STIs and HIV - FAQs
Vaginal infection
About a month ago I went to the doctor and after describing my symptoms she told me to take the 7 day monestat. I was fine for a couple weeks but now I am starting to get a bit of crusty discharge again sometimes and everyonce and a while theres an odor. What is this from or what should I do to keep this from requiring?
It sounds likes your physician thinks you may have a yeast infection as Monistat is an over the counter treatment used to treat yeast infections. Yeast is a very common fungus that normally lives on the skin and inside the body. When yeast over grows in the vagina it is called a yeast infection and can cause uncomfortable symptoms.
Yeast is diagnosed by a vaginal swab which is then sent to the lab. Yeast can also show up on a Pap Test. It is important to have a swab taken to know you don’t have more serious infections that can have similar symptoms.
A few causes of vaginal infection are:
- unprotected sexual contact, when sexually transmitted infections like gonorrhea and chlamydia can be picked up
- imbalances in the vagina, leading to infections such as bacterial vaginosis or yeast.
There are many situations which cause imbalances and make the vagina more susceptible to infections.
Things you can try to help prevent vaginal infections or irritations include:
- Always use condoms for sex
- Wear cotton underwear and avoid thong underwear, except for short periods of time
- Don’t wear tight jeans and pants
- Don’t wear underwear to bed Those are just a few suggestions.
More information and suggestions for preventing vaginal infections
Treating a yeast infection with medications, like Monistat, can help reduce the symptoms right away but may not treat the underlying issue of why the imbalance is happening in the first place. Learning about your vagina and what is normal vs. not normal and how to keep the balance in your vagina healthy will help you understand your body better and in the future help prevent these imbalances from occurring and creating unpleasant symptoms.
Please follow up with your physical if your symptoms persist.
For more information, call Peel Health 905-799-7700 and ask for Sexual Health Information or visit our website at www.peelregion.ca/health.
