Title: Vaginal Yeast Infection Signs, Symptoms, Tests & Diagnosis | Everyday Health
Headings: Vaginal Yeast Infection Signs and Symptoms
Vaginal Yeast Infection Signs and Symptoms
Recognizing the signs and symptoms of a vaginal yeast infection is the first step to getting treatment.
What Are the Symptoms of a Vaginal Yeast Infection?
How Is a Yeast Infection Diagnosed?
What Doctors Look For When They Suspect a Yeast Infection
Tests That Help Determine Yeast Infection Presence
Symptoms of Other Types of Yeast Infections
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Content: Just as some bacteria are becoming resistant to certain antibiotics, yeast that normally lives in the vagina can become resistant to antifungal medication. If this happens, it can become very difficult to treat a yeast infection when one actually does develop. ( 9)
Because of this, the American Academy of Family Physicians recommends that, for a first episode of a possible yeast infection, women see a physician to get a proper diagnosis. ( 10)
If a woman has had a physician-diagnosed yeast infection in the past and feels certain that her current symptoms are caused by a yeast infection, it's reasonable to ask her doctor about self-treatment with an OTC medication. However, if symptoms don't improve or they come back again, or if symptoms are different from past yeast infections, an office visit is warranted. ( 10)
What Doctors Look For When They Suspect a Yeast Infection
At your doctor's office, your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and your overall medical history, including past vaginal infections and sexually transmitted diseases. You doctor will then conduct a gynecological exam to check for redness, swelling, discharge, and odor. Your doctor will perform a pelvic exam, which will include inspecting your vagina and vulva to see if there are external signs of infection, such as swelling and redness, and cracks in the skin of the vulva. Your doctor will also examine your cervix for swelling and redness, and your vaginal walls for dry, white spots. To get a concrete diagnosis, your doctor will likely take a sample of your vaginal secretions and examine it under a microscope. (