A vaginal yeast infection, also known as candidiasis , is a common condition. A healthy vagina contains bacteria and some yeast cells. But when the balance of bacteria and yeast changes, the yeast cells can multiply. This causes intense itching , swelling , and irritation. Treating a vaginal yeast infection can relieve symptoms within a few days.
Yeast infection from antibiotics: Causes, symptoms, and treatment
All A-Z health topics. View all pages in this section. Two out of three women who buy yeast infection medicine don't really have a yeast infection. See your doctor or nurse first to make sure you have a yeast infection and not a more serious infection. The javascript used in this widget is not supported by your browser. Please enable JavaScript for full functionality.
Candidiasis is an infection caused by a yeast a type of fungus called Candida. Candida normally lives inside the body in places such as the mouth, throat, gut, and vagina and on skin without causing any problems. Sometimes Candida can multiply and cause an infection if the environment inside the vagina changes in a way that encourages its growth.
Jump to content. Yeast is a fungus that normally lives in the vagina in small numbers. A vaginal yeast infection means that too many yeast cells are growing in the vagina. These infections are very common. Although they can bother you a lot, they are not usually serious.