How to Diagnose a Yeast Infection: At-Home Tests, Treatment, & More

PDF download Download Article
Learn the common signs & symptoms of a yeast infection (and what to do if you have one)
PDF download Download Article

Maybe you’ve noticed some swelling or itchiness down there, or you just have a sneaking suspicion that something isn’t quite right. Could a yeast infection be the culprit? Medically known as Candida , yeast is a common, naturally-occurring fungus that lives in places like the throat, mouth, and vagina. When too much yeast starts to grow in one of these spots, a yeast infection occurs (accompanied by several unpleasant symptoms). While it’s always best to get officially diagnosed by a doctor, you may be able to diagnose your yeast infection at home (or at least narrow things down)—and we’re here to show you how. Read on to learn how you can test for a vaginal yeast infection, along with general symptoms, risk factors, and treatment options to keep in mind.

Things You Should Know

  • Use an at-home vaginal pH test to narrow down the cause of your symptoms. If your test result is below 4.5, you might have a yeast infection.
  • Common symptoms of yeast infections include red spots, itchiness, and cottage cheese-like vaginal discharge.
  • Douching, antibiotics, pregnancy, and certain medical conditions (like diabetes) can put you at higher risk for a yeast infection.
  • Meet with a doctor to confirm that you have a yeast infection, especially if it’s your first one. You can treat your infection with an antifungal medication like Monistat .
Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

At-Home Vaginal pH Test

PDF download Download Article
  1. Insert a test strip from a vaginal pH test into your vagina. Take one of the provided strips in the kit and press it against your vaginal wall for a couple of seconds to test your pH. Then, remove the strip. [1]
  2. Look at the end of the test strip—it’ll change color depending on your vaginal pH. Hold the strip up next to the color-coded chart and confirm what pH range you fall under. [2] Your vaginal pH won’t likely be above 4.5 if you have a yeast infection. If it is above 4.5, you might have an infection like bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, or group B strep. [3]
    • Some test kits provide a “symptom checker” sheet as well as a color-coded pH chart, which highlights the symptoms and average vaginal pH of common vaginal infections (like bacterial vaginosis, yeast infection, group B strep, trichomoniasis, etc.). Use this sheet to cross-check your pH results with your symptoms.
  3. Confirm your diagnosis with your doctor before you start treatment . A vaginal pH test can help narrow down your diagnosis, but it isn’t concrete proof that you have a yeast infection. To be safe, visit your doctor for extra confirmation—they can perform more specific tests to give you an accurate diagnosis. [4]
Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Common Signs and Symptoms

PDF download Download Article
  1. Itchiness is a common symptom for both vaginal yeast infections and skin yeast infections. [5] With a vaginal yeast infection, you might notice a lot of itchiness around your groin, or even a burning sensation. [6]
  2. Take a look at the flaps of skin around the entrance to your vagina (also known as the vulva)—if they look red and swollen and/or feel itchy, you might have a vaginal yeast infection. [7]
    • Redness is a common symptom for yeast infections on other parts of the body, like the mouth, penis, or skin folds. [8]
  3. Vaginal discharge on its own is perfectly normal as long it has a sticky or runny texture. [9] If your discharge is and thick, clumpy, and resembles cottage cheese, it could be a sign of a yeast infection. [10]
    • For some people, this discharge doesn’t smell like anything; for others, it might give off a yeast- or bread-like scent.
  4. If you have a yeast infection, you might experience a burning sensation whenever you pee. You might also notice a burning feeling when you’re getting sexually intimate with your partner. [11]
  5. In cases of throat-based yeast infections (also known as “oral thrush”), you may notice redness in your throat and/or white blister-like bumps or patches forming on the back of your mouth near your throat and on the tongue. Difficulty swallowing and cracks at the corners of your mouth (also known as angular cheilitis) are other common symptoms of oral thrush.
  6. If you have a skin infection on your hands or feet, you may notice a rash, patches, and blisters between the toes or fingers. White spots white may also start to form on the affected nails. [12]
    • Pimples are another common symptom of skin-based yeast infections. [13]
Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Risk Factors for Yeast Infections

PDF download Download Article
  1. Antibiotics clear out all the bad bacteria in your body during an infection—but they also kill off all the good bacteria that helps keep your yeast levels balanced. Without this good bacteria, the yeast begins to multiply, which causes a yeast infection. [14]
  2. When your normal hormone balance changes (like during a pregnancy), the balance of yeast in your body changes, too. Medications that impact your hormones can also lead to yeast infections (like birth control). [15]
    • Sometimes, the normal hormone changes that occur during your period can even lead to a yeast infection.
  3. Vaginal yeast infections are more common in those who have trouble managing their blood sugar. [16] When your blood sugar is out of control, the yeast feeds on the sugar, which causes it to grow out of control. [17]
  4. Immune-suppressing medications as well as long-term immune-suppressing treatments (like radiation or chemotherapy) can cause your body’s yeast populations to grow out of control. [18]
    • Treatments like corticosteroid therapy can put you at a higher risk for yeast infections since they weaken your immune system. [19]
Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Medical Treatment

PDF download Download Article
  1. Treat a vaginal yeast infection at home with an OTC antifungal treatment. Pick up an OTC cream or suppository (like Monistat ) and apply it directly to your vagina . Read the instructions on the medication and follow them carefully—you might have to use it for multiple days, even if your symptoms fade away after a few rounds of treatment. [20]
    • Single-dose treatments for vaginal yeast infections (like fluconazole) are available with a prescription. Talk to your doctor and see if that’s a good option for you. [21]
  2. If your yeast infection is accompanied by a fever, it could be a sign of a more complicated medical issue. Talk to your doctor—they may want to run some tests and prescribe certain medications to help you treat your yeast infection. [22]
    • If you have chills and aches, let your doctor know as well.
  3. A yeast infection every now and then isn’t such a big deal as long as it clears up. If you keep getting yeast infections over and over, though, there could be a deeper medical issue at play. Tell your doctor that you’re having multiple yeast infections and see what they say—they may do some testing and provide some medicine to help get rid of them. [23]
  4. Most yeast infections will clear up with treatment after a few days, so talk to your doctor if your yeast infection is really persistent. They may want to give you a check-up or prescribe medication that can help treat your yeast infection. [24]
    • Long-lasting yeast infections can get infected and could be a sign of a deeper issue. Talk to your doctor to be safe.
  5. Yeast infections are common among pregnant people and are usually not dangerous, but some medications can be harmful to you or your baby. Before you try to treat your yeast infection, talk to your doctor about treatment options. [25]
    • Avoid applying any over-the-counter creams until you’ve talked to your doctor. In general, OTC medications like butoconazole (Femstat), miconazole ( Monistat ), terconazole (Terazol), and clotrimazole (Gyne-Lotrimin) are all safe to use while you’re pregnant.
    • Keep in mind that your yeast infection may take more than a week to go away if you’re pregnant.
  6. Yeast infections can potentially lead to complications if you have diabetes, so it’s important to talk with your doctor before you try to treat or diagnose your own yeast infection independently. They may recommend treatment options or prescribe certain medications. [26]
    • Recurring yeast infections could be a sign that your diabetes treatment plan needs adjustments.

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit

      Video

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      Warnings

      • If you’re pregnant, have difficulty managing your diabetes, take immune-suppressing medications, or have frequent yeast infections (4 or more a year), you might have a complicated yeast infection. [28] If you fall into any of these groups, talk to your doctor to figure out your best treatment option.
        Thanks
        Helpful 5 Not Helpful 2
      • It’s always best to get an official doctor’s diagnosis, even if you’re pretty confident that you have a yeast infection. A number of different vaginal infections have similar symptoms to yeast infections but require a different type of treatment. [29]
        Thanks
        Helpful 2 Not Helpful 1
      • Typically, most yeast infections result from the candida fungus Candida albicans . However, sometimes a different candida fungus may be responsible for the infection. This complicates the situation since most over-the-counter and prescribed treatments are designed to treat Candida albicans infections. As a result, non- Candida albicans infections generally require more aggressive treatments. [30]
        Thanks
        Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0

      You Might Also Like

      The Right Ways to Treat a Male Yeast Infection at Home
      How to
      Treat and Prevent Yeast Infections
      How to
      Use Nystatin Cream
      How to
      Treat Nipple Thrush
      How to
      Prevent Yeast Infections from Antibiotics
      How to
      Treat a Skin Yeast Infection: Can Natural Remedies Help?
      How to
      Treat Vaginal Thrush
      How to
      Treat a Yeast Infection: Prevention, Symptoms, Causes, & Treatments
      How to
      Treat Oral Thrush
      How to
      Know if You Have a Yeast Infection
      How to
      Get Rid of Thrush in Infants
      How to
      Cure Vaginal Infection

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/home-use-tests/vaginal-ph
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYHb6eo9_Uw&t=1m56s
      3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYHb6eo9_Uw&t=0m47s
      4. ↑ https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/home-use-tests/vaginal-ph
      5. ↑ https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/candidiasis-yeast-infection
      6. ↑ https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/health-and-wellness/vaginitis/what-yeast-infection
      7. ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/yeast-infections.html
      8. ↑ https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/candidiasis-yeast-infection
      9. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/4719-vaginal-discharge
      1. ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/yeast-infections.html
      2. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/5019-vaginal-yeast-infection#diagnosis-and-tests
      3. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000880.htm
      4. ↑ https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/candidiasis-yeast-infection
      5. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/5019-vaginal-yeast-infection#diagnosis-and-tests
      6. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/5019-vaginal-yeast-infection#diagnosis-and-tests
      7. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/yeast-infection/symptoms-causes/syc-20378999
      8. ↑ https://www.healthcentral.com/condition/diabetes/diabetes-and-yeast-infections?legacy=ew
      9. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/5019-vaginal-yeast-infection#diagnosis-and-tests
      10. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/yeast-infection/symptoms-causes/syc-20378999
      11. ↑ https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/health-and-wellness/vaginitis/what-yeast-infection
      12. ↑ https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/vaginal-yeast-infections
      13. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/vaginitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20354707
      14. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/yeast-infection/basics/symptoms/con-20035129
      15. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/yeast-infection/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20379004
      16. ↑ https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/hw79515
      17. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24372432/
      18. ↑ https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/vaginal-yeast-infections
      19. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/yeast-infection/symptoms-causes/syc-20378999
      20. ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/yeast-infections.html
      21. ↑ https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.2217/17455057.1.2.253

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      If you want to diagnose a vaginal yeast infection at home, look for swollen, itchy red spots, and a white discharge the consistency of cottage cheese. Other types of yeast infections will cause blisters and small, itchy, red pimples on any part of your body including your mouth. If you think you have a yeast infection, see a doctor immediately to confirm the diagnosis since you could have a different type of infection as well. For tips from our Gynecologist reviewer on treating these infections at home, read on!

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 514,765 times.
      If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission .

      Did this article help you?