Tight-fitting jeans, wiping from back to front, wet bathing suits, pregnancy, the use of oral contraceptives, engaging in vaginal sex after anal sex in an unhygienic manner, and the use of lubricants containing glycerine have all been known to cause yeast infections. Douching can also result in a yeast infection as it may actually kill off organisms in the vagina that suppress the growth of the yeast. In the same manner, women who are taking antibiotics for a long period of time are at high risk of developing a yeast infection because the antibiotic suppresses the other flora in the vagina and allows the yeast to overgrow. If a woman has diabetes, she is more susceptible to yeast infections of the vagina. Women taking birth control pills or steroids to treat a medical condition are also more prone to suffer a yeast infection.

Symptoms include severe itching, burning, and soreness, irritation of the vagina and/or vulva. The itching is not always present but can get really bad to the point where it can become difficult to even walk. For the most part the discharge looks like clumpy white stuff with most medical descriptions comparing its appearance to that of ricotta cheese. But it can also range from thick and not clumpy to faintly yellow to thin and clear. Not too surprisingly, a yeast infection actually smells like yeast (like bread or beer).