How are vaginal yeast infections diagnosed?

Diagnosing vaginal yeast infections

The way doctors diagnose vaginal yeast infection is by looking for the presence of vaginal yeast infection symptoms. The symptoms include:

• Pain or discomfort during intercourse
• Soreness in the vulvar or vaginal region
• Pain or discomfort during urination

Vaginal discharge is not a common symptom, however when it occurs, the discharge is odorless and can range from white and clumpy in texture to watery in certain cases.

More severe symptoms involving inflammation can include:

• Redness of the vagina and vulva
• Cracked skin around the vaginal area
• Swelling of the vaginal area as a result of fluid build up

If symptoms persist or become particularly severe, a doctor may test a sample of the patient’s vaginal secretions for the presence of yeast. The doctor will try to determine if the symptoms are indeed caused by a yeast infection and not other common vaginal infections such as bacterial vaginosis or trichomoniasis.