by Dr. Wendy (OB/Gyn)

Question

What are yeast infections?

Answer

Yeast grows in warm, moist places, making the vagina a very common place to have a yeast infection.

Yeast infections are very common in women, and are more frequent in women who have issues with their immune system (women with HIV, pregnant women, and also women with diabetes mellitus, especially in those patients who have poor glucose control).

Women who spend a lot of time in warm moist bathing suits and workout clothes without changing are also predisposed, and women who have recently been on antibiotics also have a higher incidence of yeast. Bacteria and yeast live in harmony in the vagina, and if an antibiotic is taken to eradicate an infection in another part of the body (strep throat, a urinary tract infection, an ear infection, a skin infection, etc) the good bacteria in the vagina are also killed off incidentally, and the yeast overgrow and cause an infection.

Diagnosis of yeast infection is made by looking under the microscope and seeing yeast hyphae or spores, or by culture.

Related Q&A:
How are yeast infections treated?
Can yeast infections be prevented?

Wendy Fried, M.D., FACOG, FACS, is an OB/Gyn with Northern Obstetrics and Gynecology, PC in North Hills, New York

Disclaimer: The information provided in this document is for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice and is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. Only your own physician knows all the important details of your specific medical and personal history and should be the only one to give you advice regarding your own medical care. You should never disregard medical advice or delay seeking medical advice or treatment because of something you have read herein. If you have any questions whatsoever about your medical health or believe you have a medical problem or disease, you should contact your medical doctor or healthcare provider.