Vaginal yeast infections are commonly seen in women. An estimated 75% of women have it more than once throughout their lives.
Yeast infection is a type of vaginitis caused by a fungus called “candida”; hence, it is also called candidiasis. We naturally have yeast, but it might become an infection when it overgrows.
Because it shares some symptoms with other medical disorders, it can be difficult to determine what you are primarily experiencing. However, to get the proper treatment and return to your healthy, happy life, taking a yeast infection test might provide valuable information about your condition.
This article explains how a yeast infection test helps, how much information they can provide you, and when you should see a doctor instead of trying a test kit at home. Continue reading to find out more.
What is a Yeast Infection Test?
A yeast test is a test used to determine whether you have a vaginal yeast infection or not.
Because of how common it is among women, many studies and research have been conducted to discover how you can detect candidiasis outside medical laboratories and professional institutions. As a result, yeast tests are created for those who want to define their condition and find the proper treatment.
What is it Used For?
Yeast infection tests can tell you whether or not you have candidiasis.
Yeast tests are available in a variety of formats to assist you in rapidly determining yours based on the symptoms you’re experiencing.
When Should You Get Tested for a Yeast Infection?
If you have symptoms of vaginal yeast infection and you consult a medical professional, you may be requested to take a test. The following are some of the most common symptoms associated with the infection:
- Vaginal discharge
- Redness
- Inflammation
- Itching
- Pain when having sex
- Pain while urinating
Most types of vaginitis don’t come with the “vaginal discharge” symptom. Instead, the particular color and texture usually detect candidiasis it gives to the vaginal discharge. For example, the discharge with an is thick, clumpy, and white. It also doesn’t have any smell to it.
You might also get tested for the infection if your doctor notices symptoms similar to vaginitis. If you undergo a physical exam and notice any of the following symptoms, it might be a good idea to get tested for the infection:
- Dryness, cracking, and opening of the skin of the vulva
- Redness around the vagina area and vulva
- Swelling of the vulva
These symptoms are all huge signs that you might have candidiasis. Getting tested will ensure that you can get the perfect treatment for what you are going through.
Why Do I Need a Yeast Infection Test?
Yeast infections are easily treatable and also preventable. There are various ways to treat infections safely, and over-the-counter medication is one of them.
If you think have a candidiasis, and if you test positive for it, this process will help you get the perfect treatment that caters to your specific needs.
In some cases, when DIY treatment solutions don’t work, seeking professional help is necessary. Knowing what you have will go a long way toward determining which path to recovery you should take.
What Happens During the Yeast Test?
You will present various options if you get tested for candidiasis in a professional institution. To be diagnosed with candidiasis, one of the ways you could examine yourself is to take a laboratory test.
During your test, your doctor will take a sample of your vaginal discharge to check your pH levels. Then, the piece will be carefully examined under a microscope or sent to a laboratory.
You can also get a home testing kit online or from your pharmacy. These kits can inform you about your vagina’s acidity levels.
If your home test tells you that your pH levels are higher than average, consulting a medical professional before beginning your treatment plan can be helpful.
Test Preparation and Procedure
Getting the test doesn’t need elaborate preparation. When you’re ready to do a yeast test, your healthcare professional will provide all the necessary instructions.
Avoid using any medicine or cream in the vaginal area for two days before taking the test. Douching is also prohibited as it is one of the main reasons vaginal yeast infections occur.
When preparing to provide a sample, you will need to remove all your clothing below the waist. Next, lie on an examination table while you elevate your feet to the footrests. Next, a medical professional will use a speculum instrument to ensure your vagina is held open. This speculum is inserted into the vagina and is the only part that might cause some discomfort during this process.
The lab will collect a sample of your vaginal discharge with a sterile cotton swab after it’s inserted in the area. The speculum and the swab will be removed when this procedure is done. This whole process may take as little as five minutes.
Are There Any Risks to the Test?
The test does not pose any danger to the person taking them. The main risk when doing the test at home is that you will limit the results in terms of the information the test provides.
Only medical settings under the supervision of a health care expert can give you all of your diagnosis alternatives. While no test comes without any risks, getting tested in a setting that is not a medical institution has the risk of being misdiagnosed or not diagnosed with anything.
What do the Results Mean?
There are several test kits for candidiasis on the market, and all come with different types of result indicators.
If the test you used came with a color reference chart, look at your discharge color to find which pH value it matches on the chart. While some tests say, “normal” or “abnormal,” others can help determine the accurate levels.
Abnormal pH levels in the vagina are usually connected to the potential presence of vaginal infection. Although this doesn’t give precise information on the case, it may indicate a high chance that you have the infection.
Test kits with a color reference chart can provide information on your vaginal pH level measured on a scale of one to fourteen. A typical and healthy pH level is between 3.8 and 4.5. Any level lower or higher than this range is “abnormal.”
A pH level higher than the average may indicate that you have bacterial vaginosis instead of candidiasis. On the other hand, if it’s below the average, “normal” level, it might be good to see a doctor and use an off-the-counter medication for your condition. The health provider will advise you to get the appropriate treatment based on the diagnosis they provide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yeast infections are not deadly, and they generally don’t require urgent care. But if you think there can be something more serious than the infection that needs urgent medical attention, seek professional help immediately.
There certainly are. Here are four at-home tests to discover whether or not you might have a candida overgrowth: CVS Health Feminine Screening Kit for Vaginal Infections Natureland Vaginal pH Test Stix Vaginal pH Tests PGYARD Vaginal pH Test.
Not only can they tell you that you have candidiasis, but they are also the only people that can accurately diagnose it.
Although very rare, yeast infections can occur at any age, including before puberty. Accordingly, if you think you are infected when you are thirteen, you can take the steps we shared above to see what you should be doing moving forward. But, frankly, seeing a doctor rather than opting for an at-home solution could be much better.
As of June 2022, the average price of Candida lab testing is $99.
Although the fungus causes most yeast infections, some are not caused by fungus. Suppose you were using an antifungal treatment to cure your infection. In that case, the drugs you use might be ineffective at treating your particular condition resulting in the recurrence of your infection.
Another reason your candidiasis doesn’t seem to go away is that you might take antibiotics too often. Antibiotics can kill the bacteria in your vagina, providing the grounds for your vaginal yeast to overgrow. Consequently, your infection will constantly get triggered.
Hormonal birth control can also imbalance your vaginal bacteria and cause a yeast infection to be concurrent. Another practical reason is that you don’t keep your vaginal area dry and fresh.
If you constantly wear skin-tight clothes that don’t leave room for your body to breathe, especially in the vaginal area, you might not be giving yourself any time or chance to lead a yeast-infection-free life.
Yes, they are the same. But the downside of taking a yeast infection test at home is that the result may not give you detailed information about your specific condition because it is a generic test. To receive care for your unique needs, consult a doctor.
Get Help With Doctor Alexa
At home, kit solutions might sound fun in other areas of your life, but your health is the most important thing you must consider. If you are unsure whether you have a yeast infection, seeking professional guidance is the best way to go before deciding on the best treatment option for your lifestyle and circumstances.
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Our goal is to provide affordable, world-class healthcare services and a patient experience that showcases excellence. You deserve nothing less.
To explore the options of getting the proper treatment you want in an affordable way and from the comfort of your home, reach out to Doctoralexa today.
