Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsYeast InfectionsTrichomoniasisBacterial Vaginosis (BV)Prevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Yeast Infections
Trichomoniasis
Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)
Prevention
Three common issues that affect vaginal health are yeast infections,trichomoniasis, and bacterialvaginosis. They often have similar symptoms, such as persistent itching, anabnormal discharge, or pain with urination.
However, these three vaginal problems are different and so are their causes. It’s important to get an accurate diagnosis for what’s causing symptoms because the treatments are different, too. Your healthcare provider can ensure early and effective treatment to help you avoid complications.
This article discusses these three common vaginal conditions and their symptoms. It also offers some ideas about how to prevent these infections and disorders from occurring.
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However, some factors—such as antibiotics, pregnancy, uncontrolled diabetes, or a weakenedimmune system(even if just from stress)—can upset the balance of bacteria in the vagina, causing yeast to multiply.Without intervention, yeast thrives due to the vagina’s wet, warm accommodations.
How Common Are Candida Infections?Three out of four people who have vaginas will experience at least one vaginal yeast infection during their lifetime. About 8% will have recurring infections, three or more times per year.They nearly always occur during your fertile years, after the onset of puberty and before menopause, likely because of the dramatic shift in hormones at these times.
How Common Are Candida Infections?
Three out of four people who have vaginas will experience at least one vaginal yeast infection during their lifetime. About 8% will have recurring infections, three or more times per year.They nearly always occur during your fertile years, after the onset of puberty and before menopause, likely because of the dramatic shift in hormones at these times.
The most common symptom of yeast infection is extreme itchiness in and around the vagina. Other signs and symptoms you might experience include:
Most yeast infections are mild, but some people can develop severe infections involving redness, swelling, and cracks in the wall of the vagina.
Some people experience frequent yeast infections, so they are familiar with the symptoms and thecourse of treatment. You can buy an over-the-counter antifungal cream, suppository, or tablet that you put in your vagina for anywhere from one to seven days, depending on what you choose.
The treatment for a yeast infection won’t cure asexually transmittedinfection (STI) or bacterial vaginosis, either of which you may have instead, putting you at risk for complications from those conditions.
Additionally, your body may become more resistant to antifungal medication if you use it when you don’t have a yeast infection, which can lead to difficulty getting rid of a yeast infection in the future.
If this is the first time you’re having these symptoms, it’s important to see your healthcare provider in order toget a formal diagnosisand rule out other possibilities, especially because research shows that two in three people who buy antifungal medicine for a vaginal yeast infection don’t actually have one.
What Causes Vaginal Itching During Pregnancy?
The time between exposure to trichomoniasis and the onset of symptoms can be anywhere from five to 28 days. You may notice:
Treatment for trichomoniasisinvolves one of two antibiotics: Flagyl (metronidazole) or Tindamax (tinidazole). If trichomoniasis is left untreated, you’re at a higher risk of getting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) if you’re exposed.
If you have HIV, untreated trichomoniasis makes it more likely for you to pass HIV on to your sexual partners, which is why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you get tested for trichomoniasis every year if you’re HIV-positive.
Does Your Partner Need Treatment?If you suspect you may have trichomoniasis, you should refrain from sexual intercourse and see your healthcare provider immediately. If your healthcare provider diagnoses trichomoniasis, your sexual partner(s) should be diagnosed and receive necessary treatment as well. You shouldn’t resume sex until both you and your partner are treated and symptom-free.
Does Your Partner Need Treatment?
If you suspect you may have trichomoniasis, you should refrain from sexual intercourse and see your healthcare provider immediately. If your healthcare provider diagnoses trichomoniasis, your sexual partner(s) should be diagnosed and receive necessary treatment as well. You shouldn’t resume sex until both you and your partner are treated and symptom-free.
How Trichomoniasis Is Diagnosed
While there is not a definitive answer aboutwhat causes BV, a few factors are known to raise your risk of contracting it, including:
Though many people don’t have noticeable bacterial vaginosissymptoms, the ones who do may notice the following:
BV is treatedwith antibiotics and doesn’t respond to antifungal medication for yeast infections, though the symptoms are similar. You should refrain from sex until your treatment is complete.
Natural Remedies to Restore pH Balance in Your Vagina
Normally, your vagina has ahealthy balanceof yeast and bacteria, but certain factors can throw that balance off. If you’re prone to vaginal infections, consider the following tips to help keep the environment in your vagina balanced:
Vaginal Health: Symptoms, Treatment, and More
Summary
Yeast infections, trichomoniasis, and bacterial vaginosis are the most common vaginal issues. They are all treatable conditions, but they need to be accurately diagnosed because they’re managed in different ways.
Antibiotics don’t help a yeast infection at all (antifungal medications are needed) and sometimes may even lead to the infection. So be sure to contact your healthcare provider about your vaginal symptoms to ensure an accurate diagnosis.
A Word From Verywell
While the most common vaginal problems associated with vaginal discharge are discussed here, there are others that can have some overlapping symptoms, such asurinary tract infections (UTIs), vaginitis, andvulvodynia. Keep in mind that your symptoms can arise from a number of conditions.
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.
Gonçalves B, Ferreira C, Alves CT, Henriques M, Azeredo J, Silva S.Vulvovaginal candidiasis: Epidemiology, microbiology and risk factors.Crit Rev Microbiol. 2016;42(6):905-927. doi:10.3109/1040841X.2015.1091805
Willems HME, Ahmed SS, Liu J, Xu Z, Peters BM.Vulvovaginal Candidiasis: A Current Understanding and Burning Questions.J Fungi (Basel). 2020 Feb 25;6(1):27. doi: 10.3390/jof6010027.
Office on Women’s Health.Vaginal yeast infections.
Meites E, Llata E, Braxton J, et al.Trichomonas vaginalis in selected U.S. sexually transmitted disease clinics: testing, screening, and prevalence.Sex Transm Dis. 2013;40(11):865-869. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000038
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Trichomoniasis: CDC fact sheet.
Workowski KA, Bolan GA, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sexually transmitted diseases treatment guidelines, 2015.MMWR Recomm Rep. 2015;64(RR-03):1-137.
Ranjit E, Raghubanshi BR, Maskey S, Parajuli P.Prevalence of bacterial vaginosis and its association with risk factors among monpregnant women: A hospital based study.Int J Microbiol. 2018;2018:8349601. doi:10.1155/2018/8349601
Kairys N, Garg M.Bacterial vaginosis. In:StatPearls. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing; 2019.
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