Why Yeast Infections Flare Up Before Your Period

Hormonal shifts before your period may lead to the overgrowth of Candida fungus, which can cause a yeast infection. These infections are usually manageable with over-the-counter treatments.

Factors That Contribute to Pre-Period Yeast Infections

Your period doesn’t directly cause yeast infections, but hormonal changes during your menstrual cycle can increase your likelihood of developing one around this time.

You might experience a yeast infection right before your period or have recurring infections each month at the same time in your cycle (cyclic vulvovaginitis).

During the menstrual cycle, your hormone levels naturally fluctuate. Estrogen is highest during ovulation and decreases before your period. Progesterone peaks as your period approaches. Both estrogen and progesterone are lowest during menstruation.

These hormonal changes can lead to an overgrowth of Candida, the fungus that causes yeast infections. Estrogen can particularly influence the overgrowth of the strain Candida albicans.

There are over 200 types of Candida, but five types cause about 90% of yeast infections:

• Candida albicans
• Candida glabrata
• Candida tropicalis
• Candida parapsilosis
• Candida krusei

Although hormones play a role, other risk factors increase yeast infection chances, such as:

• Uncontrolled diabetes. High blood sugar levels feed yeast, leading to overgrowth and infection.
• A weakened immune system. A compromised immune system can’t control yeast as effectively.
• Pregnancy and oral contraceptives. These alter hormone balance, especially estrogen, promoting yeast overgrowth.
• The use of antibiotics. Antibiotics can kill beneficial bacteria that keep yeast in check, raising infection risk.
• Mental health conditions. Conditions like depression, anxiety, and stress may weaken the immune system, increasing infection risk.
• Diet. Eating lots of processed foods, simple carbohydrates, and sugars can encourage yeast overgrowth.

How to Recognize a Yeast Infection

Yeast infection symptoms are not always the same for every person and often overlap with other common conditions. 

Yeast infections often start with intense itching inside and around the vagina.

Common symptoms include:

• Itching and irritation in the genital area
• Burning during sex or while urinating
• Thick, white discharge that looks like cottage cheese
• Swelling of the vulva
• Rash on or inside the vagina
• Pain or swelling of the vagina

Sometimes, yeast infections can cause light bleeding because of irritation and inflammation.

It can be tricky to tell the beginning of your menstrual period from light bleeding caused by a yeast infection.

While a yeast infection itself is unlikely to delay your period, some antifungal drugs, like clotrimazole, may cause a late period. These medications can also cause itching, burning, and inflammation in the vagina and vulva.

How Do Doctors Diagnose Yeast Infections?

Yeast infections are common and usually easy for healthcare providers to diagnose. 

They will ask you about your symptoms and may want to do an exam to look in and around your vagina. They will also ask if you’ve ever had a yeast infection before as well as whether you have had any STIs.

Your provider can take a swab from your vagina to test it for yeast. They might also want to do other tests to rule out another cause, like an STI. This could include different swab tests, urine tests, or blood tests.

What Treatments Work Best?

Getting your period won’t “flush out” a yeast infection. A mild yeast infection might clear up on its own, but often, you’ll need to treat the fungus to get the infection to go away.

Antifungal medications treat yeast infections. While some require a prescription, many are available over the counter. Your provider will advise which treatment to start with.

For mild yeast infections, try miconazole, clotrimazole, or terconazole. These OTC products come in cream, ointment, tablet, or suppository form.

These products are “short-course therapy” that you use for one to seven days. You can use a product like Monistat if you’re on your period. 

Another option for a mild yeast infection is a single-dose oral medication called fluconazole. People with moderate yeast infections may need to take two doses of this medication. However, this treatment is not recommended for people who are pregnant. 

What to Do If Yeast Infections Keep Coming Back

If you get frequent yeast infections or you always seem to get one right before your period, you will need to work with your provider to figure out why you are prone to them. You will also need to find a treatment that will clear up the fungus effectively. 

For recurring yeast infections, you can use an antifungal medicine or take oral fluconazole as prescribed by your provider. Other treatments include flucytosine, boric acid, and nystatin.

Yeast infections can become resistant to the antifungal medications typically used to treat them.

If this occurs, you might need azole-resistant therapy, which involves taking boric acid via vaginal suppository. This is often a last resort and is used only in rare cases.

How to Prevent Yeast Infections

Some things you can do to prevent a yeast infection include:

• Change your pads and tampons often.
• Change into dry clothes as soon as possible after getting wet or sweaty.
• Avoid tight clothing and underwear.
• Wear breathable underwear.
• Wipe front to back after urinating.
• Do not douche.
• Don’t use scented personal care items or products with irritating ingredients on your genitals.

Some research suggests that eating probiotic yogurt may help prevent yeast infections, but results have been inconsistent.

When to See a Provider

If you have mild symptoms of a yeast infection but it is not clearing up after a few weeks of treatment or if your symptoms are getting worse, call your provider.

If you’re unsure of the symptoms or have never had a yeast infection before, you should see your healthcare provider. Many symptoms of a yeast infection overlap with symptoms of other conditions. 

It’s also important to call your provider if you’re pregnant and have symptoms of a yeast infection.

Often, mild yeast infections will clear up within a few days, but more severe cases can take up to two weeks to get better.