Blog - Seattle Women's

Statistically, most women will have had at least one yeast infection at some point in their life. With a yeast infection comes irritation, burning, and sometimes a discharge or odor. The symptoms quickly become more apparent and bothersome — urination may become painful, with intercourse becoming unthinkable.

With yeast infections being ubiquitous, the most common course of action women choose is to buy an over-the-counter treatment. Unfortunately, according womenshealth.gov, “Studies show that two-thirds of women who buy these products don’t really have a yeast infection.” Infections and reactions that are frequently mistaken for yeast infections include urinary tract infections, bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, herpes, and dermatologic disorders.

Using yeast infection treatments incorrectly or for things other than yeast infections can make the problem worse. The other STIs that may have similar symptoms can cause serious problems like cancer, infertility, and other ill effects if they go untreated or are treated incorrectly.

Seattle Women’s regularly sees women who have undertaken the trouble and expense of home treatment for yeast infections, only to have developed a more complicated infection that is difficult to diagnose and treat. These symptoms can be very painful and irritating, so every effort is made at Seattle Women’s to make appointments within twenty-four hours.

An appointment for a yeast infection or similar condition involves a visual inspection of the vulva and vagina, a measure of pH to determine the nature of the infection, and an examination of discharge. If not pre-treated at home, it is usually a simple matter to diagnose the specific cause of irritation and prescribe an appropriate treatment. Sometimes it may be necessary to send specimens for further analysis. Regardless, specific disorders call for specific treatments, and it is our job at Seattle Women’s to make make sure every patient receives individualized quality care.

Robin Kroll, MD

Share|

Yeast Infections — More Complicated Than You’d Think