Women are afraid of intense itching and white secretions, indicating the presence of vaginal yeast infection. (
If you're curious, Candida White is the scientific name of the yeast that usually causes these infections. )
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
75% of women have at least one vaginal yeast infection in their lifetime.
But the diagnosis of yeast infection is a little more complicated than having yeast in the vagina.
Yeast can be present in or around the vagina without causing symptoms, a condition called colonization.
Diseases like HIV and diabetes, certain drugs, and pregnancy increase the likelihood of excessive yeast growth and lead to unpleasant symptoms that are usually associated with vaginal yeast infection.
Although it is not considered sex
Some sexual behaviors increase the likelihood of infection with vaginal yeast, such as chlamydia or bacterial disease.
So to help clarify some of the common questions about yeast infection, here are some answers.
Is the yeast in my vagina normal? Yes!
A healthy vagina usually contains a large number of bacteria and sometimes yeast.
As described in an article published in September 2000 by the American family doctor, yogurt is the main bacteria in a healthy vagina, and yeast is also present in as many as 50% of women without symptoms.
Lactic acid bacteria secrete hydrogen peroxide, which helps to maintain a slightly acidic environment in the vagina.
This can control other organisms and prevent them from overgrowing.
But there is a fragile balance in this small ecosystem.
Diabetes, oral sex, pregnancy, and antibiotics can change the vaginal environment, sometimes enough to overgrow and cause symptomatic infections in other organisms such as yeast.
Read more: 13 things that should never be close to your body why do I infect yeast after sex?
Sex itself does not lead to vaginal yeast infection.
However, sexual intercourse may introduce yeast into the vagina, which may overgrow and cause symptomatic infection later.
A study published in October 1997 in urological Medicine said that 16% of men studied had yeast colonization of the penis.
The proportion of heterosexual and gay men is similar, and most men have no symptoms.
Therefore, sex between a man and a woman has the potential to introduce yeast from the man's penis to the woman's vagina.
But again, yeast entering the vagina does not necessarily mean a symptomatic infection.
Will you be infected with yeast because of excessive sexual intercourse?
Women and the medical community have long wondered whether the frequency of sexual activity affects the risk of vaginal yeast infection.
The answer is similar to the answer above --not really.
A study published in November 2000 in the Journal of Women's Health and Gender
Basic Medicine examined whether there was an association between the frequency of sex and the frequency of vaginal yeast infection.
The researchers found that there was no increase in symptomatic yeast infection based on the frequency of sexual behavior.
Some early studies have shown that more sexual activity may lead to more vaginal yeast infections, but the recent study mentioned above, including 248 women, made it clear in its statement that,
It is worth noting that the CDC did not list frequent sex as a risk factor for vaginal yeast infection.
Read more: 10 of the most annoying female health problems and how to repair saliva can cause yeast infection?
Therefore, on the other hand, receiving oral sex can lead to more yeast infections.
A study published in sexually transmitted infections in February 2004 found that oral sex increased the likelihood of vaginal yeast infection.
Article in The Journal of Women's Health and Gender
The same was found in basic medicine.
This association may be due to the direct transmission of yeast from oral cavity of oral sex to vagina of oral sex --
About 30% of healthy people have white rosary beads in their mouths.
Another possible explanation may be the development of mild abrasion of vaginal mucosa during oral sex, giving yeast in the vagina an opportunity to overgrow.
As mentioned earlier, the vaginal environment is subtly balanced and any foreign substances are introduced
Including saliva.
May be enough to get rid of this balance.
Can you have sex with yeast infection?
Technically, you can have sex with yeast infection (
As long as you confirm with your doctor that it is actually a yeast infection, not an STD).
However, most doctors recommend that you wait until the infection has subsided before continuing sexual intercourse.
In addition to having sex with a yeast infection that can be uncomfortable, you may also worsen the symptoms of the yeast infection due to all the friction, or even extend the healing time.
You should definitely avoid oral sex when you have a yeast infection.
See your doctor as soon as possible before you have sex again to avoid the potential spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
Your provider can test, diagnose and provide any necessary treatment.
How long does yeast infection last?
Fortunately, most vaginal yeast infections diagnosed with itching, pain, and secretions are treated easily and quickly, and the symptoms are resolved within two to three days (
Or sometimes less). Topical over-the-counter (like Monistat)
And prescription
Fungal products (like Diflucan)
For most women, the effect of applying to the vagina and vulva for one to three days is good.
The remaining 10 to 20% of infections are more difficult to treat.
This may be due to the use of local resistance-
Fungal drug treatment, the most common cause is an infection caused by yeast other than white rosary beads.
Repeated or chronic yeast infections, defined as yeast infections with four or more symptoms during the year, may also be more difficult to treat.
Some vaginal yeast infections have severe symptoms, and some women have diseases such as HIV, which makes treatment more challenging and requires longer medication.
Read more: you should learn 9 things in sexual warnings and precautions. Although yeast infection is not a sexually transmitted disease, they have common symptoms with sexually transmitted diseases, which is common,
Any changes in vaginal secretions, sexual pain, or accidental vaginal bleeding should prompt your healthcare provider to rule out the causes of sexually transmitted diseases.
Pregnancy is a particularly common period of yeast infection, and the type of medication used is important.
Any vaginal symptoms during pregnancy, including itching, pain, bleeding, or changes in secretions, should be immediately assessed by your health care provider.
Reviewer: Tina M. St. John, M. D.