeast infection you get after sex mightgo away on its own, but it can also get worse if you don’t treat it.
A mild yeast infection can often get better with over-the-counter (OTC) treatments like antifungal creams, ointments, and suppositories. Usually, you will use the medication for three to seven days to clear up the infection.
Lotrimin (clotrimazole), Monistat (miconazole), and Vagistat-1 (tioconazole) are examples of OTC yeast infection treatments.
If OTC treatments do not help, your provider can prescribe one dose of an oral antifungal called Diflucan (fluconazole) to treat a yeast infection after sex.
Antifungal Cream and Birth ControlAntifungal creams and ointments can weaken latex condoms and diaphragms.Consider using a backup method of birth control if you will be having sex while you’re using these treatments for a yeast infection.
Antifungal Cream and Birth Control
Antifungal creams and ointments can weaken latex condoms and diaphragms.Consider using a backup method of birth control if you will be having sex while you’re using these treatments for a yeast infection.
If your yeast infection symptoms do not get better after seven days of OTC treatments, tell your provider.
Your sexual partner does not need to be treated for a yeast infection after sex unless they have symptoms.
The Best OTC Yeast Infection Medications
How to Prevent Yeast Infections After Sex
Yeast infections after sex can be prevented with many of the same steps that reduce your chances of getting yeast infections at any time.
Here are some ways to prevent yeast infections:
Why You Should Never Douche
Summary
Yeast infections are not sexually transmitted infections, but you may develop one if you have sex with a partner who has one.
Having sex can disrupt the normal bacterial environment of the genitals which usually prevents an overgrowth of the fungus that causes yeast infections. When the balance is thrown off, it can lead to a yeast infection.
Yeast infections after sex are both treatable and preventable. If you are unsure if you have a yeast infection, talk to your provider.
There are several OTC and prescription treatments available for yeast infections. There are also hygiene steps you can take to help prevent a yeast infection.
Home Remedies for Yeast Infections
Frequently Asked QuestionsAvoid sex until the yeast infection is better—usually, a few days after you’ve finished treatment and your symptoms have gone away. Taking part in sexual activity while you have a yeast infection can make the symptoms last longer. It’s also likely that having sex with a yeast infection will be irritating and uncomfortable.A yeast infection could be confused for a bladder, kidney, or urinary tract infection, especially if it causes pain with urination.A yeast infection is not an STI, but if a person has itching, pain, and discharge after sex, they might mistake those symptoms for an STI.Learn MoreVaginosis or Yeast Infection?Healthy people may get yeast infections occasionally and without a specific cause.However, fungal infections are more common in people with:Uncontrolled diabetesAn impaired immune systemPregnancyAntibiotic usePoor hygieneSpermdo not cause yeast infectionsbut sexual activity, including ejaculating inside a vagina, can change the balance of bacteria and may lead to a yeast infection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Avoid sex until the yeast infection is better—usually, a few days after you’ve finished treatment and your symptoms have gone away. Taking part in sexual activity while you have a yeast infection can make the symptoms last longer. It’s also likely that having sex with a yeast infection will be irritating and uncomfortable.
A yeast infection could be confused for a bladder, kidney, or urinary tract infection, especially if it causes pain with urination.A yeast infection is not an STI, but if a person has itching, pain, and discharge after sex, they might mistake those symptoms for an STI.Learn MoreVaginosis or Yeast Infection?
A yeast infection could be confused for a bladder, kidney, or urinary tract infection, especially if it causes pain with urination.A yeast infection is not an STI, but if a person has itching, pain, and discharge after sex, they might mistake those symptoms for an STI.
Learn MoreVaginosis or Yeast Infection?
Healthy people may get yeast infections occasionally and without a specific cause.However, fungal infections are more common in people with:Uncontrolled diabetesAn impaired immune systemPregnancyAntibiotic usePoor hygiene
Healthy people may get yeast infections occasionally and without a specific cause.However, fungal infections are more common in people with:
Spermdo not cause yeast infectionsbut sexual activity, including ejaculating inside a vagina, can change the balance of bacteria and may lead to a yeast infection.
FDA Approves First Treatment for Recurrent Yeast Infections
9 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.Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Vaginal yeast infections.Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Vaginal yeast infections.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Candidiasis basics.Talapko J, Juzbašić M, Matijević T, et al.Candida albicans—the virulence factors and clinical manifestations of infection.J Fungi (Basel). 2021 Feb;7(2):79. doi:10.3390/jof7020079Duke University Health System.Should you see a gynecologist for a yeast infection?.Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Vaginal yeast infections.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC).Physician One Urgent Care.Difference between yeast infection, kidney infection, bladder infection & UTI.
9 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.Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Vaginal yeast infections.Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Vaginal yeast infections.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Candidiasis basics.Talapko J, Juzbašić M, Matijević T, et al.Candida albicans—the virulence factors and clinical manifestations of infection.J Fungi (Basel). 2021 Feb;7(2):79. doi:10.3390/jof7020079Duke University Health System.Should you see a gynecologist for a yeast infection?.Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Vaginal yeast infections.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC).Physician One Urgent Care.Difference between yeast infection, kidney infection, bladder infection & UTI.
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.
Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Vaginal yeast infections.Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Vaginal yeast infections.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Candidiasis basics.Talapko J, Juzbašić M, Matijević T, et al.Candida albicans—the virulence factors and clinical manifestations of infection.J Fungi (Basel). 2021 Feb;7(2):79. doi:10.3390/jof7020079Duke University Health System.Should you see a gynecologist for a yeast infection?.Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Vaginal yeast infections.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC).Physician One Urgent Care.Difference between yeast infection, kidney infection, bladder infection & UTI.
Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Vaginal yeast infections.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Candidiasis basics.
Talapko J, Juzbašić M, Matijević T, et al.Candida albicans—the virulence factors and clinical manifestations of infection.J Fungi (Basel). 2021 Feb;7(2):79. doi:10.3390/jof7020079
Duke University Health System.Should you see a gynecologist for a yeast infection?.
Physician One Urgent Care.Difference between yeast infection, kidney infection, bladder infection & UTI.
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