Women's Health

An overgrowth of Candida, a fungus that lives naturally in the vagina in small amounts. When the balance shifts, candida multiplies and causes symptoms. About 75% of people with vulvas will have at least one in their lifetime, it's incredibly common and very treatable.

• Antibiotics, the most common trigger; they wipe out good bacteria that keep yeast in check
• Hormonal shifts (pregnancy, birth control, menstruation)
• Uncontrolled blood sugar / diabetes
• High-sugar or high-refined-carb diets (for some people)
• Tight, damp clothing, wet swimsuits, sweaty leggings
• Scented products, douching, harsh soaps
• Weakened immune system
• Sometimes triggered by sex, though it's not an STI

• Intense itching of the vulva and vagina
• Thick, white, "cottage cheese" discharge, usually odorless
• Redness, swelling, soreness of the vulva
• Burning, especially with urination or sex
• Tiny cracks or fissures in the skin

• OTC antifungals: miconazole (Monistat), clotrimazole, 1, 3, or 7-day creams or suppositories.
• Prescription oral antifungal: fluconazole (Diflucan), single pill, very effective.
• For recurrent infections (4+ per year), providers may prescribe a longer course or maintenance therapy.
• Avoid: garlic cloves, hydrogen peroxide, douching, these can worsen irritation.

• Cotton underwear; change out of wet/sweaty clothes promptly
• Skip scented soaps, sprays, bubble baths, and "feminine" wipes
• Wipe front to back
• Probiotics with Lactobacillus strains, especially during/after antibiotics
• Manage blood sugar if applicable
• Eat plain yogurt with live cultures; some find low-sugar diets help
• Don't douche, the vagina is self-cleaning

• It's your first suspected yeast infection (need to confirm diagnosis)
• Symptoms don't clear with OTC treatment in 7 days
• You get 4+ infections per year
• You're pregnant
• You have fever, pelvic pain, or unusual odor
• You have diabetes or a weakened immune system