Surprising Benefits of Sex Slideshow Pictures Take the Yeast Infection Quiz What's Causing Your Pelvic Pain Slideshow

Medical Author:

Mary L Windle, PharmD

Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Vaginal Yeast Infection Causes

Vaginal yeast infections are caused by a fungus. The most common fungus women acquire is called Candida albicans. This condition is also called candidiasis, genital candidiasis, or vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). In stubborn cases, there may be a resistant yeast organism or a mixed infection with Candida as one of the organisms. Yeast infection can spread to other parts of the body, including skin, mucous membranes, heart valves, the esophagus, and other areas. Rarely, yeast infection can cause life-threatening systemic infections, typically in people with weakened immune defenses. For more, please read the Vaginal Yeast Infection article.