Yeast Infections and Sex: What You Need to Know
Women's HealthVaginal Health & Conditions

Yeast Infections and Sex: What You Need to Know

Yeast Infections and Sex: What You Need to Know
Adobe Stock
By
Updated on February 12, 2026
by

Yeast infections are not considered sexually transmitted infections (STIs) because most are not transmitted person to person, and they can occur in people who have never had sex.

Indeed, yeast infections often develop because of factors that throw off the microbial balance of the body — such as hormonal changes and antibiotic use — and allow candida yeasts to grow out of control, causing infection.

Women, Yeast Infections, and Sexual Activity

As many as 3 in 4 women will have a yeast infection at least once in her life, and half of all women will get two or more.

Common causes of candida overgrowth, which leads to yeast infections include:

  • Taking antibiotics
  • Hormonal changes due to birth control, pregnancy, or shifts in the menstrual cycle
  • A weakened immune system or uncontrolled diabetes
  • Scented soaps, deodorants, or feminine hygiene products
  • Tight clothing
  • Not changing out of wet clothes or swimsuits
Yeast infections can share many of the same symptoms as some STIs, such as vaginal itching, burning, pain, redness, and discharge.

Given the prevalence of STIs and yeast infections, it’s not unreasonable for a woman to wonder if a yeast infection may increase her risk of other vaginal infections.

For the most part, yeast infections aren’t associated with the development of an STI. But by scratching to relieve vaginal itching, you may inadvertently create microscopic tears in the skin that allow bacteria or viruses that cause STIs to enter your body more easily.

Can You Have Sex With a Yeast Infection?

Generally, it’s recommended to wait to have sex until after your infection clears — which typically takes one to seven days with antifungal medications available over the counter or with a prescription. These can include oral medications like fluconazole or topical antifungal creams like miconazole, clotrimazole, and tioconazole.

If you’re considering having sex while you have a vaginal yeast infection, it’s important to first consider the risks.

For one thing, the vaginal itching and burning associated with yeast infections may make sex uncomfortable or painful and increase vaginal burning and inflammation.

Additionally, the friction involved with penetrative sex can cause irritation and make it more difficult to heal.

Another thing that might hinder you from having sex is the yeast infection treatment method you’re using.

If you’re using antifungal creams to treat your vaginal yeast infection, it’s best to delay intercourse until the therapy is complete, as sex could hinder the medication from working as well.

 What’s more, some topical medications, such as clotrimazole and miconazole,

 contain oil that can break down condoms, reducing their effectiveness.

It’s also best to avoid receiving oral sex until your symptoms clear, as yeast infections can pass from the genitals to the mouth and cause an infection called thrush.

HIV and Vaginal Yeast Infections

Though yeast infections aren’t typically associated with STIs, they do have a well-known connection to HIV/AIDS, an STI that is often spread through sexual activity. HIV/AIDS can also be transmitted through direct contact of bodily fluids with an open wound or a tear in the skin and dirty needles.

HIV is a known risk factor for yeast infections — it suppresses the immune system, allowing opportunistic infections to take root. In women living with HIV, recurrent vaginal yeast infections (at least four times per year) are common and can be more difficult to treat.

The link also goes the other way: Vaginal yeast infections may increase a woman’s risk of getting HIV. That’s because yeast infections bring the white blood cells to the vagina, including those that can be infected with HIV. More HIV-susceptible cells gathered in the vagina means more opportunities for the virus to enter if a woman is exposed.

Since yeast infections can irritate the vaginal lining even if you haven’t been scratching, it’s a good idea to use condoms if you plan to be sexually active while you have a yeast infection and don’t know the HIV status of your partner. Of course, this is standard advice even when you don’t have a yeast infection.

And if you’re using medication to treat a yeast infection that can weaken a condom, like an antifungal cream, it’s best to abstain from sex altogether until the infection has cleared.

Men, Yeast Infections, and Sexual Activity

While yeast infections are often thought of as something that only affects women, men get yeast infections, too. Similar to those that occur in women, yeast infections in men are driven by an overgrowth of candida, which thrive in warm, moist environments. It most commonly occurs in creased areas or folds, such as the foreskin of the penis.

The risk of men getting a yeast infection through sex is low, but up to 15 percent of men may get an uncomfortable rash on their penis if they have unprotected sex with a woman who has a yeast infection.

Certain risk factors put men at a higher risk of yeast infection, including poor hygiene, not being circumcised, antibiotic use, and having diabetes.

In lesbian relationships, it’s possible that yeast infections may be spread from one partner to another through oral sex, although this has not yet been studied extensively.

If your partner (male or female) begins to experience any signs of a yeast infection, such as itching, burning, redness, or discharge, he or she should see a doctor to confirm the diagnosis and begin treatment.

While less common, it’s also possible to get an anal yeast infection, due to many of the same factors that cause vaginal yeast infections, such as damp or tight-fitting clothing, poor hygiene, and excessive sweating. It can also be caused by a buildup of candida in the intestines that travels into the anal canal. Like a vaginal yeast infection, an anal yeast infection is not considered an STI, but it can be spread through unprotected anal sex.

When to See a Doctor for a Yeast Infection

Typically, yeast infections aren’t serious and most clear up with over-the-counter or prescription treatment. But complicated yeast infections can cause more severe symptoms like swelling and intense itching that lead to tears or sores in the vagina. These types of infections are more likely to occur if you have a compromised immune system.

See your doctor if your symptoms haven’t gone away despite a course of treatment with antifungal medication (typically one to seven days). Also make an appointment if it’s the first time you’re experiencing signs of a yeast infection or if you’re not sure of the cause of your symptoms. A yeast infection shares symptoms with other types of vaginal infections so your doctor can ensure you’re getting the proper treatment.

The Takeaway

  • Although yeast infections aren’t serious for most people, they can cause discomfort such as vaginal itching and burning.
  • Engaging in sexual activity while having a yeast infection can lead to discomfort and delayed healing, so it's generally advisable to wait until the infection has cleared.
  • If you're using antifungal creams for yeast infection treatment, avoid sex during this period as it could interfere with treatment effectiveness and potentially lead to condom damage.
  • Talk to your doctor if your symptoms do not go away with treatment or if you have any questions about when it is safe to have sex if you’ve been diagnosed with a yeast infection.

FAQ

Are yeast infections considered sexually transmitted infections (STIs)?
No, yeast infections are not considered STIs because they are not usually transmitted person to person and can occur in people who have never had sex.

Yeast infections are not associated with the development of other STIs, but scratching to relieve vaginal itching can create tears in the skin that make it easier for bacteria or viruses that cause STIs to enter the body.

HIV/AIDS suppresses the immune system, making women living with HIV more susceptible to vaginal yeast infections. Some research suggests that vaginal yeast infections may also increase a woman's risk of getting HIV.

It is recommended to wait until the infection clears, which usually takes up to seven days, as yeast infections can make sex uncomfortable or painful. Treatment with antifungal cream should be completed before having sex, as intercourse can interfere with treatment effectiveness. These medications can also damage condoms, making them less effective.

Men can get a yeast infection from a sex partner, although the risk is low. Up to 15 percent of men may develop a rash on their penis if they have unprotected sex with a woman who has a yeast infection.

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
  1. Vaginal Yeast Infection. Cleveland Clinic. May 20, 2025.
  2. Yeast Infection (Vaginal). Mayo Clinic. November 19, 2024.
  3. What Is a Yeast Infection? Planned Parenthood.
  4. Vaginal Yeast Infection. MedlinePlus. July 12, 2023.
  5. Abraham C et al. Think You Have a Vaginal Yeast Infection? Here’s What You Need to Know. American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists.
  6. The Bottom Line: Can You Have Sex With a Yeast Infection. Monistat.
  7. Clotrimazole Vaginal Cream. Cleveland Clinic.
  8. Can I Have Sex When I Have a Yeast Infection? Cleveland Clinic. December 14, 2020.
  9. How HIV Spreads. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. November 25, 2024.
  10. HIV and Women’s Health Issues. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. November 5, 2025.
  11. Women and HIV. US Department of Health and Human Services. September 26, 2025.
  12. HIV Prevention. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. October 23, 2025.
  13. Male Yeast Infection. Cleveland Clinic. June 6, 2022.
  14. Vaginal Yeast Infections. US Department of Health & Human Services Office on Women’s Health. October 24, 2025.
  15. Anal Yeast Infection. Cleveland Clinic. April 29, 2024.
Meet Our Experts
See Our Editorial PolicyMeet Our Health Expert Network
kara-leigh-smythe-bio

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.

When she’s not working, Smythe enjoys dancing, photography, and spending time with her family and her cat, Finnegan.

See full bio

Joseph Bennington-Castro

Author

Joseph Bennington-Castro is a science writer based in Hawaii. He has written well over a thousand articles for the general public on a wide range topics, including health, astronomy, archaeology, renewable energy, biomaterials, conservation, history, animal behavior, artificial intelligence, and many others.

In addition to writing for Everyday Health, Bennington-Castro has also written for publications such as Scientific American, National Geographic online, USA Today, Materials Research Society, Wired UK, Men's Journal, Live Science, Space.com, NBC News Mach, NOAA Fisheries, io9.com, and Discover.

See full bio
See Our Editorial PolicyMeet Our Health Expert Network