That said, the timing may also be a coincidence. Your yeast infection may have been triggered by a number of other factors. They can often be treated at home. Read on to learn more about why this happens, other potential causes, treatment options, and more. Candida fungus is a normal part of the microscopic bacteria ecosystem in your vagina.

Sexual intercourse may interfere with yeast infection treatment, and condoms may be damaged by yeast infection medication. Given the prevalence of STDs and yeast infections, it's not unreasonable for a woman to wonder if a yeast infection may increase her risk of other vaginal infections. For the most part, yeast infections aren't associated with the development of an STD. But by scratching to relieve vaginal itching, you may inadvertently create microscopic tears in the skin that allow bacteria or viruses that cause STDs to enter your body more easily. Some studies suggest that about 50 to 70 percent of women with HIV develop vaginal yeast infections at some point in their lives. Research also suggests that the connection works the other way around: vaginal yeast infections increase a woman's risk of getting HIV. In a study published in the Journal of Women's Health , researchers looked at women who were not HIV positive but who were in a sexual relationship with someone who was.

Good news: It's not dangerous to have sex with a yeast infection, but there are a bunch of reasons you probably won't want to anyway. For most women, this occurs when the vaginal pH is disrupted. In some cases, it can be caused by uncontrolled diabetes or a weakened immune system. Usually, the symptoms aren't subtle. However, some women may notice that they're more prone to yeast infections when they're sexually active because things like sensitivity to condoms, your partner's sperm, sweat, saliva, or lube could throw off your pH.

Yeast infections occur because of an overgrowth of a type of fungus known as Candida , which lives in the body harmlessly most of the time. It is possible to have sex with a yeast infection, but it can be painful and has other risks. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC , vaginal yeast infections are the second most common kind of vaginal infections after bacterial infections of the vagina. While it is possible for a person with a yeast infection to have sex, most doctors do not recommend having sex until the infection has cleared up.