PATIENT INFORMATION LEAFLET Vulvovaginal candidiasis

This leaflet has been written to help you understand more about vulvovaginal candidiasis. It will tell you what it is, what causes it, what can be done about it, and where you can find out more about it.

What is vulvovaginal candidiasis?
Vulvovaginal candidiasis is a yeast infection of the vagina and vulva.

What causes vulvovaginal candidiasis?
Vulvovaginal candidiasis is usually caused by the yeast Candida albicans.  Other Candida species are becoming increasingly more frequent causes of Candida vulvitis, but Candida albicans remains responsible for over 85% of all yeast-induced vulvo-vaginal infections.

Is vulvovaginal candidiasis hereditary?
No.

What are the symptoms of vulvovaginal candidiasis?
Pruritus (itch) and increased vaginal discharge are the most typical symptoms. Other symptoms are variable: vaginal dyspareunia (painful sexual intercourse), dysuria, ‘soreness’ and ‘burning’. These symptoms are non-specific and occur also in other vaginal infections.

Candida vaginitis is more frequent during pregnancy, especially in the third trimester.
Symptoms of vaginitis are the same during pregnancy, although many women express less severe subjective complaints, even in the presence of a clinically evident episode of infection.

What does vulvovaginal candidiasis look like?
Erythema / redness of the vagina and vulvar region is common. In severe infections, a typical whitish, thick, sticky vaginal discharge is evident, but coloured, less typical discharge may also be detected.

Male partners may suffer from transient post-coital itch and may have tiny red papules and pustules on the glans penis.

How is the diagnosis made?
As a bedside test using a microscope, allows a detection rate of around 75% of troublesome yeast infection.

If microscopy of fresh vaginal fluid proves negative in a symptomatic patient, laboratory confirmation by culture is indicated.

Can vulvovaginal candidiasis be cured?
Yes; but in some women it can be a recurrent disease.

How should it be treated?
During pregnancy, topical treatment with miconazole or clotrimoxazole is preferred; repetitive and prophylactic use may be needed.

Oral antimycotic ‘azoles’ must not be used for vulvo-vaginal yeast infection during pregnancy!

Vulvovaginal candidiasis is not a sexually transmitted infection and the male partner does not need to be treated if he has no symptoms.

What can I do?
Contact your doctor when you experience vulvovaginal pruritis and/or discharge.

Where can I find more information about vulvovaginal candidiasis?

Web links to detailed leaflets: www.vulvovaginal candidiasis

Books: The Sanford Guide to Antimicrobial therapy, 20th edition of the Belgian/Luxembourg version, 2006-2007.

 

Note: While every effort has been made to ensure that the information given in this leaflet is accurate, not every treatment will be suitable or effective for every person. Your own doctor will be able to advice in greater detail.

This leaflet has been prepared by the EADV task force “skin disease in pregnancy”, it does not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the EADV – August 2010 submitted to EADV