How Can You Get Yeast Infection

What Is A Vaginal Yeast Infection

A vaginal yeast infection, also known as candidiasis, is a common condition. A contains bacteria and some yeast cells. But when the balance of bacteria and yeast changes, the yeast cells can multiply. This causes itching, swelling, and irritation.

Treating a vaginal yeast infection can relieve symptoms within a few days . In more severe cases, it may take longer.

Vaginal yeast infections arent considered a sexually transmitted infection , commonly known as sexually transmitted disease . Sexual contact can spread it, but women who arent sexually active can also get them.

A specific kind of yeast called Candida albicans causes most yeast infections. These infections are easily treatable.

If youre having recurring yeast infections or problems getting rid of a yeast infection with conventional treatment, a different version of Candida might be the cause. A lab test can identify what type of Candida you have.

Cleanse Your Genital Area Correctly

Soaps with artificial colors and perfumes should not be used to clean the genital as they usually contain irritating chemical substances. These soaps can irritate the area and increase the likelihood for a yeast infection.

You should use mild soaps and avoid washing your underwear using regular detergents with the rest of your clothing. You should hang dry your underwear when possible.

You can try a sitz baths if you have an active infection. Learn more about sitz baths for yeast infections that you can prepare at home.

Is Candida Albicans An Infection

Candida albicans is the type of yeast that lives in your body. I can overgrow and turn into an infection if the balance of healthy bacteria and yeast is disrupted. Candidiasis is the term used to describe an infection caused by an overgrowth of yeast . Common infections include vaginal yeast infection, diaper rash and thrush.

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Can You Get A Yeast Infection From Sex

Yeast infections can occur because of sexual intercourse. However, they are not sexually transmissible from one partner to the other. To find out more, continue reading below.

For women, yeast infections can be a part of life. Statistics show that 3 in every 4 women will experience one at some point throughout their lives. It is a common misconception that yeast infections are Sexually Transmitted Infections , as they can occur for a variety of reasons.

Decrease Intake Of Sugar And Simple Carbohydrate

Foods like bread, cheese, chocolate, cakes and sweets should be avoided or reduced in your diet. These foods can increase blood sugar levels, which make the blood more acidic and impact pH levels. These conditions can all lead to yeast cell proliferation and make treatment harder.

You should avoid consuming sugar and simple carbohydrates, and opt for foods that strengthen the immune system, like fruit, vegetables, fish and chestnuts. Check out which foods to eat during a yeast infection and what to avoid.

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When To Contact A Doctor

Most home remedies bring relief within a few days. Some may take up to 1 week.

If your infection goes away with treatment but then returns, contact a doctor for advice. You may need a prescription-strength treatment to get rid of the infection for good.

Follow these tips to help prevent future yeast infections.

• Limit the amount of sugar and processed foods you consume. Yeast thrives on sugar.
• Wear loose-fitting, cotton underwear.
• Dont spend extended periods of time in wet clothes or bathing suits. Yeast grows in warm, moist environments.
• Only use antibiotics when necessary.

How Can You Get Yeast Infection In Your Blood

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When To See A Doctor

Even with all of your preventive efforts, you can still get a yeast infection. So when should you see a doctor? You should consider making an appointment if:

• Youre experiencing a yeast infection for the first time
• Your symptoms dont go away after using over-the-counter antifungal vaginal creams or suppositories
• Youre not sure if you have a yeast infection
• You develop unrelated symptoms

When Should I Make An Appointment To See My Provider

The first time you experience the symptoms of a yeast infection, you should see your doctor to rule out any other conditions. Even if youve had a yeast infection before, you should consult your physician if the condition isnt improving despite using medication, or if you experience four or more yeast infections per year. You might need something stronger than whats available over-the-counter. Finally, if your discharge has a bad odor, if you have a fever, or if you have other serious medical problems, you should definitely seek medical attention.

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Does My Sexual Partner Need To Be Treated If I Have A Vaginal Yeast Infection

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Yeast infections are a very common fungal infection that most women or people assigned female at birth will have in their lifetime. Its highly treatable with medication, some of which are available to purchase at your local drug store without a prescription. Even though you may know the signs of a vaginal yeast infection, its important to get examined by your healthcare provider. They can recommend the best treatment based on the type of yeast infection you have and its severity.

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 09/02/2022.

References

What Do The Results Mean

If your results show that you have a yeast infection, your provider may recommend a prescription or over-the counter antifungal medicine. Antifungal medicines come in many forms for different types of infections, including pills, vaginal creams and suppositories, skin creams, powders, and lotions. Your provider will tell you which treatment is best for you.

It’s important to take all your medicine as prescribed, even if you feel better before you finish it. Many yeast infections get better after a few days or weeks of treatment, but certain fungal infections may need treatment for several months or longer before they clear up completely.

Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results.

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How To Manage Chronic Yeast Infections

The sooner you treat a yeast infection, the faster you can get rid of the associated discomfort. Call your doctor if your yeast infection seems persistent.

Once your doctor confirms the diagnosis, its important to take the necessary steps to make sure you get rid of it for good. This will also help manage the possibility of chronic cases. Consider the following tips to manage chronic yeast infections:

• Make sure you take your full course of medication, even if symptoms go away before the medicine is gone and even if you dont think its working right away.
• If youre sexually active, ask your partner to get tested for Candida, too. This will help prevent the infection from spreading.
• Change and launder your clothing and fabrics, like towels and sheets, regularly and separate from other clothing. Consider adding bleach, or distilled white vinegar to the wash.
• Wash items that come into contact with infected areas directly after use to prevent spreading yeast cells or re-infecting yourself.

Whats The Difference Between A Yeast Infection And A Uti

While some of the symptoms between a TI and a yeast infection are similar, they are two distinct conditions. A UTI occurs when bacteria invade the urinary tract, causing pain when urinating, feeling a frequent need to urinate, and foul-smelling urine. UTIs may also lead to fever, lower back pain, and even nausea or vomiting when serious.

While yeast infections also can cause pain when urinating, youll also likely feel itchiness and swelling around your vaginal area too, and instead of foul-smelling urine, you might experience an odorless white discharge.

Although the two are unrelated, sometimes, treatment for a UTI, which often involves taking antibiotics, may actually lead to a yeast infection, since antibiotics can kill off the good bacteria that keep yeast growth in control.

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Prevention Of Vaginal Yeast Infection

Women who are at high risk of a yeast infection may need to take an antifungal drug by mouth to help prevent yeast infections. Such women include those with the following:

• A need to take antibiotics for a long time

• Repeated yeast infections, particularly in women with a weakened immune system

Keeping the vulva clean and wearing loose, absorbent cotton clothing that allows air to circulate can reduce moisture, which encourages the growth of yeast, and thus help prevent yeast from growing.

Preventing Vaginal Yeast Infections With Lifestyle And Diet Changes

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About 75% of women will experience a vaginal yeast infection sometime in their life, and up to 45% of those women will have repeat yeast infections. Thats a daunting prospect if youve had one before its not something you want to do again. Thankfully, you can make lifestyle and diet changes to prevent a yeast infection.

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Favorite App For Those With Yeast Infections

While its true that the Clue app is officially billed as a period and ovulation tracker, its also a super convenient way for frequent yeast infection sufferers to keep tabs on their discharge. Here, users can click off things like egg white or sticky to note what type of discharge theyre dealing with. Plus, users can record when it occurred and how it has changed, which allows women to better understand their bodies and spot potential yeast infections quickly.

What Yeast Is Doing For Your Body

Yeast cells, most commonly Candida species, live in our bodies naturally. They help break down and get rid of the dead cells that would otherwise build up in and around your body.

Having a healthy level of Candida cells present helps regulate your immune, digestive, and reproductive systems, among other things.

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How To Get Rid Of A Yeast Infection

If youre a woman, youve got a pretty good chance of experiencing a yeast infection at some point in your lifetime. Vaginal yeast infection, or candidiasis, is a very common condition and can cause skin rashes, itchiness and irritation, and strange-looking discharges. It can be an embarrassing and uncomfortable condition to have, but luckily, its very treatable and typically goes away in just a few days with medications. Knowing the symptoms and what to look for are important to be able to diagnose and treat them quickly. Below are answers to some common questions about yeast infections.

Yeast Infection After Sex

While its possible to develop a yeast infection after sex, a yeast infection itself is not an STI. Instead, there are other factors at play that can throw off Candida balance in the vaginal area. Vaginal intercourse, as well as penetration via sex toys and fingers, can introduce bacteria.

most common type of vaginal infection in women between the ages of 15 and 44. Its primary causes are bacterial imbalances from douching and sex its not a fungal infection like a typical yeast infection. BV is said to have a strong fishy odor, too.

BV has similar symptoms as a yeast infection, including discharge, burning, and itching. This can make distinguishing between the two infections difficult. But while a vaginal yeast infection doesnt cause long-term complications, untreated BV can.

Among the complications include fertility issues and premature delivery , and a higher risk of contracting STIs.

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Stopping The Cycle Of Genital Yeast Infections

The genital area naturally contains Candida. Once this balance is disrupted, though, Candida overgrowth can happen.

For some people, being prone to yeast infections is simply hereditary. Overgrowth of yeast can also happen as a result of:

Genital yeast infections are also more common in people with compromised immune systems and who have diabetes. Sexual activity and high estrogen levels are other risk factors.

There are also studies suggesting chronic yeast infections may be due to hypersensitivity to Candida.

A genital yeast infection can cause burning and itching sensations. You may also notice a red rash, especially around the vulva or anywhere . When you urinate, you may see a cottage cheese-like discharge and feel burning on the surrounding skin.

Over-the-counter suppository medications can usually treat vaginal yeast infections. However, if this is your first yeast infection or first recurring yeast infection, you may want to see your doctor. They can rule out the possibility of other infections.

Once treated, you can help keep genital yeast infections from returning by keeping good hygiene habits and promoting normal vaginal bacterial balance. Here are some tips:

• Wear cotton underwear and loose clothing.
• Take daily showers.

How Do I Get Rid Of Candida Albicans

Since Candida is a fungus, an antifungal medicine treats the infection to stop overgrowth. Antifungal medications come in two forms:

• Oral: Medicine taken by mouth .
• Topical: Medicine applied directly to the affected area .

Your healthcare provider will give you directions on how to use each type of antifungal medication to make sure the infection clears up and doesnt return.

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Favorite Organizations For Yeast Infection Info

The Mayo Clinic is a well-respected, integrated clinical practice, education, and research institution that prides itself on offering the most up-to-date medical information to the public. On this website users can readily access an easy-to-digest overview of yeast infections, but one of our favorite features is the “preparing for your appointment” section, which highlights questions patients will want to ask their healthcare provider during the diagnosis and treatment process.

MedlinePlus is the patient-centered offshoot of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, and offers need-to-know basics of yeast infections. But its also a thorough clearinghouse for the latest yeast infection clinical trials and published journal articles. We also love that the site breaks down yeast infection information by patient, like children, teens, and men.

OWH is a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services created to address critical health issues that affect women, making this an excellent source for yeast infection information. The fact sheet filled with frequently asked questions is especially helpful, as is their Find a Health Center widget.

Who Does Candida Albicans Affect

Candida albicans fungus lives on everyone in small amounts. Different people are more likely to develop different types of fungal infections, most commonly:

• Thrush: Common on infants, children, older adults, people who wear dentures and those with a weakened immune system.
• Vaginal yeast infection: Frequent in those who are pregnant, use birth control pills or take hormones, have taken antibiotics recently or have a weak immune system.
• Invasive candidiasis: Most common in hospitalized individuals, catheter users, surgery recipients and those with a weakened immune system.

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What Is A Yeast Infection On The Face

A yeast infection on your face is a type of skin infection called cutaneous candidiasis. Candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by a yeast called Candida. Yeast is a type of fungus.

Your skin has many kinds of yeast that live on it, including Candida. In healthy people, this usually doesnt cause any problems. But when theres an overgrowth of Candida, it can dig underneath the surface of your skin. This can cause a rash or skin infection. Cutaneous candidiasis can happen almost anywhere on the surface of your skin, including your face.

A yeast infection on your lips is a type of oral candidiasis. Oral candidiasis is also called oral thrush. Oral thrush occurs when theres an overgrowth of Candida in your mouth. It can also affect your lips.

Are Yeast Infections Contagious

Yeast infections arent considered STIs. In rare cases, you can pass a yeast infection from one partner to another.

Its also possible for a baby to get a fungal diaper rash at birth if the mother has a vaginal yeast infection during delivery. You may also pass on a yeast infection to your babys mouth during breastfeeding if Candida overgrowth is present in the breast area.

While you can pass a yeast infection to another person, its not contagious in the same way as other infections are. You wont catch the infection by air or by using the same shower as someone with the infection, for example. If youre concerned about transmission, talk to your doctor about situations in which a yeast infection could be contagious.

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Signs And Symptoms Of Yeast Infections

The most common symptoms of mild vaginal yeast infections include:

• Pain or discomfort during intercourse or when urinating
• Vaginal discharge that is clumpy , possibly smelling like yeast or bread
• Vaginal discharge that is watery

More severe infections can cause redness, swelling, and cracks in the skin outside the .

Symptoms Of Vaginal Yeast Infections

Itchiness and discomfort are the main symptoms of a yeast infection, but there are others. You may also experience any or all of the following:

• Pain or burning when you pee
• Pain during sex
• A thick, white, odorless discharge, similar to cottage cheese

If you think you have a yeast infection, see your doctor before treating yourself. The symptoms of yeast infections are similar to other, more serious conditions, including sexually transmitted infections and bacterial vaginosis . An accurate diagnosis is important so you can get the best treatment.

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