What Are The Symptoms
In most instances, a yeast infection is a mild to moderate illness that does not require extensive treatment or a stay in the hospital.
The most common symptoms of a yeast infection include:
- Vaginal itching
- Whiteish-yellow discharge that often appears lumpy
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, visit Oxford Urgent Care today for prompt treatment.
Should I Call My Doctor Or Nurse If I Think I Have A Yeast Infection
Yes. Seeing your doctor or nurse is the only way to know for sure if you have a yeast infection and not a more serious type of infection.
The signs and symptoms of a yeast infection are a lot like symptoms of other more serious infections, such as STIs and bacterial vaginosis . If left untreated, STIs and BV raise your risk of getting other STIs, including HIV, and can lead to problems getting pregnant. BV can also lead to problems during pregnancy, such as premature delivery.
Can I Get A Yeast Infection From Breastfeeding
Yes. Yeast infections can happen on your nipples or in your breast from breastfeeding. Yeast thrive on milk and moisture. A yeast infection you get while breastfeeding is different from a vaginal yeast infection. However, it is caused by an overgrowth of the same fungus.
Symptoms of thrush during breastfeeding include:
- Sore nipples that last more than a few days, especially after several weeks of pain-free breastfeeding
- Flaky, shiny, itchy, or cracked nipples
- Deep pink and blistered nipples
- Shooting pain in the breast during or after feedings
If you have any of these signs or symptoms or think your baby might have thrush in his or her mouth, call your doctor. Learn more about thrush in our Breastfeeding section.
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Why Is It Important To Test With Vagisense
According to a study, about 66% of women who self-diagnosed a vaginal yeast infection were wrong.* VagiSense® will help you determine if your symptoms are more likely caused by a bacterial or parasitic infection so you know what you should do next.
*Ferris DG, Nyirjesy P, Sobel JD, et al. Over-the-counter antifungal drug misuse associated with patient-diagnosed vulvovaginal candidiasis. Obstet Gynecol. 2002 99:419425.
of women who self-diagnosed a vaginal yeast infection were wrong.
Whats The Difference Between Ear Mites And Yeast Infections In Dogs
Yeast infections in a dogs ears generally cause redness, a brown discharge, head shaking or rubbing, odor, and itching.
Ear mite infections are extremely itchy and can cause many of the same symptoms. The discharge from the ear is usually dark and waxy or crusty. Ear mites are barely visible to the naked eye and highly contagious to other animals.
Your veterinarian can easily determine whether a dogs ear problem is caused by yeast or mites by taking a swab from their ear and looking at it under a microscope.
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What Can I Expect If I Have Vaginitis
Vaginitis is uncomfortable, but finding the cause and the right treatment can bring you relief. If chemical irritants are causing your vaginitis, you can improve your symptoms by avoiding the offending lotion, detergent, spray, etc. Bacterial and antifungal medications may take up to two weeks to clear your infection. Antiviral medications for viral vaginitis cant cure the virus, but they can cause your symptoms to go away faster. Getting the right diagnosis and treating all causes of your vaginitis is key when it comes to relieving your symptoms.
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What Do The Results Mean
If your results show that you have a yeast infection, your provider may recommend a prescription or over-the counter antifungal medicine. Antifungal medicines come in many forms for different types of infections, including pills, vaginal creams and suppositories, skin creams, powders, and lotions. Your provider will tell you which treatment is best for you.
It’s important to take all your medicine as prescribed, even if you feel better before you finish it. Many yeast infections get better after a few days or weeks of treatment, but certain fungal infections may need treatment for several months or longer before they clear up completely.
Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results.
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When Should I Get A Yeast Infection Test
Vaginal yeast infection testing may be prescribed when you have symptoms of vaginitis. A vaginal yeast infection commonly causes symptoms such as:
- Pain when having sex
- Vaginal discharge
Many patients with vaginitis dont have vaginal discharge. When discharge is present, it may be thick, white, clumpy, and odorless.
Vaginal yeast testing may also be performed if your health care provider notices physical signs of a yeast infection during a physical exam. Signs of a yeast infection include:
- Swelling of the vulva
- Changes in the skin of the vulva, such as splitting or patchiness
How Do Doctors Test For Yeast Infections
Doctors typically conduct a vaginitis test when testing for an infection. Theyll use a swab to take a sample of your vaginal discharge, which is then examined under a microscope.
This test is the best option to determine whether you have a yeast infection or if its another type of infection, such as BV, chlamydia, or trichomoniasis.
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Why Do I Need A Yeast Infection Test
Yeast infections are easily treatable and also preventable. There are various ways to treat infections safely, and over-the-counter medication is one of them.
If you think have a candidiasis, and if you test positive for it, this process will help you get the perfect treatment that caters to your specific needs.
In some cases, when DIY treatment solutions dont work, seeking professional help is necessary. Knowing what you have will go a long way toward determining which path to recovery you should take.
Diagnosis Of Yeast Infection
Many women who have experienced a yeast infection before will know the signs and can often treat it themselves at home with over-the-counter medications. However, if you are at all unsure of your symptoms or feel your yeast infection is unmanageable on your own, it is best to see your doctor.
When you arrive at your appointment, your doctor will ask you questions about your symptoms and your medical history. You may also be asked whether you have had a sexually transmitted infection in the past and about your sexual history.
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When To See A Doctor
If you have been diagnosed with BV or have found that BV has reoccurred, it is always best to see a medical professional to seek treatment. Should your at-home test results indicate that your pH levels are off or you have a vaginal infection, you should see someone.
Additionally, if youre experiencing general discomfort or itching, burning, or unusual discharge, you should visit a healthcare professional.
Sti Vs Std: What Is The Difference
So why the confusion between sexually transmitted diseases and sexually transmitted infections? Well, the name change from STDs to STIs came about to address a common stigma or stereotype that developed over time, according to the Power to Decide.
For many years, all STDs were lumped together under the category of disease. The American Sexual Health Association mentions that the term infection rather than disease is more accurate because while diseases typically have identifiable symptoms, infections may not . Using the name STD also assumes that all sexually transmitted viruses are diseases but, in actuality, not all STDs turn into what is considered a disease. So in some cases STI is a more appropriate term.
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Accuracy Of Pregnancy Tests
Theoretically, if you try any key to open millions of locks, it may work for some locks it wasnt meant to be. Similarly, theoretically, these monoclonal antibodies may react with proteins that significantly resemble hCG. But then, considering that hCG is a very complex protein, such chances are incredibly slim and almost close to zero.
It means that the chances of the wrong reaction and thus false positive results are almost nil with modern pregnancy tests. This is the reason why most manufacturers claim that their tests are nearly 99% accurate.
But, then 99% is quite a good result. So, is it really true? Well, not. In practice, things differ. The true accuracy of at-home pregnancy tests is much lower. But fortunately, they are more likely to show false negative results than false positive results.
Studies show that there are many reasons for false negative results . Surveys of pregnancy tests show that many are just not as sensitive as they claim to be.
Therefore, many of these at-home tests require much higher hCG levels than claimed. Thus, they are likely to fail if carried out too early when hCG levels are pretty low, though as the time progresses, their accuracy increases .
So, yes, it is true that these tests are 99% accurate. However, accuracy may be much lower on, lets say 10 th or 12th day of pregnancy. Since, in many cases, women do not know the exact day when they got pregnant, most experts recommend carrying out two tests at the interval of about a week.
What Is A Vaginal Yeast Infection
A vaginal yeast infection, also called vulvovaginal candidiasis, is common among women of all ages.
Vaginal yeast infections are not considered an STD because theyre not contagious and cant be spread through intercourse, but a woman can get a yeast infection because of sexual contact.
This happens when your body reacts negatively to another persons natural genital bacteria and yeast.
Even women who arent sexually active can get a vaginal yeast infection.
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Can I Go To Urgent Care For A Yeast Infection
A yeast infection, also called vaginal candidiasis, is a common infection that affects people with vaginas. Most commonly caused by candida albicans, a type of fungus, a yeast infection can cause uncomfortable and sometimes painful symptoms. Most yeast infections are mild. Though very common in people of reproductive age, they are rare in children before puberty and in menopausal and post-menopausal people.
If its your first time having symptoms of a yeast infection, its best to speak with a medical provider. Also seek medical care if youve tried an OTC yeast infection treatment but still have symptoms. Urgent care centers are an excellent option for yeast infection treatment.
Do I Have To Have Insurance To Go To An Urgent Care Clinic
While your insurance plan may cover your visit to an urgent care clinic, many urgent care clinics offer a self-pay option for those who are uninsured or out-of-network.
Urgent care visits are a fraction of the cost of emergency room visits, which makes urgent care a more feasible option for uninsured patients with non-life-threatening conditions who need medical care.
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Can Vaginal Yeast Infections Be Prevented
For most girls, there’s no way to prevent yeast infections. You may feel more comfortable and have less irritation if you wear breathable cotton underwear and clothes and avoid vaginal sprays and douches. Wearing cotton underwear may also help prevent yeast infections.
If you have diabetes, keeping blood sugar levels stable also can help you avoid yeast infections.
If you think you have an infection, call your doctor for advice. Don’t take leftover antibiotics or someone else’s antibiotics or medicine. They might be the wrong choice for your condition, and taking antibiotics when they’re not needed can make yeast infections more likely.
Yeast infections can be annoying, especially if they happen often. To help avoid them, follow your doctor’s advice, wear cotton underwear, and try to wear loose-fitting clothes. Your body will thank you.
Ever Wondered If You Really Have Ibs Or Not
Properly diagnosing IBS can be difficult. It relies on a questionnaire along with ruling out other intestinal diseases, like colitis and Celiac disease.
Following is the questionnaire, called the Rome III questionnaire.
Rome III Questionnaire
Have you had recurrent abdominal pain or discomfort at least 3 days per month in the last 3 months associated with 2 or more of the following:
If your answer is yes, then you most likely have IBS and SIBO.
SIBO also commonly causes:
If any of this sounds like you, consider getting tested for SIBO. This may be the underlying cause for your fatigue!
Testing for Hidden Infections: Urine Testing
Infections can also be found with urine testing specifically an Organic Acids Test.
This is how it works
Harmful forms of yeast and bacteria excrete waste products of their own or metabolites into your body . Our body tries to clears out these metabolites through our kidneys so they end up in your urine.
When specific metabolites are found in high quantities you can bet you have an underlying yeast infection or bacterial overgrowth.
Treating Infections
Most infections can be treated with herbal treatments over a 6 week period, but some do require prescription medications.
Treating the infection is just the first step, though.
Make a promise to yourself starting today:
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When It Isnt A Yeast Infection: Stds & Other Health Issues
Yeast infections can resemble other vaginal health issues. If you are treating your symptoms and arent experiencing any relief for weeks, then you likely need a doctor to prescribe stronger medication or you need to get tested or examined for other vaginal health issues. Here are some other things you could be experiencing:
When To Get Expert Advice
Urgent care should not replace an annual gynecological check-up. If you have a chronic problem such as premenstrual migraines or suspect the urgent care made a misdiagnosis, Butler says youll also want to see an ob-gyn.
For example, Lee says that recurrent vaginitis looks like three or more infections per year. More than three UTIs per year could be troubling . Your primary care doctor or ob-gyn wont necessarily get records or reports from your urgent care visit, so youll be responsible for your follow-up.
Its important to remember that urgent care professionals arent gynecologists who specialize in womens healthcare. Urgent care facilities may not be as careful or curious as to your ob-gyn in diagnosing the specific bacteria causing reinfection, which would require a different antibiotic.
In some cases, as with UTIs, your primary care doctor or ob-gyn could order additional tests to determine potential causes. Grey areas exist, too, Lee says. For example, a lump or bump on your vulva can generally wait. But if the spot becomes increasingly red or you spike a fever, it may be harboring a nasty infection.
In this case, an urgent care clinic can likely drain the area and start you on a round of antibiotics.
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What Is The Quality Of The Product
If you want to buy at home yeast infection test that will last, you should look for quality before anything else. You should first look at the material used to make the product. You dont want something that will fall apart after a few months of use. The best way to check the quality is by reading reviews from other users who have already tried out the product. If they say that its worth buying, then it probably is. Quality can also be checked by looking at the price of the item. If its too cheap, there is likely something wrong with it.
How Are Vaginal Yeast Infections Treated
If you’re using a vaginal treatment and are sexually active, you should not have sex until the infection has been completely treated because these medicines can weaken condoms and diaphragms.
All these types of medicine can clear up your symptoms in a couple of days and cure the infection within a week. It’s important to take the medicine for the whole time its prescribed. If you stop taking it too soon, the infection could come back. If you’re not feeling better within a few days of finishing treatment, call your doctor.
Some medicines used to treat yeast infections are available without a prescription, but you see a doctor for your diagnosis before buying one. You could have another type of infection that might get worse if not properly treated. Also, over-the-counter medicine should not be used by anyone younger than 12 or girls who might be pregnant without talking to a doctor first.
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Yeast In Urine Infections
Cause: Usually caused by a fungus called Candida albicans.
Symptoms: Painful urination. Vaginal itchiness, burning or soreness. Vaginal discharge that may be thick and white. Pain during sex. Swelling or redness of the vulva.
Treatment: Usually an over-the-counter product such as an antifungal cream.
Prevention: Wear cotton underwear, or underwear with a cotton panel, and avoid wearing tight-fitting pants or shorts. Change out of sweaty workout clothes or wet swimsuits as soon as you can. Some experts recommend eating yogurt containing live cultures of Lactobacillus acidophilus or probiotics.
Important Fact you Need to Know: Yeast infections can affect parts of the .
When To Go To Urgent Care For A Yeast Infection
You may want to seek medical attention for your yeast infection if:
- This is the first time youâve had yeast infection symptoms
- Youâre not sure whether you have a yeast infection
- Your symptoms arenât relieved after treating with over-the-counter antifungal vaginal creams or suppositories
- You develop other symptoms
- Your primary care doctor is unavailable
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