meetara-lab/vectorstore-women_health huggingface dataset:
•  Although many women with lupus have  

normal pregnancies, all women with lupus  
who get pregnant are considered to have  
a “high-risk” pregnancy. This means that  
problems during pregnancy may be more likely.  
It doesn’t mean there will be problems.

For more information…
For more information about lupus, call the OWH Helpline at 800-994-9662 or contact the 
following organizations:

National Institute of Allergy and  
Infectious Diseases 
Phone: 866-284-4107 • www.niaid.nih.gov

National Institute of Arthritis and 
Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases 
877-226-4267 • www.niams.nih.gov

Lupus Research Alliance  
800-867-1743 • www.lupusresearch.org

American Autoimmune Related  
Diseases Association 
586-776-3900  
800-598-4668 (literature requests) • www.aarda.org

Lupus Foundation of America   
800-558-0121 • www.lupus.org

The Office on Women’s Health is grateful for the additional reviews by:
Lupus Foundation of America   
800-558-0121 • www.lupus.org

The Office on Women’s Health is grateful for the additional reviews by: 

•  Maria Lourdes Villalba, M.D., Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, Medical Officer, Food and Drug Administration

•  National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases staff

All material contained on this page is free of copyright restrictions and may be copied, reproduced, or duplicated without permission of the Office 
on Women’s Health in the Department of Health and Human Services. Citation of the source is appreciated.

Page last updated: May 16, 2017.

Content last reviewed: January 24, 2017.

www.facebook.com/HHSOWH

www.twitter.com/WomensHealth

www.youtube.com/WomensHealthgov

www.womenshealth.gov | 800-994-9662
Vaginal yeast infection 

A vaginal yeast infection is an infection of the vagina 
that causes itching and burning of the vulva, the area 
around the vagina. Three out of four women will 
have a yeast infection at some point in their life. Yeast 
infections are easy to treat, but it is important to see 
your doctor or nurse if you think you have an infection. 

Q:  Are some women more at risk

for yeast infections? 

A: Women and girls of all ages can get yeast
infections, but they are rare before puberty and 
after menopause. 

Your risk for vaginal yeast infections is higher if:

• You are pregnant

•  You have diabetes and your blood sugar is not

under control

•  You use a type of hormonal birth control that

has higher doses of estrogen

•  You douche or use vaginal sprays

•  You recently took antibiotics such as amoxicillin 

or steroid medicines

•  You have a weakened immune system, such

as from HIV

Q:  What are the signs and symptoms
of a vaginal yeast infection?
or steroid medicines

•  You have a weakened immune system, such

as from HIV

Q:  What are the signs and symptoms
of a vaginal yeast infection?

A: The most common symptom of a yeast infection
is extreme itchiness in and around the vagina.

Other signs and symptoms include:

•  Burning, redness, and swelling of the vagina

and the vulva

• Pain when urinating

www.womenshealth.gov | 800-994-9662

• Pain during sex

• Soreness

•  A thick, white vaginal discharge that looks like 
cottage cheese and does not have a bad smell

You may only have a few of these symptoms. They 
may be mild or severe.

Q:  Should I call my doctor if I think
I have a yeast infection?
You may only have a few of these symptoms. They 
may be mild or severe.

Q:  Should I call my doctor if I think
I have a yeast infection?

A: Yes. Seeing your doctor is the only way to know
for sure if you have a yeast infection. The signs and 
symptoms of a yeast infection are a lot like symptoms 
of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and bacterial 
vaginosis (BV). If left untreated, STIs and BV can raise 
your risk of getting other STIs, including HIV, and  
can lead to problems getting pregnant. BV can also 
lead to prob lems during pregnancy, such as premature 
delivery.

Q: How are yeast infections treated?
A: Yeast infections are usually treated with antifungal
medicine. See your doctor or nurse to make sure that 
you have a vaginal yeast infection and not another type 
of infection.
You can then buy antifungal medicine for yeast 
infections at a store, without a prescription. Antifungal 
medicines come in the form of creams, tablets, 
ointments, or suppositories that you insert into your 
vagina. You can apply treatment in one dose or daily 
for up to seven days, depending on the brand you 
choose. Your doctor can also give you a single dose 
of antifungal medicine taken by mouth, such as 
fluconazole.

A FACT SHEET FROM THE OFFICE ON WOMEN’S HEALTH
Q:  If I have a yeast infection, does my
sexual partner need to be treated?

A: Maybe. It is possible to pass yeast infections to
your partner during vaginal, oral, or anal sex.

•  If your partner is a man, the risk of infection is

low. Some men get an itchy rash on their penis. If
this happens to your partner, he should see a doctor.

•  If your partner is a woman, she may be at risk.
She should be tested and treated if she has any
symptoms.

Q:  How can I avoid getting another

yeast infection?
•  If your partner is a woman, she may be at risk.
She should be tested and treated if she has any
symptoms.

Q:  How can I avoid getting another

yeast infection?

A: You can take steps to lower your risk of getting
yeast infections: 

•  Do not douche. Douching removes some of the
normal bacteria in the vagina that protects you
from infection.

Vaginal yeast infections

2

•  Do not use scented feminine products, including

bubble bath, sprays, pads, and tampons.

•  Change tampons, pads, and pantyliners often.

•  Do not wear tight underwear, pantyhose, pants, or
jeans. These can increase body heat and moisture
in your genital area.

•  Wear underwear with a cotton crotch.

•  Change out of wet swimsuits and workout clothes

as soon as you can.

•  After using the bathroom, always wipe from front

to back.

•  Avoid hot tubs and very hot baths

•  If you have diabetes, be sure your blood sugar is

under control.
as soon as you can.

•  After using the bathroom, always wipe from front

to back.

•  Avoid hot tubs and very hot baths

•  If you have diabetes, be sure your blood sugar is

under control.

For more information…
For more information on vaginal yeast infections, call the OWH Helpline at 800-994-9662 
or contact the following organizations:

Centers for Disease Control  
and Prevention (CDC), HHS
800-232-4636 • www.cdc.gov

American College of Obstetricians  
and Gynecologists (ACOG) 
800-673-8444 • www.acog.org

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious 
Diseases (NIAID), NIH, HHS 
866-284-4107 (TDD: 800-877-8339) • 
www.niaid.nih.gov

This fact sheet was reviewed by: 

Planned Parenthood Federation of America 
800-230-7526 • www.plannedparenthood.org
This fact sheet was reviewed by: 

Planned Parenthood Federation of America 
800-230-7526 • www.plannedparenthood.org 

Michail S. Lionakis, M.D., Sc.D., Clinical Investigator, Chief, Fungal Pathogenesis Unit, Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases, 
National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases (NIAID), NIH • Lance Edwards, M.D., FACOG, Suffolk Obstetrics, Port Jefferson, New York

All material contained in this FAQ is free of copyright restrictions and may be copied, reproduced, or duplicated without permission of the 
Office on Women’s Health in the Department of Health and Human Services. Citation of the source is appreciated.

Content last updated: January 6, 2015.

Content last reviewed: December 4, 2014. 

www.facebook.com/HHSOWH

www.twitter.com/WomensHealth

www.youtube.com/WomensHealthgov

www.womenshealth.gov | 800-994-9662
PDF file: womenHealth.pdf (content extraction failed)