Patient's question:
Hello! I have been experiencing vaginal discomfort recently. Yesterday, after a thorough examination at the hospital, the results showed: three plus white blood cells, two plus epithelial cells, three plus small bacilli, one plus spores, one plus budding spores, and one plus pseudohyphae. The attending physician diagnosed me with polymicrobial vaginitis. However, the medication she prescribed is for treating Candida. What is Candida? Are my symptoms symptoms of Candida? How is this bacterium transmitted? I am very careful about personal hygiene, so how could I have contracted this bacterium? Additionally, I often feel lower back pain when sleeping at night and have been experiencing frequent headaches recently.Doctor's answer:
Hello; Genital candidiasis refers to a disease caused by fungal infection of the vagina or penis, similar to thrush (oral candidiasis) caused by Candida albicans infection in the mouth. Candida normally resides on the skin or in the intestines and can spread from these areas to the genital region. Candida is not commonly spread through sexual contact. It is a common pathogen of vaginitis. Due to the widespread use of antibiotics, oral contraceptives, and other drugs that alter the vaginal environment, these factors favor the growth of Candida, making genital candidiasis more prevalent.