Yeast infection symptoms are quite common among women and are usually not serious. Yeast is normally present in the vagina. Normally, the environment inside the vagina is acidic, which keeps the yeast from growing. If this acidic balance changes (the environment becomes less acidic), the yeast can multiply causing the woman to experience yeast infection symptoms.
Yeast infection symptoms can certainly be uncomfortable. It is more than likely that you have a yeast infection if you are experiencing the following symptoms:
Itching and a burning sensation in the vagina and genital area. The vulva (the skin around the vagina) may be swollen. Yeast infection symptoms also include a white discharge that looks like cottage cheese.
Please note that when considering yeast infection symptoms, a woman does not have to be experiencing a discharge from her vagina in order for an infection to be present. In the case of a yeast infection, the discharge will be odorless.
When to See a Doctor about Yeast Infection Symptoms
Yeast infections are common, but if this is your first experience with one, you should make an appointment to see a doctor to confirm that what you are dealing with is, in fact, a yeast infection.
Other, similar, conditions that merit a trip to a doctor are as follows:
Bacterial vaginosis is a condition which causes a vaginal discharge with an unpleasant odor. Some women describe this odor as being "fish-like". As in the case of a yeast infection, burning on urination or itching of the skin in the area surrounding the vagina may occur.
Trichomoniasis is another condition that causes a vaginal discharge. Unlike yeast infections, though, this discharge may be yellowish-green or grey in color. It is similar to a yeast infection in that itching and a burning sensation may occur.
Trichomoniasis is considered a sexually-transmitted infection. For a person with this condition, the symptoms will start to appear between four and twenty days following exposure. If you find that you are experiencing repeated yeast infections, this also merits a trip to the doctor. Having more than four yeast infections in 12 months (which are not related to taking antibiotics) may be a sign of a more serious health problem that should be investigated.
Once a yeast infection has been diagnosed, more than likely the doctor will recommend an anti-fungal cream or tablet to treat the infection. Another option available to women is an oral medication, which requires a prescription.
