Yeast infections are caused by an overgrowth of Candida yeast — usually Candida albicans — that normally lives quietly in the vagina. The common triggers are anything that disrupts the balance keeping
If a yeast infection won't go away after treatment, the usual reasons are that it wasn't a yeast infection at all, that the yeast is a fluconazole-resistant non-albicans species, or that you finished
Oral thrush is an overgrowth of Candida yeast on the lining of the mouth and throat. It shows up as creamy white patches on the tongue, inner cheeks, gums, or back of the throat that can be scraped of
To prevent yeast infections, keep the genital area clean and dry, wear breathable cotton underwear, avoid unnecessary antibiotics, and manage blood sugar and hormones where you can. Most vaginal yeast
Yes, you can have sex with a yeast infection — it isn't dangerous to a partner the way a true STI is, since a vaginal yeast infection isn't usually sexually transmitted. But sex while you have one oft
No — a yeast infection isn't a sexually transmitted infection. Vaginal yeast infections are caused by an overgrowth of Candida yeast that normally lives on the body, not by something passed during sex
To test for a yeast infection, a clinician examines a sample of vaginal discharge under a microscope (a wet prep) and checks vaginal pH, sometimes adding a fungal culture. Home pH strips can hint at t
An untreated yeast infection often clears on its own or stays a mild nuisance, but it can worsen into intense itching, raw skin, cracks in the vaginal wall, and secondary bacterial infection. In rare
Yeast infection symptoms include vaginal itching or soreness, thick white discharge that looks like cottage cheese and has no fishy odor, pain during sex, and burning when you urinate. They come from
Bacterial vaginosis and a yeast infection both cause itching and discharge, but they're different conditions. BV is a bacterial imbalance and usually brings a thin gray discharge with a fishy odor and
Recurrent yeast infections mean four or more symptomatic episodes of vulvovaginal candidiasis in a year. They usually aren't a treatment failure or a sign you caught something — they happen because Ca
A yeast infection is treated with antifungal medicine that clears the overgrown Candida . For a simple case, you can use an over-the-counter intravaginal azole cream over several days or take a single
Yes, a yeast infection during pregnancy is safe to treat and rarely harms the baby — but the medication matters. Topical azole creams placed in the vagina are the preferred treatment in pregnancy, whi
Yes, men can get yeast infections. The most common form is candidal balanitis — a Candida overgrowth on the head of the penis that causes itching, redness, and a patchy rash. It usually isn't a sexual
Yes — a yeast infection can be cured. A standard uncomplicated case clears with a short course of antifungal cream or a single antifungal pill, and most people feel better within days. Recurrent or st