Can you have sex with a yeast infection?
You can have protected safe sex with a yeast infection, although the general recommendation is to avoid having sex until the treatment is completed. Sex during yeast infection is considered problematic, due to the following concerns:
- Yeast infections can be contagious. Having unprotected sex while having a yeast infection can cause yeast infections.
- Sex during yeast infection can make your infection worse.
- Sex with a yeast infection is known to cause pain during intercourse.
- Some evidence suggests that unprotected sex with a yeast infection may increase the risk of catching other STDs.
- Sex during yeast infection is usually uncomfortable both physically and emotionally. This can cause tension and relationship stress. In many cases, it is best to be honest about these concerns and wait.
Topic covered in this guide
- Are yeast infections contagious?
- Can oral sex cause yeast infections?
- Sex during yeast infection treatment.
- How long to wait for sex after yeast infection treatment?
Are yeast infections contagious?
Yeast infections sex
According to the medical literature, yeast infections may be contagious. A study that looked into the yeast infections sex connection reviewed 1054 patients with yeast infections. The study found that yeast infection was sexually acquired in (source):
- 414 out of 1054 women (39%).
- 110 out of 382 heterosexual men (29%).
As these results suggest, it is possible to get a yeast infections by having unprotected sex with someone who has a yeast infection. According to the the Office on Women’s Health (OWH), about 15% of men get an itchy rash on the penis if they have unprotected sex with a woman who has a yeast infection. Men who haven’t been circumcised or with diabetes are at higher risk (source). Additional risk factors include antibiotic use, certain medication, ongoing stress levels, and others.
Bottom line: Yeast infections are not considered sexually transmitted disease since you can also get them without sexual contact. It is possible however, to get a yeast infections by having unprotected sex.
For this reason, when it comes to sex with yeast infection, practice safe protected sex to minimize the risk of infecting your partner. If you are still concerned about your partner catching yeast infection after sex or vice versa, you may want to consider waiting until the yeast infection is healed.
Can oral sex cause yeast infections?
Are yeast infections contagious through oral?
Oral sex can cause yeast infection although it is not very common. It is important however, to remember that there are other areas that may be affected by the yeast infection as well in addition to the gentiles. Oral yeast infection in the mouth (oral thrush) is very common as well.
Since it is normal to find candida and yeast in many parts of the body, the exposure to the yeast infection from oral sex is not considered a major risk to healthy people. People with a weakened immune system, or uncontrolled diabetes however, are at a higher risk. Additional risk factors include antibiotic use, certain medication, ongoing stress levels, and others.
To learn more about about the common risk factors and causes, see: yeast overgrowth risk factors and causes.
Might be useful if you consider having sex with a yeast infection.
The oral sex yeast infections connection was mentioned in the medical literature, with some research data suggesting the possibility of getting a yeast infection from oralsex. This connection however was explained by the fact that intercourse with yeast infection usually causes pain. For this reason, many couples did choose to have oral sex instead of intercourse (source).
Bottom line: oral sex may be a safer option if you choose to have sex with a yeast infection. If you use use vaginal creams as a part of the treatment however, oral sex may not be a good idea.
Yeast infection may cause painful intercourse
Can I have intercourse with yeast infection?
When it comes to intercoruse with yeast infection, pain during intercourse (dyspareunia) is a common symptom of vaginal yeast infection (source). Vaginal yeast infection symptoms are known to cause many unpleasant discomforts in the vagina: frequent itching with a strong urge to scratch (vulvar pruritus), burning and irritation, abnormal discharge (source).
Having sex with a yeast infection means having sex while having these discomforts. This can make sex very uncomfortable and challenging, both physically and emotionally.
Another fact to consider is that in most cases of vaginal yeast infections, the vagina is inflamed, irritated and swollen. Intercourse with yeast infection can cause more irritation to the already irritated vagina.
Bottom line: protected sex while having yeast infection can cause painful intercourse and other discomforts. It can also make your infection worse.
Sex during yeast infection treatment
Having sex during yeast infection treatment may cause discomforts and more irritation. For this reason, it is commonly advised to wait with sex until after the treatment. Another fact to consider is the type of yeast infection treatment and medicine you use. Having sex while on yeast infection medication may be problematic if you are using vaginal creams as a part of the treatment. The intercoruse may push the medication out of the vagina or irritate your partner’s genitals.
How long to wait for sex after yeast infection treatment
Once the yeast infection treatment is over, the general recommendation is to wait at least 2-3 days after your symptoms get cleared. It is very important to pay close attention to symptoms of yeast infection after sex. If you notice any of the symptoms come back, you may want to wait having sex and consult with your doctor, as there may be a need to continue with the treatment.
Another fact to consider is that the vagina may still be very sensitive and irritated even after the yeast infection is healed. For this reason, be careful and make sure the intercoruse doesn’t cause irrtiation or pain.
Using ozonated olive oil has shown to be effective for treating vaginal infection as well as to accelerate the healing process.
Treating the sex partner
The research data on this topic is quite limited and controversial. Some studies suggest that the treatment of the sexual partner may be helpful in the prevention of recurrent yeast infections (source). Other studies however, found that treating the sexual partner with antifungals wasn’t effective (source).
Based on our practice working with many couples, we have found that the most important fact is to identify and treat the root cause of the infection. Most cases of recurrent yeast infections occur when the root cause of the infection wasn’t properly addressed during the treatment. When this happens, treating your partner has very little value in preventing your yeast infection from coming back.
To learn more on the causes of yeast infection and how properly address the infection see:
- Best Doctors For Candida Overgrowth & Yeast infection - June 7, 2019
- Candida Cleanser : The Complete Natural Solution - June 2, 2019
- Strongest Candida Killer : Best Natural Antifungal Supplements & Foods - May 20, 2019