In this Article

• What is yeast?
• What is vaginitis?
• What is vulvitis (inflammation of the vulva)?
• What causes vaginal yeast infections?
• What are the symptoms of vaginal yeast infection and vulvitis?
• How are vaginal yeast infection and vulvitis diagnosed?
• What is the treatment for vaginal yeast infection and vulvitis?
• If yeast is commonly present in normal women, who should be treated?
• Vaginal Yeast Infection At A Glance
• Patient Discussions: Yeast Infection - Effective Treatments
• Yeast Vaginitis Glossary
• Yeast Vaginitis Index

If yeast is commonly present in normal women, who should be treated?

All women with the symptoms of infection described above should be treated. Women without symptoms should not be treated. Most experts do not recommend treating the sex partners of women with yeast vaginitis if they do not have symptoms themselves, although this has been a controversial issue.

Vaginal Yeast Infection At A Glance

• Yeast vaginitis is an infection of the vagina caused by a fungus known as Candida.
  
  
• Yeast vaginitis is characterized by itching, burning, soreness, pain during intercourse and/or urination, and vaginal discharge.
  
  
• Yeast vaginitis can be treated with antifungal medications applied to the affected area or taken by mouth.
  
  
• Candida may be normally present in small amounts in some women and not cause disease.
  
  
• The presence of Candida without symptoms of infection does not require treatment.

Reference: New England Journal of Medicine 2006;355:1244-52.

Yeast Infection - Effective Treatments

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