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Yeast Infections: When Should You Treat Yourself?

Summary & Participants

When women experience the signs of a yeast infection, they often prefer to self-medicate rather than check with their doctor. But the symptoms are similar to those of more serious conditions and only your doctor can tell the difference. Tune is as our experts share important information all women should know.

Medically Reviewed On: July 02, 2008

Webcast Transcript

GLORIA BACHMANN, MD: Probably the most important symptom that a woman notices at the time that she's in the throes of it is itching, severe itching. She almost feels that she wants to scratch the skin away, it's so intense. Another is erythema, or redness, of the external area of the vagina. Cheesy discharge is another common complaint that women have. Burning, irritation, even intercourse pain are symptoms that women will report.

LISA CLARK: Now, are these symptoms the same for every woman that you have seen in your practice?

JOSEPH APUZZIO, MD: Well, I think the answer is yes, but there's variation. Some patients have more discharge. Other patients may have more itchiness of the vaginal area. But pretty much, the symptoms are alike.

LISA CLARK: If a woman has these symptoms that you've mentioned, does she definitely have a yeast infection, or could it be something else?

GLORIA BACHMANN, MD: Many times, women know that they have a vaginal yeast infection if they've been to their physician and know exactly what symptoms to expect with this infection. However, for women who are having the symptoms the first time, they should absolutely go to their physician, because these symptoms can mean any type of vaginal infection or vaginal inflammation -- for instance, trichomonas, bacterial vaginosis. These are all mimickers of yeast vaginitis.

LISA CLARK: So getting an accurate diagnosis, Dr. Apuzzio, is the first step? That's what you should do immediately?

JOSEPH APUZZIO, MD: Absolutely. It's really crucial. One should go to the doctor if they have the symptoms. The doctor can then do certain tests to see if the patient has yeasts that are causing the symptoms. One of the tests is a slide test where the doctor will take some secretions from the vaginal area, look at it under a microscope, and for the garden variety, so to speak, infection, one can see the yeast under the microscope that makes the diagnosis, and then the treatment can be specific.

LISA CLARK: And there's another test that you can do that's a yeast culture?

JOSEPH APUZZIO, MD: Well, one could also culture yeast from the vaginal secretions. But usually, patients who have the infection for the first time, one does not have to do that. The microscopic examination in the doctor's office where one sees the yeast under the microscope is really sufficient. Only in the more recurrent or resistant cases should one have a vaginal culture for yeast.

LISA CLARK: Do most doctors do this as a matter of course? If someone comes in with these complaints, do they do these cultures or these slides?

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