Vaginal Yeast Infection Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, and More

A healthy vagina 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.

Vaginal yeast infections are more common than other genital yeast infections. Treating a vaginal yeast infection can relieve symptoms within a few days. In more severe cases, it may take longer.

What are the symptoms of a vaginal yeast infection?

Vaginal yeast infections typically cause:

vaginal itching
swelling around the vaginal opening
burning during urination
pain during penetrative vaginal sex (dyspareunia)
soreness
redness

Whitish-yellow and clumpy vaginal discharge is another symptom. Some people describe the discharge as looking like cottage cheese. Sometimes, the discharge may also be watery.

What can cause or increase the risk of a vaginal yeast infection?
The yeast Candida is a naturally occurring microorganism in the vaginal area. Lactobacillus bacteria keeps its growth in check.

But if there’s an imbalance in your system, these bacteria won’t work effectively. This leads to an overgrowth of yeast, which causes the symptoms of vaginal yeast infections.

Several factors can cause a yeast infection, including:

antibiotics, which decrease the amount of Lactobacillus in the vagina
pregnancy
uncontrolled diabetes
weak immune system
hormonal imbalance
stress

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

If you’re 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.

How are vaginal yeast infections diagnosed?

Yeast infections are simple to diagnose. Your healthcare professional will ask about your medical history. This includes whether you’ve had yeast infections before. They may also ask if you’ve ever had a sexually transmitted infection (STI).

The next step is a pelvic exam. Your clinician will examine your vaginal walls and cervix. They’ll also look at the surrounding area for external signs of infection.

Depending on what your doctor sees, the next step may be to collect cells from your vagina. These cells go to a lab for examination. Lab tests are usually ordered for people who have yeast infections regularly or for infections that won’t go away.

How are vaginal yeast infections treated?

Each yeast infection is different, so your healthcare professional will suggest the best treatment for you. Treatments are generally determined based on the severity of your symptoms.

Simple yeast infections

For simple yeast infections, clinicians usually prescribe a 1-6 day regimen of an antifungal cream, ointment, tablet, or suppository. These medications can be in prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) form.

Common medications include:

butoconazole (Gynazole)
clotrimazole (Lotrimin)
miconazole (Monistat)
terconazole (Terazol)
fluconazole (Diflucan)

You might follow up with your clinician to ensure the medication has worked. You should also schedule a follow-up visit if your symptoms return within two months.

If you recognize that you have a yeast infection, you can also treat it at home with OTC products.

Complicated yeast infections

Your healthcare professional will likely treat your yeast infection as if it were a severe or complicated case if you:

have severe redness, swelling, and itching that leads to sores or tears in your vaginal tissue
have had more than four yeast infections in a year are pregnant
have uncontrolled diabetes or a weak immune system from medication
have HIV
Possible treatments for severe or complicated yeast infections include:

14-day cream, ointment, tablet, or suppository vaginal treatment

two or three doses of fluconazole (Diflucan)

long-term prescription of fluconazole taken once a week for six weeks or long-term use of a topical antifungal medication

If you’re sexually active and your infection is recurring, you may want to see if a sexual partner has a yeast infection. It’s possible to pass the infection back and forth.

Avoid sexual activity or use a barrier method, such as a condom, when having sex if you suspect either of you has a yeast infection.

Can natural remedies help with a vaginal yeast infection?

You can try to treat vaginal yeast infections with natural remedies if you’d like to avoid taking prescription medication, but these aren’t as effective or reliable as the indicated medications.

Popular natural remedies include:

coconut oil
tea tree oil
garlic
boric acid
plain yogurt

Make sure your hands are clean before applying creams or oils to your vagina.

You may also want to talk with a healthcare professional before trying natural remedies. If your symptoms are due to something other than a simple yeast infection, a doctor can help diagnose your condition.

Talk with your doctor about herbal remedies if you take OTC or prescription drugs. Some herbs can interact with medications you may be taking or can cause other unintended side effects.

Are penile yeast infections possible?

All bodies have Candida — not just the female body. When there’s an overgrowth of this fungus, it can lead to a yeast infection. The groin area is especially prone to Candida overgrowth because of skin folds and moisture.

Still, penile yeast infections are most commonly caused by having condomless penis-in-vagina sex with a partner who has a yeast infection.

The symptoms of a yeast infection may not be as prominent in people with penises. You might see redness and white patches along the shaft or experience a burning or itchy sensation.

Consult a healthcare professional for a proper diagnosis if you think you have a penile yeast infection.