CAN YOU HAVE SEX WITH A YEAST INFECTION, OR SHOULD YOU WAIT?

Do you have a yeast infection and would like to know if you can have sex or not? Read this article to get to understand what a yeast infection is and if you can have sex with it or not.

It is painful to deal with symptoms of vaginal yeast infection. The intense burning and itching sensations will not disappear in a short while. Also, getting rid of yeast infection is tough; it may develop again.

You can have sex while under yeast infection treatment, but it is not recommended. You have to allow the healing process to take place without interference from friction or trauma. That’s because the friction will damage the vaginal tissues and further spread the yeast to other body parts. Moreover, there is a chance that you can pass a yeast infection to your partner when having sex in this condition, as stated by Zhong et al. (2013).

Below are the causes of yeast infection and why you have to hold on to your sexual desires before the treatment is over. We will also look at how long the treatment last.

Early Symptoms of Vaginal Yeast Infections

For ladies, you will immediately notice when something strange is happening to your vagina. You may experience high-intensity irritation and itching around the vaginal areas for yeast infections. You may also experience inflammation and swelling of the vulva and the vagina, pain when passing urine or when you have sex, whitish vaginal fluid discharge, soreness on the vaginal walls, and a weird smell.

What Causes Yeast Infection?

According to Meurman et al. (2007), yeast infections may be caused by Candida Albicans. It is a type of fungus that lives in the human body or on the skin. After some time, the fungus grows out of the body’s control and spreads to places such as the vagina, mouth, and throat. When that happens, you will probably end up having a yeast infection. You will experience abnormal effects such as itching in the vagina, burning sensations, and high-intensity irritation. The vagina normally consists of a perfect balance between candida Albicans and lactobacillus. It is a friendly bacterium that works against yeast to prevent its further growth out of manageable level, according to Borges et al. (2014). When the balance exits, you will not experience yeast infection symptoms. However, you will contract a yeast infection when the balance is broken. Zodzika et al. (2011) explained that some things that can disrupt vaginal pH include:

• Pregnancy.
• Boosting estrogen by taking oral birth control pills or hormonal therapy. 
• Taking antibacterial medicine that also kills the friendly type that balances the yeast bacteria.
• A compromised immune system.

The vagina pH can also be messed up using strongly scented soaps, detergents, or sex. When the vaginal ph. changes by a large margin, it prevents the lactobacillus bacteria from working perfectly due to the suppressed production of the acid. For that reason, the yeast bacteria in the body become free and run in the vagina, causing infections. The lactobacillus bacteria and the yeast bacteria stay in the vagina but are perfectly balanced. When the lactobacillus bacteria suffer, the yeast bacteria gain freedom, and that’s when the infection will attack you.

How Long Does a Yeast Infection Last?

The time taken by a yeast infection in your body depends on the condition of your vagina. Additionally, the mode of treatment will also determine how long the yeast infection will stay in the vagina. If the symptoms are moderate or mild, use short-course treatment plans of antifungal medication for at least one week. The antifungal medication comes in creams, tablets, ointments, or over-the-counter with a prescription. Most people will clear the yeast infections using antifungal medicine in seven days.

Another way of taking care of fungal infections is by treating them one-time using oral medications such as Diflucan. A single dose prescribed by your doctor can treat the yeast infection. However, if the symptoms are severe or susceptible to several infections, you will have to use a more resolved treatment plan. For instance, your health personnel may prescribe several oral doses of fluconazole. If the oral method doesn’t work, you will be subjected to a more effective method that uses boric acid, flucytosine, and nystatin. These chemicals are applied directly to the areas surrounding the vagina. Regardless of the type of fungal treatment you may have, it is important to finish the treatment and follow the doctor's prescribed plan even after the symptoms have ceased. The stubborn yeast might grow back and achieve microbe domination if you don't do that.

Can You Have Sex When Treating Yeast Infection?

It is technically correct to have sex when under yeast infection treatment. However, if you are under vagina suppository, cream, or ointment treatment and decide to explore sex, your medication will be less effective, prolonging the infection.

Irritating the vagina while treating yeast infection leaves you vulnerable to attacks from other bacteria. Penetrative sex involves friction due to the rubbing of tissues. The friction will lead to micro-abrasions which may cause inflammation in the vagina. When that occurs, you are at risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections.

The Bottom Line 

From the above discussions, it is evident you must not have sex when under yeast infection treatment. There are a lot of risks involved, and that are not worth risking. You have to allow the healing process to take place without interference from friction or trauma. That’s because the friction will damage the vaginal tissues and further spread the yeast to more parts. Therefore, it is always best to abstain from sex to avoid making things worse for the vaginal tissues.

References

Zhong, W., McClure, C. D., Evans, C. R., Mlynski, D. T., Immonen, E., Ritchie, M. G., & Priest, N. K. (2013). Immune anticipation of mating in Drosophila: Turandot M promotes immunity against sexually transmitted fungal infections. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 280(1773), 20132018.

Meurman, J. H., Siikala, E., Richardson, M., & Rautemaa, R. (2007). Non-Candida albicans Candida yeasts of the oral cavity. Communicating current research and educational topics and trends in applied microbiology, 1(1), 719-731.

Borges, S., Silva, J., & Teixeira, P. (2014). The role of lactobacilli and probiotics in maintaining vaginal health. Archives of gynecology and obstetrics, 289(3), 479-489.

Zodzika, J., Rezeberga, D., Jermakova, I., Vasina, O., Vedmedovska, N., & Donders, G. (2011). Factors related to elevated vaginal pH in the first trimester of pregnancy. Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica, 90(1), 41-46.