Women with immune-suppressing diseases such as diabetes and HIV infection also are at increased risk. Women tend to be more likely to get vaginal yeast infections if their bodies are under stress from poor diet, lack of sleep, illness, or when they are pregnant or taking antibiotics. During a lifetime, 75% of all women are likely to have at least one vaginal Candida infection, and up to 45% have two or more. 4The number of vaginal candidiasis cases in the United States is unknown.Vaginal yeast infections, also called "Candida vaginal infections," typically are caused by the Candida albicans fungus. 2 An estimated 1.4 million outpatient visits for vaginal candidiasis occur annually in the United States. In the United States, it is the second most common type of vaginal infection after bacterial vaginal infections. CDC – 2021 Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines: Vulvovaginal Candidiasis.The Infectious Diseases Society of America’s Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Candidiasis external icon.If you are a healthcare provider, please refer to: These treatments include more doses of fluconazole taken by mouth or other medicines applied inside the vagina, such as boric acid, nystatin, or flucytosine. Other treatments may be needed for infections that are more severe, that don’t get better, or that keep coming back after getting better.
3 For most infections, the treatment is an antifungal medicine applied inside the vagina or a single dose of fluconazole taken by mouth. Vaginal candidiasis is usually treated with antifungal medicine. However, a positive fungal culture does not always mean that Candida is causing symptoms because some women can have Candida in the vagina without having any symptoms. Healthcare providers usually diagnose vaginal candidiasis by taking a small sample of vaginal discharge to be examined under a microscope in the medical office or sent to a laboratory for a fungal culture. This can happen because of hormones, medicines, or changes in the immune system. 2 Sometimes, Candida can multiply and cause an infection if the environment inside the vagina changes in a way that encourages its growth. Scientists estimate that about 20% of women normally have Candida in the vagina without having any symptoms.
Learn more about when antibiotics work and when they should be avoided. 2 Because taking antibiotics can lead to vaginal candidiasis, take these medicines only when prescribed and exactly as your healthcare provider tells you. Wearing cotton underwear might help reduce the chances of getting a yeast infection.
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A healthcare provider can tell you if you have vaginal candidiasis and how to treat it. These symptoms are similar to those of other types of vaginal infections, which are treated with different types of medicines. The symptoms of vaginal candidiasis include: 1, 2Īlthough most vaginal candidiasis is mild, some women can develop severe infections involving redness, swelling, and cracks in the wall of the vagina.Ĭontact your healthcare provider if you have any of these symptoms.