What is a vaginal yeast infection?
A particular kind of fungal infection is a vaginal yeast infection. Candida, a type of yeast found in your body, is what causes vaginal yeast infections.
Candida is a particular kind of yeast, which is a form of fungus. There are no issues when the yeast in your body is balanced. However, if the yeast is out of balance, it develops quickly and can cause a yeast infection.
A yeast infection alters the consistency of your vaginal discharge and produces burning, itching, and redness in your vulva (the outer regions of your vagina). An STI (sexually transmitted infection) is not a yeast infection.
A vaginal yeast infection may also go by the labels vulvovaginal candidiasis or vaginal candidiasis. A kind of vaginitis called vaginal yeast infection causes the vagina to swell, hurt, and possibly get infected.
Vaginal yeast infections are one of multiple forms of vaginitis, each of which has a similar set of symptoms.
How common are vaginal yeast infections?
Over half will experience two or more vaginal yeast infections in their lives, and up to 75% of women or people who were designated female at birth (AFAB) will experience at least one in their lifetime. The second most frequent cause of vaginitis after bacterial vaginosis is yeast infections.
What increases my risk of getting a yeast infection?
Certain factors can increase your risk of getting a vaginal yeast infection. Some of those are:
- using birth control, antibiotics, or certain steroids.
- being expecting.
- having an illness that impairs your immune system.
- uncontrolled diabetes.