Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesSymptomsDiagnosisHome TreatmentMedical TreatmentRisks If UntreatedWhen to Seek CareRecovery TimePreventionOutlookNext in Yeast Infection GuideMild to Severe Yeast Infection Symptoms
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Home Treatment
Medical Treatment
Risks If Untreated
When to Seek Care
Recovery Time
Prevention
Outlook
Next in Yeast Infection Guide
The overgrowth of yeast causes inflammation, which can lead to uncomfortable symptoms such as itching, burning, or abnormal discharge. Vaginal yeast infections are the most common type, but yeast infections can occur in other places, such as the mouth and penis.
This article will discuss the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of yeast infections.
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What Causes a Vaginal Yeast Infection?
Factors that can lead to imbalance and overgrowth include:
Non-Vaginal Types of Yeast Infections
Yeast infections can happen in other areas of the body, including:
Is a Yeast Infection a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI)?Yeast infections aren’t considered STIs, but theycan be passed to a partnerthrough vaginal, oral, or anal sex.Your body chemistry can also react to your partner’s genital yeast and bacteria duringsexual activity, which may lead to a yeast overgrowth.Friction can cause irritation that hinders healing. Some of the medications used to treat yeast infections can have oil in them, which can cause condoms to break.Avoid having sex until your (or your partner’s) yeast infection has completely healed. Also, avoid putting anything in your vagina until your treatment is fully finished.
Is a Yeast Infection a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI)?
Yeast infections aren’t considered STIs, but theycan be passed to a partnerthrough vaginal, oral, or anal sex.Your body chemistry can also react to your partner’s genital yeast and bacteria duringsexual activity, which may lead to a yeast overgrowth.Friction can cause irritation that hinders healing. Some of the medications used to treat yeast infections can have oil in them, which can cause condoms to break.Avoid having sex until your (or your partner’s) yeast infection has completely healed. Also, avoid putting anything in your vagina until your treatment is fully finished.
Yeast infections aren’t considered STIs, but theycan be passed to a partnerthrough vaginal, oral, or anal sex.
Your body chemistry can also react to your partner’s genital yeast and bacteria duringsexual activity, which may lead to a yeast overgrowth.
Friction can cause irritation that hinders healing. Some of the medications used to treat yeast infections can have oil in them, which can cause condoms to break.
Avoid having sex until your (or your partner’s) yeast infection has completely healed. Also, avoid putting anything in your vagina until your treatment is fully finished.
Yeast Infection Symptoms
Symptoms of vaginal yeast infectionsinclude:
Diagnosing Yeast Infections: How Do You Know You Have One?
Todiagnose a yeast infection, your healthcare provider may:
Treating a Yeast Infection at Home
Vaginal yeast infections can usually be treated at home with over-the-counter (OTC) antifungal medications. These come in the form of medicated creams or suppositories, placed in the vagina with an applicator.
Some medications that can be used forat-home treatment of vaginal yeast infectionsinclude:
Even if you are using nonprescription medication, talk to a healthcare provider before treating yourself for a yeast infection because:
Who Should Not Use OTC Medication for Yeast Infections?People who are pregnant and people under age 12 years should not use OTC yeast infection treatments without first consulting a healthcare provider.
Who Should Not Use OTC Medication for Yeast Infections?
People who are pregnant and people under age 12 years should not use OTC yeast infection treatments without first consulting a healthcare provider.
Can a Yeast Infection Go Away Without Treatment?
Mild vaginal yeast infections can clear up on their own, but it’s common for symptoms to get worse without treatment.Yeast infections in other areas of the body oftenrequire treatmentto go away.
Medical Treatment for Yeast Infections
Depending on the location and severity of the yeast infection, prescription treatment may be necessary.
Risks of Untreated Yeast Infections
Vaginal yeast infections rarely causeserious complications. Having a weakened immune system, such as during cancer treatment or having a condition like HIV, can make complications more likely.
Yeast Infections in Older Adults
Vaginal yeast infections typically occur during childbearing age years, rarely before puberty or after menopause.
People over age 65 years old may be more at risk for invasive (systemic) candidiasis andfungal infections. Older adults produce less saliva, often wear prosthetic dental devices, may be taking medications that affect the environment of the mouth, or may have medical conditions that affect their oral health. This can make oral yeast infections more likely. Once there is an oral yeast colonization, it can spread to the respiratory system.
Some research shows thatAlzheimer’s diseaseis more common in people who have infections, including bacterial, viral, and fungal infections. It’s not known if these infections can trigger or worsen Alzheimer’s disease, or if people with Alzheimer’s disease are more likely to pick up infections. Older adults are more susceptible to both Alzheimer’s disease and infections.
When to Call a Healthcare Provider for a Yeast Infection
Signs and symptoms of yeast infections can besimilar to other, more serious infections. It’s best to see a healthcare provider for any symptoms of a genital infection to make sure you get a proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment, reducing the risk of developing complications.
See a healthcare provider if:
How Long Does It Take to Heal From a Yeast Infection?
With medication, symptoms typically improve in a few days, but it can take about a week to cure the infection. It’s important to finish your entire course of treatment, even if you feel better, to prevent the infection from coming back.
If you are still experiencing symptoms within a few days of finishing your treatment, see a healthcare provider.
How to Prevent Future Yeast Infections
Toreduce your riskof developing a yeast infection in other areas:
Vaginal yeast infections usually go away completely with proper treatment and rarely cause major problems.
Symptoms of vaginal yeast infections are rarely severe, but sometimes yeast infections need moreintensive treatment, particularly if they happen several times a year or if the person has a weakened immune system.
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.Vaginal Yeast Infection (Thrush): Overview. Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2019.Johns Hopkins.Yeast infection.Office on Women’s Health.Vaginal yeast infections.Planned Parenthood.What is a yeast infection?Mount Sinai.Vaginal yeast infection.Nemours TeensHealth.Vaginal yeast infections.HealthLinkBC.Vaginal yeast infections.Flevari A, Theodorakopoulou M, Velegraki A, Armaganidis A, Dimopoulos G.Treatment of invasive candidiasis in the elderly: a review.Clin Interv Aging. 2013;8:1199-208. doi:10.2147/CIA.S39120Alzheimer’s Society.Infections and dementia.
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.Vaginal Yeast Infection (Thrush): Overview. Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2019.Johns Hopkins.Yeast infection.Office on Women’s Health.Vaginal yeast infections.Planned Parenthood.What is a yeast infection?Mount Sinai.Vaginal yeast infection.Nemours TeensHealth.Vaginal yeast infections.HealthLinkBC.Vaginal yeast infections.Flevari A, Theodorakopoulou M, Velegraki A, Armaganidis A, Dimopoulos G.Treatment of invasive candidiasis in the elderly: a review.Clin Interv Aging. 2013;8:1199-208. doi:10.2147/CIA.S39120Alzheimer’s Society.Infections and dementia.
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.
Vaginal Yeast Infection (Thrush): Overview. Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2019.Johns Hopkins.Yeast infection.Office on Women’s Health.Vaginal yeast infections.Planned Parenthood.What is a yeast infection?Mount Sinai.Vaginal yeast infection.Nemours TeensHealth.Vaginal yeast infections.HealthLinkBC.Vaginal yeast infections.Flevari A, Theodorakopoulou M, Velegraki A, Armaganidis A, Dimopoulos G.Treatment of invasive candidiasis in the elderly: a review.Clin Interv Aging. 2013;8:1199-208. doi:10.2147/CIA.S39120Alzheimer’s Society.Infections and dementia.
Vaginal Yeast Infection (Thrush): Overview. Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2019.
Johns Hopkins.Yeast infection.
Office on Women’s Health.Vaginal yeast infections.
Planned Parenthood.What is a yeast infection?
Mount Sinai.Vaginal yeast infection.
Nemours TeensHealth.Vaginal yeast infections.
HealthLinkBC.Vaginal yeast infections.
Flevari A, Theodorakopoulou M, Velegraki A, Armaganidis A, Dimopoulos G.Treatment of invasive candidiasis in the elderly: a review.Clin Interv Aging. 2013;8:1199-208. doi:10.2147/CIA.S39120
Alzheimer’s Society.Infections and dementia.
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