symptoms of vaginal yeast infections
a doctor can tell for sure if you have a yeast infection by
taking a swab and looking in a microscope. most of us can't do this at home,
but sometimes you can tell by the feel, look, and smell that you have a yeast
infection. if your symptoms don't match this list, or you are confused or uncertain,
go see a doctor if at all possible. finally, in response to a recent question, i point out that
a yeast infection will NOT cause you to miss your period.
there are other nasty creatures besides yeast that can sometimes
infect your crotch, and it's helpful to know the symptoms of all of them so
you can be really sure before you go treat yourself for a yeast infection you
might not have.
how can you tell that your crotch rot is really a yeast
infection and not something else? most medical types say that you should
go to a doctor to get it diagnosed the first time, and then once you know
what you're looking for, you can figure it out yourself the next time
and respond appropriately. i used to blow this off as a bunch of MDs protecting
their turf and their profits, but more and more evidence is accumulating
that wimmin often misdiagnose themselves as having a yeast infections
when they really have something else. this is bad because you might have
a more serious problem that isn't getting treated while you futz around
with yeast treatments. just as bad, if you use an over-the-counter treatment
for yeast and you don't really have yeast infection, you might be creating
your own personal race of drug-resistant super-yeast, and next time you
have a real yeast infection it could be damned
hard to get rid of.
feels like an intense itching, burning sensation, localized in your vagina
and vulva. this itching is not always present, but can get really bad, so bad
you can hardly walk, let alone ride your bike to the pharmacy or doctor to get
it treated.
looks like clumpy nasty white stuff. most medical descriptions compare
the discharge to ricotta cheese, but it can range from thick and not clumpy
to faintly yellow to thin and clear.
smells like bread or beer. in fact, it smells pretty much exactly like
yeast, although the yeast used in brewing and baking is an entirely different
species (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). no bacteria could smell like that,
so it's a great diagnostic.
a bacterial infection of the vagina can feel a lot like a yeast infection
if the vulval area is itchy or painful. unlike a yeast infection, the discharge
can be dark yellow, green, or brown. and it won't smell like bread: it can smell
like fish or something rotting, particularly after you have sex. if you think
you might have a bacterial infection, or if you're not sure, get your diseased
self to a doctor, sister. the main treatment is prescription antibiotics.
urinary
tract infections, or UTIs, are due to bacteria infecting the urethra
rather than the vagina. (and if you aren't sure about the difference, check
out elf sternberg's page on the sexual
anatomy of women.) UTIs can be fairly easily distinguished from vaginal
infections by a host of symptoms, including pain or burning when urinating,
blood or mucus in urine, needing to urinate often, pain or pressure in back
or lower abdomen, and a fever or chills. if you think you might have a UTI,
don't mess around: go see a doctor, because the infection can travel up past
the bladder, causing kidney damage.
trichomoniasis is caused by a parasite that can infect both the vagina
and the urinary tract, and is primarily sexually transmitted. if you have a
trich infection, your crotch can be itchy or painful, it can hurt to urinate,
intercourse can be painful, and occasionally you can experience pain in your
lower abdomen. again, you have to see a doctor to get antibiotics for trich.