Diagnosing a Yeast Infection: Signs to Look for Thick, white discharge (the texture of cottage cheese) Burning feeling especially when peeing or having sex. Vaginal pain, redness and swelling.
At-home yeast infection tests can help you pinpoint the cause of your vaginal discomfort or proactively learn more about your vaginal health. Most over-the-counter yeast infection tests measure only vaginal pH but are able to provide results in five minutes or less.
You can treat most vaginal yeast infections with an over-the-counter vaginal cream or suppository. Most large drugstores and supermarkets sell them. Many yeast infection treatments come in 1-day, 3-day, and 7-day strengths.
There are several tell-tale signs of a vaginal yeast infection. These symptoms can include: An itchy or burning sensation in your vagina and vulva. A thick, white vaginal discharge with the consistency of cottage cheese.
Complications of untreated yeast infections
If left untreated, vaginal candidiasis will most likely get worse, causing itching, redness, and inflammation in the area surrounding your vagina. This may lead to a skin infection if the inflamed area becomes cracked, or if continual scratching creates open or raw areas.
The best treatment to get rid of most yeast infections comes down to medicated creams or a pill. Studies show that these creams and the oral pill, fluconazole, both work more than 90% of the time. Uncomplicated yeast infections usually respond to treatment within a couple of days.
Mild yeast infections may clear up in as few as three days. Sometimes, they don't even require treatment. But moderate to severe infections may take one to two weeks to clear.
With yeast infections, discharge is usually thick, white, and odorless. You may also have a white coating in and around your vagina. With bacterial vaginosis, you may have vaginal discharge that's grayish, foamy, and smells fishy. (But it's also common for BV to have no symptoms.)
Test vaginal secretions.
Your doctor may send a sample of vaginal fluid for testing to determine the type of fungus causing the yeast infection. Identifying the fungus can help your doctor prescribe more effective treatment for recurrent yeast infections.
The Vaginal Yeast Test is a rapid lateral flow-based assay for qualitative detection of Candida antigens in cervical secretion sampled by a swab. The test is CE-OTC marked for self testing. Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is thought to be one of the most common causes of vaginal symptoms.
Causes of vaginal itching without discharge
Infections — Your vagina or vulva may feel itchy due to a candida infection or genital warts from a viral infection. Bacterial vaginosis can sometimes result in vulvar itching (although it's rare), likely due to contact dermatitis.
Itching and irritation in the vagina and vulva. A burning sensation, especially during intercourse or while urinating. Redness and swelling of the vulva. Vaginal pain and soreness.
itching and irritation in the vagina. redness, swelling, or itching of the vulva (the folds of skin outside the vagina) a thick, white discharge that can look like cottage cheese and is usually odorless, although it might smell like bread or yeast. pain or burning when urinating (peeing) or during sex.
Yeast infections can be vaginal (candidiasis), oral (thrush) or penile. Mucocutaneous yeast infections (those affecting the body creases where moisture accumulates) may not be contagious. Untreated yeast infections may spread to other areas or other people.
A yeast infection can happen if your skin gets damaged. Yeast can also “overgrow” in warm or humid conditions. An infection can also happen if you have a weak immune system. Taking antibiotics can also cause an overgrowth of yeast.
There may be an odor, such as a strong fish-like odor, especially after sex. Yeast infections produce a thick, white discharge from the vagina that can look like cottage cheese. The discharge can be watery and often has no smell. Yeast infections usually cause the vagina and vulva to become itchy and red.
glasses of water daily, but many people need even more than that. I have found that simply drinking enough water greatly reduces my likelihood for getting a yeast infection. Because I am drinking more water, and subsequently urinating more frequently, my body is able to flush out the sugars that feed the yeast.
A lack of regular hygiene practices, such as daily showers and brushing your teeth, or a constantly damp environment can also lead to chronic yeast infections. You're also at risk of recurring yeast infections if you have a weakened immune system. The following can weaken your immune system: age.
Candidiasis is most common in individuals with a weakened immune system and may be accompanied by various nutritional deficiencies. This can leave you feeling tired and fatigued.
Itching is the most common symptom of a vaginal yeast infection. Women may also note pain with urination, soreness or irritation, pain with intercourse, or reddened and swollen vulvar and vaginal tissues.
Why does the itching get worse at night? The itching can get worse at night due to increased moisture in the area, temperature changes, bacteria, and increased awareness. There are certain conditions, such as pubic lice, in which the itching gets worse at night.
Yeast infections
Overgrowth of yeast — the most common culprit being Candida — can cause swelling, burning, and itchiness of the entire vaginal area, including the labia. This overgrowth can be due to antibiotic use, pregnancy, diabetes, or oral contraceptive use.
While yeast infections produce thick, white, cottage-cheese like discharge, Chlamydia can cause white, green or yellow discharge. Gonorrhea discharge is white or green. And neither discharge from Chlamydia or Gonorrhea are typically cottage-cheese like. This is an important difference.