Candidal Vulvovaginitis (Yeast Infection) Quiz
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Vaginal itching
Change in vaginal discharge
White discharge
Vaginal pain
Vaginal irritation
Swollen vulva
Painful urination
Thick white discharge
Thick white discharge no smell
Foul smelling vaginal discharge
Sudden increase in vaginal discharge
Swollen vaginal glands
Not seeing your symptoms? No worries!
What is Candidal Vulvovaginitis (Yeast Infection)?
This is a fungal infection by Candida that affects the vaginal area. Candida normally exists on skin and vaginal linings without issues. An infection occurs when the skin or vaginal lining changes in character, promoting Candida overgrowth. People with weakened immune systems or on birth control pills may be at increased risk.
Typical Symptoms of Candidal Vulvovaginitis (Yeast Infection)
- Abnormal color, amount or odor of vaginal discharge
- Increase in vaginal discharge
- Itchiness around the vagina
- Increased vaginal discharge that is smelly
- Thick white vaginal discharge
- Pain or discomfort in the genital area
- Recent antibiotic use
- Mental stress and physical fatigue
Diagnostic Questions for Candidal Vulvovaginitis (Yeast Infection)
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
- Have you noticed any changes in the color, amount, or odor of your vaginal discharge?
- Have you had more vaginal discharge lately?
- Are you experiencing itchiness around your vagina?
- Has the vaginal discharge odor worsened recently?
- Do you have a thick white discharge like cottage cheese or yogurt?
Treatment of Candidal Vulvovaginitis (Yeast Infection)
This is usually treated with antifungal drugs, which can be given through a vaginal cream or an oral antifungal medicine.
Reviewed By:
Scott Nass, MD, MPA, FAAFP, AAHIVS (Primary Care)
Dr. Nass received dual medical degrees from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and Charles R. Drew University in Medicine and Science. He completed Family Medicine residency at Ventura County Medical Center with subsequent fellowships at Ventura, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, George Washington University, and University of California-Irvine. He holds faculty appointments at Keck School of Medicine of USC, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, and Western University of Health Sciences.
Seiji Kanazawa, MD, PHD (Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN))
Dr. Kanazawa graduated from the Niigata University Faculty of Medicine and received his Ph.D. from the Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine. He is working on the front line of the General Perinatal Center, including the Tokyo Tama General Medical Center and the National Center for Research in Fertility Medicine, where he provides maternal and fetal care and undertakes clinical research. At Ubie, Dr. Kanazawa has been designing the Ubie AI Symptom Checker and has taken on the role of general obstetrics and gynecology consultation at FMC Tokyo Clinic by providing fetal ultrasound and prenatal consultation.
Content updated on Dec 13, 2024
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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Candidal Vulvovaginitis (Yeast Infection)?
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People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
- Vaginal discharge changed
- Lots of vaginal discharge
- Smelly vaginal discharge
- Genital itch
- White vaginal discharge
- Smelly vaginal discharge
- Increase in vaginal discharge
- Yellow vaginal discharge
- White vaginal discharge
- Greyish vaginal discharge
- Itchy vagina
- Increased vaginal discharge
- Slight increase in vaginal discharge
- My vagina smells
- Vaginal discharge odor
See full list
User Testimonials for Candidal Vulvovaginitis (Yeast Infection)
Female, 30s
The symptom checker helped me get a better idea of what was going on with me and eased my anxiety. Ubie even helped find me a doctor in my network, whom I'm consulting right away!
(Jun 16, 2025)
Symptoms Related to Candidal Vulvovaginitis (Yeast Infection)
Diseases Related to Candidal Vulvovaginitis (Yeast Infection)
FAQs
Q.
Still Itching? Why Diflucan Isn’t Working & Medically Approved Next Steps
A.
If symptoms persist after Diflucan, there are several factors to consider: it may not be a yeast infection, the yeast could be a non albicans species less responsive to fluconazole, you may need more than one dose, the infection may be recurrent, the tissue may still be irritated, or there may be rare absorption issues. See below to understand more, including the expected timeline for relief and other causes that could change the right next step. Medically approved next steps include confirming the diagnosis before retreating, considering alternative or longer antifungals such as topical azoles or boric acid, addressing contributors like diabetes or recent antibiotics, and seeking care if symptoms last beyond 7 days or are severe such as fever, pelvic pain, foul odor, sores, or pregnancy.
References:
* Achkar, J. M., & Sobel, J. D. (2019). Candidiasis in women. Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology, 62(4), 670-679. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31568289/
* Sobel, J. D. (2018). Vulvovaginal candidosis—new insights into an old problem. Medical Mycology, 56(suppl_1), S103-S114. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29325000/
* Workowski, K. A., Bachmann, L. H., Chan, P. A., Johnston, J. S., Muzny, P. M., Reno, M., ... & Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021. MMWR. Recommendations and reports: Morbidity and mortality weekly report. Recommendations and reports, 70(4), 1-187. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34292926/
* Pappas, P. G., Kauffman, C. A., Andes, D. R., Baden, B. R., Bradsher, S. F., Crothers, P. A., ... & Infectious Diseases Society of America. (2016). Clinical practice guideline for the management of candidiasis: 2016 update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 62(4), e1-e50. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26602611/
* Edwards, L., & Lynch, P. J. (2017). Differential diagnosis of vulvar dermatoses. Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology, 60(2), 295-303. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28362615/
Q.
Still Itching? Why Your Flora Is Failing & Boric Acid Medical Next Steps
A.
Persistent itching or discharge after antifungals or boric acid often means the issue is misdiagnosed, due to BV or dermatitis, or involves resistant non-albicans yeast. Boric acid can help in recurrent or resistant yeast by restoring acidic pH, but it is not a cure-all, is for vaginal use only, and should be avoided in pregnancy without medical guidance. The right next steps are to get a vaginal swab to identify the organism, use targeted therapy, and address contributors like diabetes, hormones, or irritants, with urgent care for severe pain, fever, foul odor, or lesions; there are several factors to consider, and key details that could change your plan are explained below.
References:
* Amato J, Pizzoferrato M, De Vincentis S, Tini A, Vitale SG, Caponnetto S, Del Forno R, Saccone G, Amore L, De Franciscis P. The Vaginal Microbiome and Its Role in Health and Disease: A Comprehensive Review. J Clin Med. 2023 Mar 1;12(5):2032. doi: 10.3390/jcm12052032. PMID: 36903173; PMCID: PMC10003057.
* Russo R, Saed-Nguyen VA, Paolillo M, Ammar K, Khoury M, Gomaa M, Gomaa E, Ghoneim R, Abdou F, Labib F, Hamdi F, Saleh D, Taktak S, Moussa A, Balaha M, Abdelhamid AA, Fadda L, Hamad MA, Abdelazim I, Hassan M, Abousheashaa A, Hamad S, Salem F, Di Vito M, Abdelazeem A, Labib R, Ghoneim M, Hassan MF, Alsayed A, Elbadry MA, Soliman B, Amara M, Labib D, Saed-Nguyen H, Abousheashaa MA. The Vaginal Microbiome in Health and Disease: State of the Art and Future Perspectives. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2022 Aug 10;12:968120. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.968120. PMID: 36034179; PMCID: PMC9401736.
* Mendling W, Brasch J, Cornely OA, Gutschmidt K, Heiligensetzer C, Hoffmann R, Schaller G, Schwaiger M. Boric acid and vaginal infections: a comprehensive review. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2021 Jul;304(1):21-27. doi: 10.1007/s00404-021-06103-6. Epub 2021 Jun 10. PMID: 34114250; PMCID: PMC8191965.
* Reichman O, Aroutcheva A, Sajadi E, Faro S, Gergely L, Faro J, Sobel JD. Boric acid for recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis: a review. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2009 Jun;18(6):859-67. doi: 10.1089/jwh.2008.1001. PMID: 19572851.
* Swidsinski A, Verstraelen H, Swidsinski S, Loening L, Loening-Baucke V. Boric Acid and Metronidazole for Recurrent Bacterial Vaginosis. J Clin Microbiol. 2023 Apr 18;61(4):e0147922. doi: 10.1128/jcm.01479-22. Epub 2023 Mar 28. PMID: 36971520; PMCID: PMC10108953.
Q.
Yeast Infection Discharge? Why Your Body Reacts & Medical Next Steps
A.
Yeast infection discharge is typically thick, white, and odorless with itching, caused by Candida overgrowth triggered by antibiotics, hormonal changes, high blood sugar, or moisture, and is usually treatable with antifungals. There are several factors to consider, including look-alike infections and red flags that change next steps; see below for how to tell it apart, when to use OTC meds vs see a clinician urgently, and key prevention tips.
References:
* Mendling, W., & Lacey, C. J. N. (2021). Candida vulvovaginitis: a clinical guide. *Mycoses*, *64*(5), 499–507.
* Donders, G. G. G., Bellen, G., & Dekeersmaecker, A. (2023). Current treatments for vulvovaginal candidiasis: a clinical review. *Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy*, *24*(3), 305–319.
* Rosati, D., Bruno, M., & Jaeger, M. (2021). Immunopathology of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis: From Susceptibility Factors to Host-Pathogen Interaction. *Journal of Fungi*, *7*(7), 585.
* Workowski, K. A., Bachmann, L. H., Chan, P. A., Johnston, C. M., Muzny, C. A., Reno, H., ... & Bolan, G. A. (2023). Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021. *MMWR. Recommendations and Reports*, *72*(RR-2), 1–187.
* Fidel, P. L. (2019). Immunity to Candida albicans in the vagina. *The Journal of Infectious Diseases*, *219*(S2), S98–S106.
Q.
Internal Fire? Why Your Yeast Infection Won’t Quit & Medically Approved Next Steps
A.
There are several factors to consider: persistent yeast-like symptoms often mean it is not yeast, the Candida species is resistant, or triggers like antibiotics, high blood sugar, hormonal shifts, immune issues, or irritants are driving it; medically approved next steps are to stop repeating OTC treatments, get an exam and swab for accurate diagnosis, then follow a full targeted treatment and address triggers. See the complete guidance below for urgent warning signs, specific testing and treatment timelines, and prevention strategies, since these details can change the best next steps in your care.
References:
* Orozco-Vazquez, R., Zuniga, G., Giammarini, C., Flores-Diaz, M., & Vazquez-Zapien, G. J. (2022). Recurrent Vulvovaginal Candidiasis: An Update on Pathogenesis, Clinical Management, and Future Perspectives. *Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology*, *12*, 1073868.
* Sobel, J. D. (2021). Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis: current perspective of prophylactic management. *Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research*, *47*(9), 3121–3126.
* Blostein, F., & Sobel, J. D. (2021). Vulvovaginal candidiasis: complex pathogenesis, complicated therapy, and challenges in developing novel therapeutic agents. *Virulence*, *12*(1), 2962–2975.
* Ben Rejeb, F., Sellami, M., Chaaben, R., Ben Hadj Taieb, N., & Sellami, H. (2023). Antifungal Resistance in Candida albicans: Molecular Mechanisms and Novel Therapeutic Approaches. *International Journal of Molecular Sciences*, *24*(7), 6701.
* Fan, S. R., Yang, H. J., Li, Y. Z., & Wang, Y. (2023). Immunological mechanisms underlying recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis: a comprehensive review. *Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland)*, *9*(12), 1184.
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Ubie’s symptom checker demonstrated a Top-10 hit accuracy of 71.6%, surpassing the performance of several leading symptom checkers in the market, which averaged around 60% accuracy in similar assessments.
Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Donders GG, Sobel JD. Candida vulvovaginitis: A store with a buttery and a show window. Mycoses. 2017 Feb;60(2):70-72. doi: 10.1111/myc.12572. Epub 2016 Sep 30. PMID: 27687503.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/myc.12572Sobel JD. Candida vulvovaginitis. Semin Dermatol. 1996 Mar;15(1):17-28. doi: 10.1016/s1085-5629(96)80014-9. PMID: 8723820.
https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1085562996800149