Do I have a yeast infection?
Yeast infection symptoms can be very uncomfortable, but are usually not serious. The main symptom is itchiness, though it's not the only one. And it's important to get a diagnosis from a doctor, to make sure the treatment is right for you, and to rule out a more serious infection.
Signs of a yeast infection may include the following:
- Intense vaginal itching
- Burning, especially during urination
- A white vaginal discharge that may look like cottage cheese, mostly odorless
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Swelling and soreness in the vulva (the skin that surrounds your vagina)
Although common, the symptoms of a vaginal yeast infection may be similar to other illnesses, so it's important to see your doctor the first time to be sure.
How is a yeast infection diagnosed?
To diagnose a yeast infection, your doctor may review your history of vaginal infections or sexually transmitted diseases and conduct a pelvic examination. He or she may also take a sample of any discharge for laboratory analysis.
Yeast infections need to be diagnosed and treated by a doctor. Once you have had a yeast infection, you may be able to recognize symptoms and treat future infections with over-the-counter creams and relieve symptoms with tablets like AZO YEAST®.
But it's important to get a professional diagnosis to rule out other, more serious infections or sexually transmitted diseases, which may have similar symptoms.
