Will Your Period Cure A Yeast Infection

Getting Your Period And A Yeast Infection Can Happen Pretty Easily

Yeast Infections: Debunked

While most people dont regularly get yeast infections simultaneously with their periods, its definitely possible to have both at once, Taraneh Shirazian, M.D., a gynecologist and assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at NYU Langone Health, tells SELF. This is because hormones, vaginal pH, and bacteria levels can all fluctuate in the time leading up to your period, making it easier for yeast to grow too much, H. Frank Andersen, M.D., a clinical education director and ob/gyn in the Department of Medical Education and Clinical Sciences at Washington State University, tells SELF.

More specifically, an increase in estrogen in the days before your period could predispose you to a yeast infection/menstruation combo. A significant enough uptick in estrogen is a known risk factor for yeast infections high levels of estrogen appear to lower vaginal pH, causing it to become more acidic in a way that makes it easier for yeast to overgrow to the point of infection.

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Even if youre on a combined hormonal contraceptive that suppresses this kind of natural hormonal fluctuation, the estrogen in your birth control itself can also increase your risk of a yeast infection, the Mayo Clinic says. There is also research to indicate that levels of Lactobacillus drop during your period, which causes vaginal pH to become more acidic.

Does My Sexual Partner Need To Be Treated If I Have A Vaginal Yeast Infection

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Yeast infections are a very common fungal infection that most women or people assigned female at birth will have in their lifetime. Its highly treatable with medication, some of which are available to purchase at your local drug store without a prescription. Even though you may know the signs of a vaginal yeast infection, its important to get examined by your healthcare provider. They can recommend the best treatment based on the type of yeast infection you have and its severity.

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 09/02/2022.

References

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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Try Treatment After Period Is Over If Youre Pregnant Heres Why It Is The Best

The best treatment for yeast infection during period starts after your period is over.

Just as there are treatments for the infection during the period, there are treatments for the infection that will be effective after the period.

Like any pregnant woman, you will have developed an immune system that is incredibly strong.

To be able to fight off this powerful immune system, you will need to be as well.

Some pregnant women get sick very easily and they require treatment for their immune system.

Some women, however, have really high levels of the immune system, and it can take a while for that immune system to develop enough that you can begin to combat the infection.

If I Have Vaginal Itching Burning And/or Abnormal Discharge And Receive A Result Of Normal Acidity Detected With The Vaginal Health Test What Should I Do

You may have a yeast infection. If this is your first yeast infection, talk to your healthcare professional. However, if you are in good health, have been previously diagnosed with a yeast infection and are familiar with the symptoms, you can try an over-the-counter antifungal remedy such as MONISTAT®. MONISTAT® is prescription-strength and can begin to relieve symptoms soon after the first dose, with a full cure after several days.

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Signs That Your Yeast Infection Is Something Else

If you decide to let a yeast infection go away on its own, you should be especially wary of these symptoms which may indicate a more serious problem. If you experience any of the following symptoms, you should contact your doctor and seek treatment immediately.

Vaginal discharge with a sour, pungent odor may indicate a sexually transmitted infection or disease, including herpes and trichomoniasis.
Blood in your stool/near your vulva is also a symptom of hemorrhoids. Contact your doctor immediately should you experience this.
Prolonged itchinessis associated with use of a new hygiene product or detergentâallergic reactions to ingredients in soaps or detergents could cause itchiness in the vaginal area. Changing your hygiene regimen may relieve these symptoms.

What Can I Do To Prevent A Recurrence

Avoid perfumed genital products and bubble baths since the perfume can cause irritation and allergic reactions. Likewise, avoid douching because it can disrupt the normal vaginal environment and therefore increase the risk of irritation and infection. Although dietary yogurt with live culture or lactobacilli oral capsules dont prevent post-antibiotic vaginal yeast infections they may help restore normal flora.

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What Causes Infection Before Or During Periods

She adds, Your estrogen levels are at their peak before your menstrual cycle begins and plummet as your periods begins. Even progesterone follows a similar pattern. Estrogen in particular is responsible for the overgrowth of the Candida albicans fungus, which is known to cause yeast infections. There could be a possibility that you may get a yeast infection around the same time every month. This condition is called cyclic vulvovaginitis.

How Long Should You Wait To Have Sex After Treating A Yeast Infection

How to Treat a Yeast Infection

Its advisable to avoid having sex when you have a yeast infection, as it may prolong the infection. Theres also a chance you could pass the infection to your partner. Having sex while youre in the process of treating a yeast infection may slow down the healing process. And if your partner gets a yeast infection from sex with you, the infection could be passed back and forth between you. Thats why its best to avoid having sex until all the signs and symptoms of a yeast infection have cleared up with treatment.

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What Are The Risks Associated With Antifungal Drugs

Antifungal drugs that are applied to the skin or mucous membranes are generally well tolerated. The possible side effects include further irritation of the inflamed areas, burning and itching.

When using mechanical contraceptive devices, its important to read the package insert carefully. Some antifungal drugs are oily. This can make contraceptives like condoms more porous, allowing sperm to pass through them.

If antifungal drugs are taken in the form of tablets that you swallow, they can lead to other side effects such as headaches, dizziness, nausea and diarrhea. There are also a lot of medications that shouldnt be used together with antifungal drugs because they may influence each others effect. These include certain medicines, blood-pressure-lowering drugs and medications for psychological problems. You can find out about these drug-drug interactions in the package insert that comes with the antifungal drug.

Yeast Infection During Pregnancy

Vaginal yeast infections are common during pregnancy, likely caused by elevated estrogen levels. If you are pregnant, dont assume you have a yeast infection until it is diagnosed, and dont use non-prescription medicines without discussing your symptoms with your doctor.

Vaginal medicine is the recommended treatment for vaginal yeast infections during pregnancy.footnote 1

The Most Common Causes Of A Chronic Yeast Infection

Drug resistance. Most of the time, the yeast belongs to a strain called Candida albicans, which antifungal drugs can usually knock out. However, about 10% of cases are caused by a different type of candida. Candida auris, Candida glabrata, and Candida parapsilosis are often resistant to common medications, and that might be why your infection keeps returning. Unfortunately, drug-resistant Candida albicans is becoming more prevalent too, so if you do take antifungals, always make sure to take your full course of meds.
A previous infection never fully went away in the first place. A small study published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases tracked 10 women with recurring yeast infections and found that eight of them had the exact same strain of Candida albicans every time. This suggests their yeast infections might have been a relapse rather than a reinfection. The best thing you can do to prevent this is to be vigilant about medication. Even if your symptoms have gone away, its important to keep applying the cream or taking the pills exactly as they were prescribed.

There are also a few medical conditions that make yeast infections more likely to return:

Chronic Yeast Infections: What Causes Them

We now know that theres a wide range of creams, suppositories, vaginal pills, and oral pills available for treating yeast infections. But what if the infection keeps coming back?

As many as 8% of us have recurring or chronic vaginal yeast infections, defined as four or more flare-ups a year. A 2018 study, which appeared in The Lancet, estimated that 138 million people worldwide are affected by recurring yeast infections every year and case numbers are increasing. Thats a lot of us dealing with itching, pain, discomfort, disruptions to our sex lives, and unwarranted stigma. So whats the deal?

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Another Cause Of Yeast Infection Is Stress

This is also very common among women.

When we are stressed, our bodies are more likely to produce certain hormones that are needed for our health.

However, when these hormones start causing infections, you will have a more difficult time fighting off the infection.

These two cases of the infection, stress, and hormones, are both present in women.

They are just two of the many causes of yeast infection.

You will need to look into other causes to help you figure out which ones you should avoid.

One thing that you can look into is whether or not you are allergic to foods that are known to cause infections.

While not all foods will cause an infection, some do.

Some examples of these foods are cheese, most grains, peanuts, and even onions.

There are also some oral drugs that cause yeast infections, especially birth control pills.

These drugs contain synthetic estrogens.

Because the women in these drugs are already having an infection, the infection that is caused by the drugs is worse than the one that you already have.

Once you realize that you have a cause for the infection, you can try and figure out which one is causing it.

For example, did you get stressed before you had your period?

Did you take birth control pills before your period?

All of these factors can cause different issues for your body.

Its important to remember that you shouldnt take things for granted.

You shouldnt think that you are being careless.

When To Contact The Doc

Yeast infections are fairly common. Most are also easily treated with OTC meds.

But if you think you have a yeast infection for the first time *or* youre getting them on the reg, its a good idea to talk with your doc for a diagnosis. This could help you identify or eliminate concern for health probs with similar symptoms.

Contact your doctor if you:

get a yeast infection *every* month
arent sure if you have a yeast infection or something else
experience serious pain or itching

Advice From Our Practice

At University Park OBGYN, we are fully equipped to guide you through the comprehensive care you deserve. From treating a pesky yeast infection while pregnant to delivering your infant, we guarantee thorough, compassionate care. Give us a call or visit our website today to learn more about the various services we offer in gynecological, preconception, obstetric, and postpartum care.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Yeast Infection & Your Period

Yeast Infection | How To Get Rid Of A Yeast Infection (Medical Tips)

Hormones rise and fall during a given month. Their levels are lowest right before and during your period. Hormones affect the vaginal microbiomethe population of bacterial speciesprimarily lactobacillus. Low estrogen levels encourage a slight shift in the pH and microbiome which could trigger a yeast infection. So, itching might start before the menses and never quite develop into a full-blown infection or a yeast infection can occur before, during, or after ones period.

Should I Use Monistat 1 3 Or 7

It is your preference as to which dose you choose. MONISTAT® 1 is our highest strength, one-day, one-dose product that has the highest concentration of medication per dose . MONISTAT® 3 is a regular strength, three-day, three-dose product that has a lower concentration of medication per dose . MONISTAT® 7 is a low dose, seven-day, seven-dose product that contains the lowest concentration of medication per dose . All three dosage strengths are similarly effective in curing yeast infections in the same amount of time. Regardless of which dose you choose, if your symptoms do not get better in 3 days or symptoms last more than 7 days, these may be signs that you may have a more serious medical condition so stop the use of the product and contact your healthcare professional.

Need help? Use our product selector tool and answer a few simple questions for a Monistat® recommendation based on your needs and preferences.

Can A Yeast Infection Cause A Missed Period

Aside from yeast infections just making me feel ick, I cant say that they have ever affected my cycle. But I know everyone is different, so I cant say it would be the same for me as it might be for you. This is a good question for our health expert, Michelle see what she has to say!

If youve never had one before, a yeast infection can be a bit tricky to spot. The common symptoms such as itching, discharge and irritation can also be caused by other things. So, if you think you might have a yeast infection, go see your healthcare provider for confirmation. The good news is yeast infections are easily treatable. As far as a missed period goes, Ive never heard that as a symptom of yeast infections. There are many reasons you might miss a period. Simple things such as stress or exercising too much can cause a missed period and many girls are irregular during the first few years of menstruating. But if youve missed a few periods, be sure to see your healthcare provider.

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Are Yeast Infections Sti Or Stds

Yeast infection is not an STD or STI, the only time yeast is a concern in the body is when it overgrows as a result of unusual pH changes in the vaginal environment.

However, in some very rare circumstances, having a sex partner who is not circumcised and has a yeast infection might also cause you to go through the changes required for candida to become overgrown.

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How To Know If You Have A Yeast Infection: What Else Could It Be

If youve recently been on antibiotics, chances are that your clumpy discharge, itching, and burning is a yeast infection. But if you have symptoms and you dont have a classic cause, you should see your health care professional for a definite diagnosis.

There are other conditions that cause similar symptoms:

Vulval dermatitis Caused by an allergic reaction or an irritant, symptoms include chronic itching and a rash.
Genital herpes A sexually transmitted infection, it can cause blistering and ulceration of the skin and be itchy and painful.
Bacterial vaginosis This is the most common vaginal infection, and its caused by a bacterium rather than a fungus. The main symptom is a strong-smelling grayish, thin vaginal discharge.
Lichen sclerosis Most common in postmenopausal people, this is a skin condition, not an infection, that can cause itching, redness, and pain.
Urinary tract infections Symptoms include pelvic pain and a frequent need to urinate. The burning sensation with urination may be similar to a yeast infection.
Lichen simplex chronicus This is caused by persistent itching and scratching unrelated to an infection. Scratching can make itching worse, and over time, the skin can become chronically irritated, red, swollen, and itchy.

All of these conditions can and should be treated so whether its a yeast infection or something else, you owe it to yourself to get the right diagnosis and medication.

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How Can I Reduce My Risk Of A Yeast Infection

You can often prevent vaginal yeast infections by making a few lifestyle changes. These changes can include:

Not douching douching can kill bacteria that actually control fungus.
Avoiding the use of feminine deodorants.
Not using scented tampons or pads.
Changing out of wet clothing, like bathing suits or gym clothes, as soon as you can.
Wearing cotton underwear and loose-fitting clothes.
Using water-based sexual lubricants.
Keeping your blood sugar levels in a normal range if you have diabetes.

The symptoms of a vaginal yeast infection are similar to other conditions. If you have any questions, a physical exam by your healthcare provider will help.