It Wasn’t a UTI After All—Ob-Gyn Shares 6 Sneaky Yeast Infection Symptoms Women Over 50 Often Miss
Think it’s a UTI or BV? These lesser-known symptoms may point to a yeast infection instead
As many as three in four women get a vaginal yeast infection (vaginal candidiasis) in their lifetime, and about 8 percent experience recurrent infections. Although the condition is relatively common, yeast infection symptoms are often vague and nonspecific, making it surprisingly difficult to diagnose.
“Reliable self-diagnosis [of vaginal yeast infections] can be challenging because yeast infection symptoms can resemble other conditions like other infections such as bacterial vaginosis, urinary tract infections (UTIs), sexually transmitted infections or just genitourinary syndrome of menopause,” says Erica Montes, MD, board-certified ob-gyn and pH-D Feminine Health Advisor. “All of these conditions can have overlapping symptoms.”
As such, it’s important to visit your doctor if you suspect you’re experiencing vaginal yeast infection symptoms to get a proper diagnosis and treatment. But knowing some of the sneaky early warning signs can also help clue you in so you’re not suffering for longer than necessary. Here, the yeast infection symptoms you should never ignore, according to an ob-gyn.
Woman's World Answers
What is a vaginal yeast infection?
Vaginal yeast infections happen when there’s an overgrowth of a fungus known as Candida in the vagina. “The yeast Candida is a microorganism that exists in the vagina naturally,” Dr. Montes explains. “Lactobacillus bacteria keeps its growth in check, but if there’s an imbalance in your system, these bacteria won’t work effectively, which leads to an overgrowth of yeast.”
What causes a yeast infection?
So what can trigger an imbalance and the subsequent overgrowth of yeast? Many factors, ranging from certain medications to hormone changes to preexisting conditions to lifestyle habits. Dr. Montes elaborates on some of those risk factors here:
- Diabetes. This is especially true when blood sugar is poorly managed. The elevated blood sugar itself can encourage yeast to breed. And high blood glucose inhibits immune function, making the body less able to fight off infections.
- Medical conditions. Other underlying conditions that suppress the immune system, such as cancer, can raise your risk of a vaginal yeast infection.
- Antibiotic use. This “can significantly increase the risk of developing yeast infections due to killing off not only the bad bacteria, but also good bacteria that are protective for the vagina,” Dr. Montes says.
- Increased estrogen levels. This may be due to taking estrogen-containing hormone therapy for menopause. The hormone promotes candida growth.
- Menopause. Low estrogen levels can also be problematic, causing vaginal pH to become less acidic and therefore less able to fight off infections, Dr. Montes says. It can also lead to thinning of the skin of the vagina, which can make symptoms of yeast infections like itching worse.
Vaginal yeast infection symptoms to watch for
Dr. Montes shares these red-flag symptoms of yeast infections that every woman needs to know:
- Vulvar itching, burning, soreness or irritation
- Pain with urination
- Painful intercourse
- Thick, white, odorless discharge (resembling cottage cheese)
- Vaginal redness
- Vaginal swelling
Dr. Montes says menopausal women may experience especially severe vaginal itching, redness and swelling “due to the thinning and dryness of the vaginal tissue.” But these symptoms can also easily be mistaken for (or indicate) other conditions such as urinary tract infections or bacterial vaginosis (BV), Dr. Montes stresses. If you’re unsure, it’s important to see a physician for a diagnosis.
How yeast infections are treated
“Effective treatment for yeast infections typically involves antifungal medications,” Dr. Montes says. These medications are available over the counter, but the treatments you can buy at drugstores may have harsh ingredients that can actually exacerbate symptoms.
“If you use these after self-diagnosis and there is no improvement, you should see your physician or provider,” she says. They can recommend a prescription antifungal if necessary, or other treatments to soothe persistent symptoms. For example, they may suggest “hormonal therapies such as vaginal estradiol to restore an acidic environment and help prevent future infections,” Dr. Montes says.
Home remedies can help ease symptoms
Antifungal medication can take a few days to begin to work. While you wait for the treatment to kick in, you can ease the discomfort of your yeast infection symptoms by wearing breathable cotton underwear (to reduce moisture build-up) and avoiding tight-fitting clothes (to prevent friction), Dr. Montes says. “Also, wash the vulvar area with mild soap and water, avoiding harsh products that can disrupt the already-sensitive vulvar skin,” she says.
“Even after successful treatment of a yeast infection, residual irritation from inflammation may persist,” Dr. Montes adds. “The vulvovaginal tissues can remain sensitive for some time, especially in menopausal patients, due to low estradiol levels. This sensitivity could lead to continued itching even when no active infection is present.” Again, a physician can help confirm that your yeast infection was successfully treated and offer advice for soothing this continued irritation.
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