Picture of anal yeast infection

A vaginal yeast infection is a fungal infection of the vagina or vulva that can cause discomfort, itching and a white discharge. Yeast infections are extremely common: most women will get at least one at some point in their lives. Fortunately, effective treatments are widely available. Potent combination therapy for HIV called ART can strengthen the immune system and greatly reduce the risk for yeast infections occurring in the first place. A yeast infection can also affect the anal area.

An anal yeast infection often starts with persistent and intense anal itching , also called pruritus ani. A doctor can perform a quick physical exam to determine the cause, such as hygiene, hemorrhoids , or a yeast infection. If the diagnosis is an anal yeast infection, it can often be cleared up easily with simple treatments. A yeast infection is caused by an overgrowth of the fungus Candida.

Yeast infection: hearing those two words together is enough to make many women feel all kinds of itchy down there. But it turns out the same type of infection, caused by a fungus called candida, can make other places in your body itch and burn as well. Luckily, Kathleen Green, M. The fungus alone isn't the culprit, Green says, but when the yeast outgrows the other "good bacteria" in the body, that's when an infection can form. Things that add moisture like sweating, having sex, or sitting too long in a wet bathing suit are known to create the perfect environment for yeast to thrive in the vagina.

Information and pictures on common Yeast Infections. There is no direct evidence that yeast infections are passed through sexual intercourse. This indicates that sexual activity may contribute to the growth of Candida albicans. Under certain conditions, an overgrowth of yeast can occur. Yeast infections or fungal growths usually develop in a moist environment, such as:.