What Causes Yeast Infections in Women?
Women's HealthVaginal Health & Conditions

What Causes Vaginal Yeast Infections?

What Causes Vaginal Yeast Infections?
Everyday Health
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Updated on October 21, 2022
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Three out of every four women will have at least one vaginal yeast infection in their lifetime, and nearly half of all women will have more than one.

 In other words, experiencing a yeast infection is extremely common.

We normally have yeast — a single-celled fungus— all over our bodies and in our guts, and it plays an important role as it lives side by side with bacteria. But sometimes, we experience an imbalance of this yeast, causing an infection, and the uncomfortable itching and burning that comes with it.

“When there is an imbalance in the normal flora [environment] of the vagina, the yeast can grow heavier and cause what we know of as a symptomatic yeast infection,” says Rosanna Gray-Swain, MD, an obstetrician-gynecologist in St. Louis.

What Causes Vaginal Yeast Infections in Women?

When a yeast infection develops in a woman’s vagina, it causes a type of vulvovaginitis, or inflammation of the vulva and vagina.

Vaginal yeast infections are also known as vaginal candidiasis, vulvovaginal candidiasis, and candidal vaginitis.

Candida albicans, the main cause of vaginal yeast infections, is a species of yeast that lives in the body. It’s a normal part of the microbes living in the gastrointestinal tract, and about 10 percent of asymptomatic, healthy women have candida living in their vagina.

 Small amounts of this yeast also live in various warm, moist areas throughout the body, including the mouth, rectum, vagina, and parts of the skin.
An overgrowth or imbalance of C. albicans (or other candida species) in the vagina is what causes a yeast infection.

There are also other species of yeast from the candida genus that live in the body, including C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, and C. krusei.

 But C. albicans is responsible for 85 to 90 percent of vaginal yeast infections.

 Candida species also cause thrush (a fungal infection in the mouth and throat) and candidal intertrigo (a rash in skin folds).

How Yeast Infections Develop

Your body is normally very good at regulating itself, maintaining all the right chemical levels for good functioning.

Additionally, the population of C. albicans is naturally kept in check by the bacteria and other microorganisms that make up your microbiome, the community of microorganisms that inhabit your body.

Sometimes, though, problems will occur that alter this chemistry, throwing certain bodily functions off-balance, as well as disturbing the microbial balance.

When this happens, the scales may tip in favor of C. albicans, allowing the fungus to grow out of control, causing a vaginal yeast infection in women.

“In the vagina, symptoms usually include itching, discharge, redness, and burning,” Dr. Gray-Swain says.

  • Vaginal itching and a burning sensation in the vaginal region, including the labia and vulva
  • White vaginal discharge that’s sometimes described as being similar in consistency to cottage cheese (but does not smell)
  • Pain during urination or sex
  • Redness and swelling of the vulva
These symptoms may be caused by a number of other conditions, including a herpes simplex virus infection, urinary tract infection, bacterial vaginosis, and certain sexually transmitted infections.

 You may also have similar symptoms with vaginal atrophy or lichen planus of the vulva or vagina, among other possible chronic issues. If you have the above symptoms and do not have a history of recurrent yeast infections, see your physician for evaluation, diagnosis, and the appropriate treatment for whatever condition might be causing the symptoms.
Illustrative graphic titled How Vaginal Yeast Infection Affects the Body shows itching, burning while urinating, pain during sex, swelling or rash and discharge. Everyday Health logo.
A vaginal yeast infection can cause any of these symptoms in the vagina and vulva.Everyday Health

What Lifestyle Factors Contribute to Vaginal Yeast Infections?

A variety of lifestyle factors may contribute to the development of a vaginal yeast infection.

For example, wearing tight underwear or clothing or synthetic fabrics that don’t let the area “breathe” encourages yeast overgrowth. Opt for looser clothing and cotton underwear to help prevent yeast infections.

Additionally, failing to promptly change out of wet swimsuits or exercise clothing fosters an environment perfect for yeast growth.

Using certain over-the-counter feminine hygiene products, such as douches, scented sprays, and even bubble bath, may disrupt the natural microbial balance in the vagina, resulting in a yeast infection.

Women who are overweight can also be at higher risk of yeast infections, both in the vagina and in the folds of the genital area.

Can Yeast Infections Occur Anywhere Else on the Body?

Yeast infections can occur in several places on the body. The most common areas are:

  • The mouth, where the infection is called thrush
  • On the feet, as athlete’s foot
  • On the genitals
While vaginal yeast infections are caused by candida strains, athlete’s foot is caused by different fungal species, in particular Trichophyton rubrum, T. interdigitale, T. mentagrophytes, and Epidermophyton floccosum.

Yeast can also cause an infection in people who are overweight and have folds of skin that rub against each other, creating a dark and moist environment in those folds. These infections are called candidal intertrigo.

What Medical Conditions Can Increase Infection Risk?

Many women get their first yeast infection when they are pregnant or are on birth control pills.

Some women get vaginal infections from yeast overgrowth when they have their period, due to hormonal changes. Yeast infections are less common in postmenopausal women and girls who have yet to menstruate.

If you have diabetes, you may also find that you experience frequent or chronic yeast infections if your blood sugar is not well controlled.

Illnesses that lower your immunity, like HIV or AIDS, can also lead to frequent yeast infections.

How Antibiotics and Yeast Infections Are Connected

Some antibiotics are known to encourage yeast overgrowth by killing off normal genital bacteria. When healthy vaginal bacteria is killed off, it makes it easier for yeast to thrive, increasing the risk of candidiasis.

Still, most women who take antibiotics do not develop symptomatic yeast infections. If you experience yeast infections on antibiotics, talk to your healthcare provider about treatments.

How Steroids and Yeast Infections Are Connected

Steroids are another type of medication that can cause a yeast infection to develop.

The higher the dose and the longer you use them, the greater the risk, but even low-strength topical steroid creams may make yeast infections more likely by dampening the body’s natural immune defenses.

Vaginal Yeast Infection Treatment

The good news is that most yeast infections are easily treated with antifungal creams or suppositories purchased over the counter (OTC) or with a prescription.

If you think you have a vaginal yeast infection, speak with your doctor to discuss your treatment options.

It’s not recommended that women use OTC creams before getting diagnosed by their doctor, because the symptoms of yeast infections are similar to those of other vaginal infections, such as bacterial vaginosis.

Most yeast infections subside within a few days after treatment starts, but the length, type, and dose of treatment depend on a variety of factors, including severity and type of infection and any underlying health conditions.

The Takeaway

  • Vaginal yeast infections are very common, with 3 in 4 women experiencing at least one in their lifetime.
  • Lifestyle factors, like douching or wearing tight clothing that isn’t breathable, as well as medical conditions, like diabetes or illnesses that weaken the immune system, can put you at increased risk of vaginal yeast infections.
  • Most yeast infections can be treated with OTC medications, but you should always check with your doctor before starting any treatment.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
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  5. Anh DN et al. BMC Infectious Diseases Title: Prevalence, Species Distribution and Antifungal Susceptibility of Candida Albicans Causing Vaginal Discharge Among Symptomatic Non-Pregnant Women of Reproductive Age at a Tertiary Care Hospital, Vietnam. BMC Infectious Diseases. June 3, 2021.
  6. Yeast Infection (Vaginal). Mayo Clinic. November 19, 2024.
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  8. Candidiasis (Yeast Infection). World Health Organization. April 9, 2025.
  9. Abraham C. Think You Have a Vaginal Infection? Here’s What You Need to Know. American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists. December 2025.
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  15. Risk Factors for Fungal Diseases. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. May 8, 2024.
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Kara Smythe, MD

Medical Reviewer

Kara Smythe, MD, has been working in sexual and reproductive health for over 10 years. Dr. Smythe is a board-certified fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and her interests include improving maternal health, ensuring access to contraception, and promoting sexual health.

She graduated magna cum laude from Florida International University with a bachelor's degree in biology and earned her medical degree from St. George’s University in Grenada. She completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. She worked in Maine for six years, where she had the privilege of caring for an underserved population.

Smythe is also passionate about the ways that public health policies shape individual health outcomes. She has a master’s degree in population health from University College London and recently completed a social science research methods master's degree at Cardiff University. She is currently working on her PhD in medical sociology. Her research examines people's experiences of accessing, using, and discontinuing long-acting reversible contraception.

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