Symptoms of vaginal yeast infection
November 11, 2008 | Leave a Comment
What are the key symptoms of vaginal yeast infection?
For many women, the first sign of vaginal yeast infection symptoms are an odourless discharge and vulval itchiness. They may also experience pain on urinating and on sexual intercourse. All of these are what we might consider classic symptoms of vaginal yeast infection….but why do these symptoms affect us in this way? How can we distinguish vaginal yeast infection symptoms from other vulval irritants or infections?
Symptoms for vaginal yeast infection explained
When looking for symptoms for vaginal yeast infection, the following will happen:
- Candida overgrowth causes a heavy vaginal discharge. For yeast infection, this is always odourless and will have a white and curdlike appearance. If your discharge has a clear appearance but a slightly fishy odour, it is possible that you have a condition known as bacterial vaginosis. This would need different treatment from symptoms for vaginal yeast infection. For that reason, accurate diagnosis by your doctor is helpful.
- Because of the discharge in your vagina and the irritated skin in that area, there will be vaginal itching (often severe).
- The discharge and possible scratching of the affected area can leave red, irritated skin around the opening to the vagina (labia).
- This area will be irritated by urination when the urine touches the irritated skin.
- Likewise, sexual intercourse may be painful due to the rubbing of the affected area.
The symptoms of vaginal yeast infection are more likely to occur in the week leading up to your menstrual period. They may correct themselves with the onset of menstruation as the ph balance in the vagina corrects itself.
What other factors might cause symptoms like vaginal yeast infection?
As already mentioned, bacterial vaginosis or sexually transnmitted diseases may cause discharge, vulval pain and irritated skin in and around the vagina. If you are not sure whether your symptoms are yeast infection or caused by something else, Yeast Infection Helpdesk recommends a proper diagnosis by a qualified professional.
Less serious causes of skin irritation and similar symptoms to vaginal yeast infection may include allergies to detergents used for washing. For those with sensitive skins, hypo-allergenic or non-biological detergents are worth trying if your have some but not all of the above vaginal yeast infection symptoms.
Vaginal Yeast infection - Symptoms you may notice
October 27, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Vaginal Yeast Infections - Symptoms
If you have a vaginal yeast infection, the symptoms you may notice are as follows:
- Vaginal itching that may be severe and persistant itching
- The skin around the vagina (labia) may become red and irritated (particularly if the itching symptom of yeast infection has occurred as an “itch-scratch-itch” cycle may occur and make your vaginal yeast infection symptoms worse.
- Because if this irritated red skin, urination may irritate it when the urine touches the skin
- The irritation to the skin caused by vaginal yeast infection may also make sexual intercourse painful. Infact, for some women (who do not experience the itching symptoms of vaginal thrush) pain on sexual intercourse may be the first indication of vaginal yeast infection symptoms.
- There may be a vaginal discarge that is odourless, white and curdlike. If the discharge smells unpleasant, this may indicate that you do not have vaginal yeast infection but another condition called bacterial vaginosis.
What are the likey causes of my vaginal yeast infection symptoms?
Your symptoms of vaginal yeast infection are more likely to happen in the days leading up to a menstrual period. Some women find that the onset of the menstrual period helps their vaginal yeast infection symptoms to clear up wheras others need their period to be over before they gain relief.
It is important to get a proper diagnosis from your health professional before treating vaginal yeast infection symptoms as, if there is an itchy and red vulva alone, this may indicate a reaction to soap or a washing powder being used. Some people react to spermicidal jelly and douches with vaginal itching that can be mistaken for a vaginal yeast infection.