references
  
      Cleveland Clinic: “Can I Have Sex When I Have a Yeast Infection?”
    
      Mayo Clinic: “Sex during vaginal infection: Is it harmful?”

Is this an emergency? If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, please see the National Library of Medicine’s list of signs you need emergency medical attention or call 911.

While sex with a yeast infection is possible, it may cause unwanted side effects like burning and itching.

Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative

How Bad Is It Really? sets the record straight on all the habits and behaviors you’ve heard might be unhealthy.

Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative

How Bad Is It Really? sets the record straight on all the habits and behaviors you’ve heard might be unhealthy.

  • Side Effects
  • How to Have Sex Safely
  • Treatment
  • Bottom Line

Also known as vaginal candidiasis, a yeast infection happens when there’s an overgrowth of candida (a kind of fungus) in the vagina. While candida typically lives inside the vagina (and other body parts such as your skin, mouth, throat and gut) without causing any complications, certain changes in your body — including the use of some medications and a shift in hormones or your immune system — can disrupt the balanced mix of microbes in your vagina, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This is when an infection occurs. Signs of a yeast infection include, per the CDC:

Vaginal itching or soreness Pain during sexual intercourse (more on this later) Pain or discomfort when urinating Abnormal vaginal discharge Redness, swelling and cracks in the wall of the vagina

While candida typically lives inside the vagina (and other body parts such as your skin, mouth, throat and gut) without causing any complications, certain changes in your body — including the use of some medications and a shift in hormones or your immune system — can disrupt the balanced mix of microbes in your vagina, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This is when an infection occurs.

Signs of a yeast infection include, per the CDC:

  • Vaginal itching or soreness

  • Pain during sexual intercourse (more on this later)

  • Pain or discomfort when urinating

  • Abnormal vaginal discharge

  • Redness, swelling and cracks in the wall of the vagina

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Do not use feminine cleansing products to wash up, which may contain irritating ingredients. Stick to rinsing your vulva with water, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

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      Cleveland Clinic: “Can I Have Sex When I Have a Yeast Infection?”
    
      Mayo Clinic: “Sex during vaginal infection: Is it harmful?”