Is It a Yeast Infection or Bacterial Vaginosis? Why Testing Comes Before Treatment

The pharmacy aisle is quiet at 9 p.m., and she has been standing in front of the same shelf for four minutes. One box promises relief for a yeast infection. The next shelf over has nothing at all for the other possibility her phone search keeps raising. Her discharge has changed, something itches, and there is a smell she cannot place. She wants to be done with this tonight.

That moment, hand hovering over a box, is where a lot of people decide the question of yeast infection vs bacterial vaginosis by instinct. It is an understandable instinct, and it is often wrong. The two conditions share a stage, a set of symptoms, and a tendency to get blamed for each other.

What they do not share is a treatment. Antifungals do nothing for bacteria; antibiotics do nothing for yeast and can invite it. So the most useful thing anyone can say about this question is also the least dramatic: get it tested, then treat what is actually there.

Why yeast infection vs bacterial vaginosis is a question worth testing, not guessing

Both conditions live under the same clinical umbrella, vaginitis, which simply means inflammation or irritation of the vagina that changes discharge, comfort, or smell. Under that umbrella sit two very different residents. Bacterial vaginosis, usually shortened to BV, is an imbalance in the vagina’s normal bacteria. A yeast infection, which clinicians call vulvovaginal candidiasis, is an overgrowth of a fungus, most often Candida albicans.

The scale of each is large enough to make the confusion common. The CDC describes BV as the most common cause of vaginal discharge in women of reproductive age, while its treatment guidelines estimate that around 75% of women will have at least one yeast infection in their lifetime and 40% to 45% will have two or more. Put those numbers side by side and the overlap in any given week becomes obvious.

Here is where the stakes lie. The medicines that treat BV are antibiotics aimed at bacteria; the medicines that treat yeast are antifungals aimed at fungi. Neither touches the other. Treat BV with an antifungal and the imbalance continues untreated. Treat yeast with an antibiotic and the fungus is untouched while the bacteria that normally keep it in check are thinned out, which is one reason yeast infections can follow a course of antibiotics.

The honest position, and the one that every major guideline takes, is that symptoms alone cannot settle the question reliably. A short visit, a swab, and a few minutes of testing turn a coin flip into a diagnosis. That trade is almost always worth making.

What actually happens inside the vagina with BV and with a yeast infection

Picture the vagina as a small, self-regulating ecosystem. In a healthy state it is dominated by lactobacilli, a family of bacteria that produce lactic acid and keep the environment mildly acidic, usually with a pH between 3.8 and 4.5. That acidity is not a byproduct; it is a defense. It discourages the growth of other organisms and helps hold yeast at a low, harmless level.

BV begins when the lactobacilli lose ground. Other bacteria that are normally present in small numbers, including species such as Gardnerella, multiply and take over. Acidity falls, the pH rises above 4.5, and those bacteria release compounds called amines that produce the characteristic fishy odor. Some of these organisms also organize into a biofilm, a sticky protective layer on the vaginal lining that helps explain why BV can be stubborn and why it frequently returns. BV is not classified as a sexually transmitted infection, though the CDC notes it is more common in people who are sexually active and rarely occurs in those who have never had sex.

A yeast infection follows a different script. Candida is a normal, quiet resident in many people; the CDC estimates that 10% to 20% of women carry it without any symptoms. Trouble starts when conditions shift and the yeast multiplies. Antibiotics that thin the lactobacilli, higher estrogen levels during pregnancy or from hormonal contraception, uncontrolled blood sugar, and a weakened immune system are the triggers most consistently described by the Mayo Clinic and the CDC. The acidity often stays normal; the problem is inflammation from the yeast itself, which is why itching and soreness tend to dominate.

Same ecosystem, two different disruptions. That distinction is the whole reason testing matters.

BV vs yeast infection discharge: how clinicians compare them

Ask a gynecologist what they notice first and they will tell you the discharge tells a story, but rarely the whole story. The table below summarizes the classic patterns described by the NHS, the CDC, and the Mayo Clinic. Read it as a guide to what a clinician is thinking during an exam, not as a tool for deciding alone.

Feature	Bacterial vaginosis	Yeast infection
What is overgrowing	Mixed bacteria replacing lactobacilli	Fungus, most often Candida albicans
Typical discharge	Thin, watery, grayish-white, often more noticeable after sex	Thick, white, clumpy, often compared to cottage cheese
Odor	Fishy, may be stronger after sex or during a period	Usually little or no odor
Itching and soreness	Not usual, though it can occur	Common, often the main complaint
Vaginal pH on testing	Above 4.5	Usually normal, 4.5 or below
Under the microscope	Clue cells, few lactobacilli	Yeast cells or branching filaments called hyphae
Treatment class	Antibiotics	Antifungals

Two caveats matter. First, the CDC notes that many people with BV have no symptoms at all, so a classic description may never appear. Second, discharge changes naturally across the menstrual cycle, and both conditions can be present at the same time, along with a third possibility such as trichomoniasis. A tidy table cannot capture that mess; a swab can.

Which smells worse, BV or yeast infection?

People ask this one quietly, usually after everything else, and it deserves a straight answer. BV is the condition associated with a strong smell. The NHS describes it as a fishy odor that tends to be more noticeable after sex, and the CDC includes that odor in its formal diagnostic criteria. The chemistry is simple: the bacteria that overgrow in BV release amines, and semen and menstrual blood are less acidic than the vagina, which liberates more of those compounds into the air. That is why a partner sometimes notices before the person does.

Yeast infections, by contrast, do not usually produce a strong odor. The NHS notes that the discharge of thrush, its everyday name for a yeast infection, does not typically smell. Some people describe a mild, bready or yeasty scent, but a pronounced fishy smell would point a clinician away from yeast.

So the short version is that a noticeable fishy odor is more suggestive of BV, while marked itching with little smell leans toward yeast. The longer version is that smell is a clue, not a verdict. Trichomoniasis, a sexually transmitted parasite, can also produce a foul odor. Retained tampons and certain cervical infections can too. The CDC’s own approach captures this well: the odor is one of four criteria for BV, and clinicians want at least three of the four before calling it.

A word about shame, because it hovers over this topic. A change in odor is a biological signal, not a hygiene failure. Washing more aggressively tends to make BV more likely, not less. The useful response to a new smell is a phone call, not a scrub.

How do I tell if I have a yeast or bacterial infection? What clinicians actually test

The answer most people want is a home trick. The honest answer is a brief exam and a swab, and it is worth knowing what happens to that swab because it demystifies the visit.

The first check is often pH. A strip touched to vaginal fluid gives a number in under a minute. Above 4.5 leans toward BV or trichomoniasis; a normal reading leans toward yeast or no infection. It is cheap, fast, and imperfect, which is why it is never used alone.

Next comes microscopy. A drop of fluid is mixed with saline on a slide and examined for clue cells, which are vaginal skin cells coated with bacteria so thickly that their edges look fuzzy. A second drop mixed with potassium hydroxide dissolves the cells and reveals yeast, either as round budding cells or as branching threads called hyphae. That same potassium hydroxide drop also serves as the whiff test: if a fishy smell is released, BV becomes more likely.

These pieces come together in the Amsel criteria, the bedside standard endorsed by the CDC. BV is diagnosed when at least three of four are present: thin homogeneous discharge, pH above 4.5, clue cells on the slide, and a positive whiff test. Laboratories may instead use the Nugent score, which grades a stained slide from 0 to 10, with 7 to 10 indicating BV.

Newer molecular tests, called NAATs, detect the genetic material of specific bacteria, yeast, and trichomonas from a single swab and are increasingly used when a microscope is not available. Where recurrence is a problem, a culture can identify which species of Candida is involved, since some respond less predictably to standard antifungals.

None of this takes long. All of it beats guessing.

Why self-diagnosis so often misses the mark

There is a reasonable argument for the over-the-counter shelf: yeast infections are common, antifungals are available without a prescription, and a clinic visit takes time. The trouble is that the argument assumes people can tell yeast from everything else, and the evidence does not support that assumption well.

Clinical guidelines from the CDC and patient guidance from the Mayo Clinic both caution that symptoms of yeast infection are nonspecific, meaning they belong to several conditions at once, and that people who self-diagnose are frequently mistaken. Itching, for instance, feels like a yeast signature, yet it also shows up with irritant dermatitis, trichomoniasis, and sometimes BV. A change in discharge feels informative, yet normal discharge changes across the month, after sex, and with contraception.

Several things go wrong when the guess is off. Someone with BV who uses an antifungal gets no relief and often assumes the product failed, then tries a second course. Someone with an irritant reaction to a scented product treats yeast, the product continues, and the irritation persists. Someone with trichomoniasis, which is sexually transmitted and needs partner treatment, loses time. And in the reverse direction, a person whose real problem is yeast may be given antibiotics for presumed BV, which can make the yeast worse.

The Mayo Clinic offers a sensible middle path. If you have had a clinician-confirmed yeast infection before and the current symptoms are identical, a short discussion about self-treatment is reasonable. If this is a first episode, if the picture is different from last time, if symptoms return within two months, or if there is odor or pelvic pain, testing comes first. That is not caution for its own sake. It is the difference between treating a diagnosis and treating a hunch.

8 things that can be mistaken for a yeast infection

Vaginal itching and discharge have a limited vocabulary, and many conditions speak it. Clinicians run through a mental list before settling on yeast. Here are eight entries on that list, drawn from the differential diagnoses described by MedlinePlus, the Mayo Clinic, and the CDC.

• Bacterial vaginosis. The most frequent look-alike, especially when discharge is the main complaint.
• Trichomoniasis. A sexually transmitted parasite that can cause frothy, yellow-green discharge, itching, and odor, and that requires partner treatment.
• Irritant or allergic dermatitis. Reactions to scented soaps, wipes, laundry products, spermicides, or latex can produce itching and redness with no infection at all.
• Chlamydia or gonorrhea. Both can alter discharge; both are sexually transmitted and often silent otherwise.
• Genital herpes. Early outbreaks may feel like burning or irritation before blisters appear.
• Atrophic vaginitis. Thinning and dryness of the vaginal lining from low estrogen, common after menopause, causes irritation and sometimes discharge.
• Lichen sclerosus and other skin conditions. Chronic vulvar skin disorders cause persistent itching that antifungals will not touch.
• Normal cyclical discharge. Ovulation, pregnancy, and hormonal contraception all change discharge in ways that can alarm but are not disease.

The point of this list is not to hand you a new set of things to worry about. It is to show why a single symptom cannot be traced to a single cause from the outside. Several of these are treated in entirely different ways, one or two need a partner treated too, and a couple are chronic conditions that benefit from a specialist. A clinician can narrow eight to one in a single visit. A box on a shelf cannot.

Can bacterial vaginosis go away on its own?

Sometimes, yes. The Cleveland Clinic and the NHS both acknowledge that BV can resolve without treatment, particularly when it is mild or found incidentally in someone with no symptoms. The vaginal ecosystem has a tendency to right itself, and lactobacilli can regain the upper hand as a menstrual cycle turns over or a trigger such as douching stops.

That is the encouraging half of the answer. The other half explains why guidelines still recommend treating symptomatic BV. Left alone, the imbalance can persist for weeks or months and can drift back and forth, so waiting is often just an uncomfortable delay. The CDC also lists several downstream concerns: BV is associated with a higher risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, with a higher chance of infection after gynecologic procedures, and, in pregnancy, with preterm birth and low birth weight. Those associations are the reason clinicians take BV seriously even when the symptoms are more annoying than alarming.

What about BV found by chance, with no symptoms? The CDC does not routinely recommend treating asymptomatic BV outside pregnancy or an upcoming procedure, and this is precisely the kind of decision that belongs with the treating clinician, who knows the person’s history and plans.

Yeast infections, for what it is worth, can also settle on their own, especially mild ones. But the same logic applies. If symptoms are bothersome or persistent, testing followed by targeted treatment is faster and more reliable than hoping.

A practical way to think about the question: waiting is a legitimate option when symptoms are minimal and a clinician agrees, and a poor one when symptoms are disruptive, when you are pregnant, or when you have never had the diagnosis confirmed in the first place.

Who is usually tested right away, and who is sometimes asked to wait

Not everyone with a change in discharge walks the same path, and knowing where you are likely to land can reduce the uncertainty of the first phone call.

Testing is typically the first step for anyone experiencing symptoms for the first time, since there is no prior diagnosis to compare against. It is also the standard route when there is a fishy odor, when symptoms have come back within a couple of months of a previous treatment, when pelvic or lower abdominal pain is present, when there is a fever, when there has been a new sexual partner or a possible exposure to a sexually transmitted infection, and when a self-treated yeast infection has not improved. Pregnancy shifts the calculation too. Some BV treatments and antifungals are used differently in pregnancy, and untreated BV carries additional concerns, so clinicians generally want a confirmed diagnosis before anything is started.

People who have diabetes, who take medicines that suppress the immune system, or who live with HIV are also usually tested rather than treated empirically, because yeast infections in these groups can be more severe and are more likely to involve less common Candida species.

Who is sometimes asked to wait, or offered a lighter touch? Someone with a previously confirmed yeast infection whose current symptoms match exactly may be advised, after a conversation, that a short course of over-the-counter antifungal is reasonable, with instructions to return if it does not work. Someone with mild, incidental BV and no symptoms may simply be monitored. And someone whose symptoms turn out to track with a new soap or laundry product may be asked to remove the irritant and check back before any medicine is considered.

The through line is that waiting is a clinical decision made with information, not a default made without it.

How treatment works for each condition, and how long it usually takes

Once the swab has spoken, the treatments diverge completely, and understanding the logic makes the divergence feel less arbitrary.

For BV, the goal is to knock back the overgrown anaerobic bacteria so the lactobacilli can recover. The medicines that do this are antibiotics from the nitroimidazole class, or clindamycin, given either by mouth or as a vaginal gel or cream. Which form, and for how long, is chosen by the prescribing clinician based on pregnancy status, previous episodes, side-effect history, and preference. The NHS notes that symptoms typically improve within a few days of starting treatment, and that alcohol is usually avoided during and shortly after certain oral courses because of an unpleasant interaction. The CDC does not recommend routinely treating male partners, though it does discuss treating female partners in some circumstances.

For a yeast infection, the target is the fungus itself. Antifungals from the azole class, used either as a vaginal cream or suppository or as a single oral tablet, interfere with the yeast cell’s membrane so it cannot maintain itself. The NHS advises that thrush usually clears within 7 to 14 days of starting treatment. Complicated cases, including severe symptoms, infections with a non-albicans species, or recurrent infections defined by the CDC as three or more episodes in a year, are managed with longer or different regimens that only a clinician should design.

Neither treatment is a matter of picking any product. The choice of medicine, its form, and its duration depend on details a clinician gathers during the visit, and any change to what has been prescribed should go back through that same clinician. What you can count on is the principle: match the medicine to the organism, and the timeline becomes predictable.

What the next days and weeks usually look like

Most people want to know when they will feel like themselves again, and while no one can promise a date, the typical arc is well described.

In the first two to three days, both conditions usually start to ease once the right treatment is on board. Itching from a yeast infection often quiets first; the odor of BV tends to fade within days as the bacterial balance shifts. Vaginal creams and gels can leak, so many people find nighttime application more comfortable, and some products can weaken latex condoms and diaphragms, a detail worth asking about rather than assuming.

By the end of the first week, most uncomplicated cases are largely settled. The NHS timeline for thrush, 7 to 14 days to full resolution, is a reasonable frame, and BV symptoms are generally gone by the end of a standard course. If nothing has changed after several days of treatment, that is not a signal to double up. It is a signal that the diagnosis may be incomplete, and the clinician who prescribed the treatment will want to know.

Follow-up visits are not routinely needed when symptoms resolve, according to the CDC. They are recommended when symptoms return, when they never fully left, or during pregnancy in some circumstances.

Over the following weeks, the ecosystem continues to recover even after symptoms stop. This is the period where habits matter most: avoiding douching and scented products, wearing breathable underwear, and, for anyone with diabetes, keeping blood sugar steady. None of these prevent every recurrence, but the NHS notes that BV frequently returns within three months of treatment, so the weeks after feeling better are exactly when small changes have room to help.

Why BV and yeast infections keep coming back

If you have had one of these more than once, you are in the majority, not the exception. The NHS states plainly that BV often returns, usually within three months, and the CDC reports that 40% to 45% of women have two or more yeast infections in a lifetime. Recurrence is a feature of both conditions, and understanding why makes the pattern less discouraging.

BV recurs in part because the bacteria involved build biofilms, protective layers on the vaginal lining that shield some organisms from antibiotics. Treatment clears the free-floating bacteria and the symptoms, but survivors in the biofilm can reseed the imbalance once the antibiotic is gone. Triggers that pushed the balance over the first time, including douching, new or multiple sexual partners, and smoking, can push it again. Some research explores whether sexual partners reintroduce bacteria, and the CDC discusses partner treatment in specific situations, but there is no universal recommendation and the decision is individual.

Yeast recurs for its own reasons. Because Candida is a normal resident, treatment reduces it rather than eliminating it, and anything that tilts conditions in its favor can restart the overgrowth. Repeated antibiotic courses, uncontrolled blood sugar, high-estrogen states, and, in some people, no identifiable trigger at all are described by the Mayo Clinic and the CDC. Less common species such as Candida glabrata respond less predictably to standard azoles, which is why cultures become useful after the third episode.

What recurrence should prompt is a fuller evaluation, not a bigger dose of the same thing. The CDC describes suppressive and maintenance strategies for both recurrent BV and recurrent yeast infection, and these are precisely the situations where a clinician’s judgment, backed by lab results, earns its keep.

What people often get wrong about BV and yeast infections

Some of the most persistent ideas about these conditions are simply untrue, and a few of them make things worse. Here are the ones clinicians correct most often.

Myth: A smell means poor hygiene. The odor of BV comes from bacterial chemistry, not from being unclean. The NHS and CDC both identify douching and washing inside the vagina as risk factors for BV because they strip away protective lactobacilli. Plain water on the outside is enough.

Myth: BV is a sexually transmitted infection. It is not classified as one, though it is more common in sexually active people and rarely occurs in those who have never had sex. The distinction matters for how partners are counseled and for not assigning blame.

Myth: Yogurt or probiotics will fix it. The evidence for probiotics in preventing or treating either condition is mixed and not strong enough for major guidelines to recommend them as treatment. Eating yogurt is harmless; inserting it is not advised and can introduce sugar and other organisms.

Myth: If the over-the-counter cream did not work, try another one. A failed antifungal is more often a sign the problem was not yeast than a sign the cream was weak. Repeated self-treatment is one of the most common reasons diagnosis gets delayed.

Myth: Only women get yeast infections. Candida can affect the penis, mouth, and skin folds in anyone, and partners with symptoms should be evaluated.

Myth: BV is trivial. For many it is a nuisance, but the CDC links it to higher risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections and to complications in pregnancy, which is why it is treated when symptomatic.

Every one of these corrections points the same direction: toward a diagnosis rather than a guess.

Questions to ask your care team

A short visit goes further when you arrive with questions, and clinicians generally welcome them. These are the ones that tend to change what happens next.

• What test did you use to reach this diagnosis, and did it look for trichomoniasis and other infections as well?
• Could this be more than one thing at once, and how would we know?
• Why did you choose this form of treatment, and how soon should I expect symptoms to change?
• Are there activities, products, or medicines I should avoid while using this treatment, including alcohol or latex condoms?
• Does my partner need to be seen or treated, and does the answer depend on whether they are male or female?
• If this is pregnancy-related or I am planning a pregnancy, does that change anything about the plan?
• What should I do if symptoms return, and after how many episodes would you want to run a culture or consider a longer-term approach?
• Are any of my current medicines or health conditions, such as diabetes or hormonal contraception, making this more likely?
• Is there anything I am doing in my daily routine that could be feeding this?
• When, specifically, should I call you back rather than wait?

You are also entitled to ask for the results in plain language. A pH number, an Amsel count, or a culture report is yours to understand, and hearing it explained tends to make the treatment plan feel less like an instruction and more like a shared decision. Bring a note of when symptoms started, what has changed, and anything you have already tried, including over-the-counter products, since that history shapes what the clinician looks for. Every choice about medicine, its form, and its length stays with the prescribing clinician, but a well-asked question is how you stay part of the conversation.

When to call your doctor

Most cases of BV and yeast infection are uncomfortable rather than dangerous, and most settle quickly with the right treatment. Some situations, though, warrant a call the same day or an urgent visit, because they suggest something beyond a simple vaginal imbalance.

Call promptly if you develop a fever or chills alongside vaginal symptoms, or if you have pain in the lower abdomen or pelvis, pain during sex, or pain when passing urine. These can point toward infection that has traveled upward to the uterus or fallopian tubes, a condition called pelvic inflammatory disease, or toward a urinary infection, both of which need different care. Bleeding between periods or after sex, sores, blisters, or ulcers on the vulva, and discharge that is green, frothy, or bloody all deserve evaluation rather than self-treatment.

Seek care as well if you are pregnant and notice any change in discharge or odor, since both BV and some of its treatments are handled differently in pregnancy and untreated BV is linked to preterm birth. Anyone with diabetes, a weakened immune system, or HIV should be seen rather than treat at home, because yeast infections can be more severe in these groups. Symptoms that do not improve within a few days of a treatment prescribed for you, or that return within two months, are a reason to go back rather than repeat the treatment on your own.

Finally, if this is your first episode, or if you are not sure what you have, that uncertainty is itself a good enough reason to be seen. The purpose of this whole article is to move the question of yeast infection vs bacterial vaginosis out of the pharmacy aisle and into an exam room, where a swab can answer it. Whatever the result, the plan that follows belongs to you and your treating team.

Frequently asked questions

How do I tell if I have a yeast or bacterial infection?

Reliably, only through testing. Clinicians check vaginal pH, examine a sample under the microscope for clue cells or yeast, and perform a whiff test. Fishy odor with thin gray discharge leans toward BV; thick white discharge with itching leans toward yeast. Because these signs overlap and other infections mimic both, guidelines recommend a swab before any treatment is chosen.

Can bacterial vaginosis go away on its own?

Sometimes it can, especially when mild or symptom-free, as the Cleveland Clinic and NHS note. Symptomatic BV is still usually treated because it can persist for weeks, causes discomfort, and is linked by the CDC to higher risk of sexually transmitted infections and to pregnancy complications. Whether to watch or treat is a decision for your clinician based on your symptoms and history.

Which smells worse, BV or yeast infection?

BV is the one associated with a strong odor. Its overgrown bacteria release amines that produce a fishy smell, often stronger after sex or during a period, according to the NHS. Yeast infections typically cause little or no odor. A noticeable fishy smell is a clue toward BV but not proof, since trichomoniasis and other conditions can also cause odor.

What is the difference in BV vs yeast infection discharge?

BV discharge is typically thin, watery, and grayish-white, while yeast infection discharge is thick, white, and clumpy, often compared to cottage cheese. BV discharge usually carries a fishy odor; yeast discharge usually does not. These are classic patterns described by the NHS and Mayo Clinic, but many people with BV have no discharge changes at all, so testing remains the deciding step.

What are things that can be mistaken for a yeast infection?

Bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital herpes, irritant or allergic reactions to soaps and wipes, atrophic vaginitis after menopause, and vulvar skin conditions such as lichen sclerosus can all cause itching or discharge that resembles yeast. Normal cyclical discharge is another frequent look-alike. Several of these need entirely different treatment, which is why clinicians test first.

Can you have BV and a yeast infection at the same time?

Yes. The two conditions can coexist, and treating one can occasionally unmask or trigger the other, particularly when antibiotics for BV thin the lactobacilli that normally hold yeast in check. A clinician evaluating a sample looks for both, along with trichomoniasis, so that treatment addresses everything present rather than just the most obvious symptom.

Is bacterial vaginosis a sexually transmitted infection?

No. BV is not classified as a sexually transmitted infection, though the CDC notes it is more common in sexually active people and rarely occurs in those who have never had sex. It is an imbalance of the vagina’s own bacteria. Partners are not routinely treated, although the CDC discusses treatment of female partners in some situations, a decision made case by case.

How long does a yeast infection take to clear after treatment starts?

The NHS advises that thrush usually clears within 7 to 14 days of starting treatment, with itching often easing in the first few days. If symptoms have not improved after several days, that suggests the diagnosis may be wrong or incomplete rather than that a stronger product is needed, and the prescribing clinician should be contacted.

Why does BV keep coming back after treatment?

The NHS notes BV often returns within three months. Bacteria involved in BV form protective biofilms that can survive antibiotics and reseed the imbalance, and ongoing triggers such as douching, smoking, or new sexual partners can tip the balance again. Recurrent BV is a reason for fuller evaluation and, in some cases, a suppressive strategy chosen by your clinician.

Can I use an over-the-counter yeast treatment without seeing a doctor?

The Mayo Clinic suggests this can be reasonable if you have had a clinician-confirmed yeast infection before and your symptoms are identical. It is not advised for a first episode, when there is odor, pelvic pain, fever, or pregnancy, or when a previous self-treatment did not work. In those situations testing comes first, because the problem is often not yeast.

References

• CDC – Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines: Bacterial Vaginosis
• CDC – Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines: Vulvovaginal Candidiasis
• NHS – Bacterial vaginosis
• NHS – Thrush in men and women

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a qualified doctor about your individual situation.