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  • A yeast infection causes symptoms like white discharge, itching, burning, and overall discomfort.
  • Antibiotics, hormonal changes, being immunocompromised, and more can cause a yeast infection. 
  • You can treat it with OTC topical antifungal medicines or oral prescription medications. 

If you're experiencing vaginal itching and cottage cheese-like discharge, you may have a yeast infection. 

This type of fungal infection is extremely common, affecting a whopping one million women in the United States annually. Furthermore, 75% of women are estimated to have a yeast infection at least one time in their life.

Yeast infections can range from mild to severe. You may have very minimal symptoms and not realize you have an infection at all, or your symptoms can cause major discomfort.

Here are the symptoms and causes of yeast infections, as well as how to treat them.

Symptoms of a yeast infection

The symptoms of a yeast infection, according to Dr. Zhanna Fridel, OB-GYN at Weill Cornell Medicine, are:

  • White, thick, cottage cheese-like vaginal discharge 
  • Itching
  • Vaginal burning (may be intensified during sex or while urinating)
  • Inflammation of the vulva/vagina, which may include redness
  • Overall discomfort, pain, or soreness of the vagina or vulva

Some yeast infection cases may barely show symptoms, while others may be more extreme, called a complicated yeast infection. In these cases, the itchiness, redness, and swelling can be so severe that it may lead to trauma to the skin of the vulva, including cracks, sores, or tears.

Causes of a yeast infection

Your vagina has a mix of natural yeasts and bacteria that help to maintain a healthy environment. 

But this careful balance of flora can be disrupted, which allows a fungus called candida alcibans to overgrow and cause a yeast infection. 

Here are some common medications and medical conditions that can cause a yeast overgrowth:

  1. Taking antibiotics: While antibiotics kill off bad bacteria that's making you sick, it can also kill off good bacteria, which causes an imbalance in your microbiome, making it possible for yeast to overgrow. 
  2. Hormonal changes: Changes like pregnancy or starting birth control can cause your hormones to fluctuate.This can throw off your vaginal pH, resulting in more yeast and increased risk for a yeast infection. 
  3. Uncontrolled diabetes: If you have diabetes, particularly if it's uncontrolled, it can lead to excess sugar in your urine, which can affect your vagina and cause a yeast overgrowth. Plus, diabetes weakens your immune system, leaving you more prone to infections.
  4. Using pads or pantyliners that aren't breathable: This can create an environment for yeast to thrive. 
  5. Being immunocompromised: Alongside diabetes, other conditions that cause you to be immunocompromised, such as HIV or cancer, make it harder for your immune system to fight off any type of infection, including yeast infections. 
  6. Creating an environment where yeast thrives: While it's not intentional, some things you do every day may actually result in a vaginal environment that makes it easier for yeast to grow, including:
    • Washing your vagina with scented soap
    • Wearing tight clothing
    • Wearing underwear made of synthetic material
    • Staying in sweaty underwear or clothes

Yeast infection treatment and prevention

If it's your first time experiencing symptoms like this, it's important to see your OB-GYN for an accurate diagnosis, since it's possible that you might have another type of vaginal infection vlike bacterial vaginosis or an STI, since there are some overlapping symptoms. Your doctor may be able to diagnose you just by examining your vagina, but sometimes, a sample of the discharge is tested.

Since a yeast infection is an overgrowth of yeast, treatment involves getting the fungus under control. There are both over-the-counter and prescription options for yeast infections. Thomas says the most common ones are:

  • Over-the-counter topical antifungal agents like clotrimazole or miconazole (common brand name Monistat)
  • Prescription oral antifungal pill fluconazole (brand name Diflucan)

Though over-the-counter antifungals are effective, you should see your doctor first if you aren't completely sure its a yeast infection. If you've had a yeast infection before and can recognize the signs, you can opt for the over-the-counter option for convenience. 

Of course, it's also helpful to take steps to prevent yeast infections before they start. While you can't always stop a yeast infection from happening, Fridel says you can follow these preventative tips to lessen your chances:

  • Avoid unnecessary antibiotic use
  • Avoid douching
  • Change out of wet or moist underwear/swimwear
  • Wear breathable cotton underwear
  • Take probiotics 
  • Don't overwash your vagina and use gentle, unscented products only

Insider's takeaway

Symptoms like vaginal itching, burning, inflammation, and white clumpy discharge are common symptoms of a yeast infection, which are extremely common. 

Certain medications like antibiotics and birth control as well as underlying medical conditions like diabetes or HIV can increase your risk of developing a yeast infection.

Luckily, yeast infections are treatable with both over-the-counter and prescription options If you experience recurring yeast infections, see your doctor to determine if there's a more serious underlying cause that may be contributing and requires treatment.

Read the original article on Insider