Yeast infection – it doesn't come from the hot tub, and it's not from your boyfriend either

Burning, itching, stinging, and it’s there again. Vaginal yeast infections occur in almost every woman's life at least once—but misconceptions often live longer than the infection itself.

First of all: vaginal yeast infections are most commonly caused by a fungal species called Candida albicans, which—surprising but true—is a natural resident of our bodies. It is present in our mouths, our digestive systems, and yes, in the vagina as well. The trouble starts when it overgrows and our body can no longer keep it in balance.

The classic symptoms? Whitish, cottage cheese-like discharge, itching, burning sensation, uncomfortable urination, or painful sex. But these rarely appear all at once—sometimes only a minor sign warns that something isn't quite right.

And then comes the question of diagnosis. Many try to solve it with over-the-counter preparations, which sometimes work, but other times lead astray—self-diagnosis is wrong in a third of cases. Even an "at-a-glance" medical diagnosis is not infallible. The professionally most supported method is an immediate microscopic smear examination, which is fast and reliable. For recurring complaints, a culture test can be used—this helps to accurately identify which pathogen is responsible.

The good news? The treatments are effective—whether applied topically or taken orally. The choice is yours, but if the symptoms do not go away, it is worth rethinking the diagnosis. Because in such cases, something else is likely in the background.

Vaginal yeast, therefore, does not come from dirty toilets, hot tubs, or necessarily from our partner. It is much more about a loss of balance—and the solution begins with understanding.