If you have a vagina, you are probably familiar with what a yeast infection is and what it feels like. In fact, the Mayo Clinic estimates that nearly 3 in 4 women will experience a yeast infection at least once in their lifetime, though for some women, this figure is much (and sometimes MUCH) higher. 

But what if you notice unexplained vaginal bleeding in conjunction with a yeast infection? Is this normal, or is it cause for concern? That’s what we’re talking about today. Because while symptoms like itching and cottage chees-like discharge are to be expected with yeast infections, bleeding is a less common symptom. Let’s talk about what can cause this and when to see a doctor.

Understanding Yeast Infections

The image is a graphic explaining the cause of yeast infections. The title at the top reads, “What causes a yeast infection?” Below the title is an illustration of Candida fungus, depicted in blue and purple, with small pink spores around it. A text box on the left side of the image states, “Vaginal yeast infections are caused by an overgrowth of Candida fungus within the vagina, primarily Candida albicans.” The text box has an arrow pointing to the illustration of the fungus.

Before we can understand why bleeding sometimes occurs with yeast infections, we have to understand what a yeast infection is. 

Vaginal yeast infections go by many names. You may sometimes hear them referred to as candidiasis or vulvovaginal candidiasis. But essentially, all these names describe the same thing: an overgrowth of Candida fungus within the vagina, primarily Candida albicans. 

The most common symptoms of a yeast infection include: 

But there are less common symptoms associated with yeast infections, too, including: 

  • Redness and swelling of the vulva
  • Soreness and rash on the surrounding skin
  • Discomfort or pain in the general pelvic region

The symptoms you experience and the severity of your symptoms can vary from infection to infection. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and last just a few days or go on for several weeks if left untreated. That’s why, for both your comfort and your overall health, you should always see a doctor if you ever suspect a vaginal infection. As you’ll see in just a bit, the treatment for vaginal yeast infections is simple and can prevent complications from happening.

Can Yeast Infections Cause Bleeding?

The image is a graphic addressing whether a yeast infection can cause bleeding. The title at the top reads, “Can a yeast infection cause bleeding?” Below the title is a text box that states, “Yeast infections do not cause bleeding on their own, but the symptoms of a yeast infection can lead to bleeding.” The text box includes two bullet points: • “Scratching your genital area excessively can lead to minor tears that can result in bleeding.” • “Having sex with a yeast infection can lead to irritation and minor tearing in the vaginal tissue that can result in bleeding.” To the right of the text box is a large red drop, symbolizing bleeding.

So we just listed the symptoms of a vaginal yeast infection, but we didn’t mention bleeding. So can a vaginal yeast infection ever cause bleeding? Yes and no. 

Yeast infections do not cause bleeding on their own, but the symptoms of a yeast infection can lead to bleeding. Take itchiness, for example. If a yeast infection is making you itchy, you might be scratching. And if you are scratching your genital area excessively, this can lead to minor tears that can result in bleeding. 

Also, if you are having sex with a yeast infection, especially if you also have an underlying condition like vaginal dryness, the friction can lead to irritation and minor tearing in the vaginal tissue that can result in bleeding. 

Other Causes of Bleeding

The image is a graphic discussing other causes of vaginal bleeding. The title at the top reads, “What are other causes for vaginal bleeding?” Below the title are two images: a magnified view of red blood cells on the left and a red drop symbolizing bleeding on the right. At the bottom of the image, there is a list with the heading, “Other reasons for vaginal bleeding outside of your period include:” followed by three bullet points: “Postcoital bleeding, or bleeding after sexual intercourse,” “Intermenstrual bleeding, or bleeding between periods,” and “Menorrhagia, or heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding.”

Don’t think your bleeding is due to excessive scratching or irritation via sex? There are some other reasons you could be experiencing vaginal bleeding outside of your period that have nothing to do with a yeast infection. These include: 

  • Postcoital bleeding, or bleeding after sexual intercourse
  • Intermenstrual bleeding, or bleeding between periods
  • Menorrhagia, or heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding 

While none of these are considered an immediate medical emergency, they should not be ignored, either. If you are ever experiencing excessive or persistent bleeding outside of your period, you should call your healthcare provider to make an appointment. They will help you investigate the issue further. 

Also, call your healthcare provider if you ever experience vaginal bleeding in conjunction with symptoms like fever, severe pain, or foul-smelling discharge, as this could be a sign of a sexually transmitted infection. 

Treating a Yeast Infection: Can it go away on its own?

The image shows a person in a pharmacy reaching for a bottle on a shelf filled with various medications. The text overlay in the center of the image reads, “While some mild yeast infections can clear up on their own, more often than not, you will need to seek treatment to prevent further complications from developing.”

What should you do if you feel like your vaginal bleeding is due to symptoms of a yeast infection? Seek treatment!

Yeast infections are treated with antifungal medications that are typically available over the counter without a prescription. However, you should still see your doctor before running to the pharmacy. The symptoms of a yeast infection can mimic those of BV, but both require a different treatment to resolve, so you want to confirm your diagnosis. Also, if the yeast infection is severe enough to be causing bleeding, your doctor may want to prescribe you a more powerful antifungal. 

The most common antifungal agents are clotrimazole or miconazole, and they are available in many forms, including topical creams and vaginal suppositories. Which form you take is often a matter of personal preference, but your doctor may have some suggestions based on your health history and specific infection. 

The worst thing you can do if you are experiencing yeast infection symptoms is to ignore them and hope they go away. While some mild yeast infections can clear on their own, more often than not, you will need to seek treatment to alleviate symptoms like vaginal bleeding and prevent further complications from developing.

Distinguishing between Yeast Infections and Common Conditions

The image is a graphic comparing Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) and yeast infections. The title reads, “Distinguishing between BV & a yeast infection.” Bacterial Vaginosis symptoms include thin, gray discharge, a strong “fishy” odor, burning during urination, pain during intercourse, and vaginal itching. Yeast infection symptoms include thick, cottage cheese-like discharge, pain during sex, itching and burning, redness or swelling of the vulva, and soreness and rash on the surrounding skin.

Like we said, the symptoms of yeast infections overlap with symptoms of other common vaginal infections, like BV and UTIs. However, there are some key differences, too. 

For example, both yeast infections and BV involve unusual vaginal discharge, but the discharge associated with BV is often thin, gray-ish, and foul or “fishy” smelling, while the discharge associated with yeast infections is often thick, cottage cheese-like, and odorless. 

When it comes to UTIs, both yeast infections and UTIs can lead to discomfort while urinating, but with UTIs, the discomfort is often greater, even downright painful, and also accompanied by the frequent urge to urinate, even after you just went. 

But again, vaginal infections are not something you want to self-diagnose and self-medicate. Confirm any diagnosis with a doctor before starting any kind of treatment.

When to Seek Medical Attention

The image shows a close-up of a person in a white coat, presumably a doctor, speaking on the phone. The text overlay reads, “Call your doctor if you are ever experiencing excessive or prolonged bleeding outside of your period or menstrual blood that’s an unusual color.”

Like we said earlier, if you are ever experiencing excessive or prolonged bleeding outside of your period or menstrual blood that’s an unusual color, that’s a sign to call your doctor.

Also, if you ever suspect you have a yeast infection or other vaginal infection while pregnant, call your OB-GYN or other healthcare provider right away. And if you are experiencing recurrent yeast infection, meaning they happen again and again despite antifungal treatment, call your doctor so they can help you get to the root cause and find relief once and for all.

Prevention and Management of Yeast Infections

The image is a graphic titled “How can I prevent & manage a yeast infection?” It provides four tips: practice good hygiene, avoid irritants, maintain a diet rich in probiotics, and manage underlying conditions. Each tip is illustrated respectively by a showerhead, skincare products, a yogurt container, and a stethoscope.

While most women experience at least one yeast infection in their lives, there are things you can do to prevent yeast infections from becoming a recurrent issue. These include: 

  • Practicing good hygiene. This includes using condoms, wearing breathable cotton underwear, and wiping from front to back after using the bathroom1. 
  • Avoiding irritants. The two most common vaginal irritants include scented soaps and douches. Both contain chemicals that can disrupt your vaginal flora and leave you more prone to vaginal infection. 
  • Maintaining a diet rich in probiotics. Probiotics help fight off bad bacteria and fungi and keep the vagina functioning like it should. They can be found naturally in foods like yogurt, tempeh, miso, and kombucha, but you can also get them through a daily probiotic supplement. 
  • Managing underlying conditions. If you have diabetes or hormonal imbalances, these can weaken your immune system or disrupt your vaginal flora in ways that make you more prone to vaginal infections. By properly managing these conditions, you will mitigate these risks.

Understanding Happy V’s Vaginal Health Supplement

The image is a graphic titled “Key Takeaways,” summarizing important points. It states that almost every woman will experience a vaginal yeast infection at least once in their life. The most common symptoms include itchiness and thick, cottage cheese-like discharge. While yeast infections do not directly cause bleeding, they can cause irritation that can lead to bleeding. Any vaginal bleeding that is excessive or persistent should be investigated by a doctor. If you suspect you have a yeast infection, seek treatment with antifungals. Once treatment is complete, adopt strategies like practicing good hygiene and taking daily probiotics to prevent future yeast infections.

We briefly mentioned probiotics as a way you can prevent yeast infections and the uncomfortable symptoms that come along with them, but we want to double-click on that point and elaborate on it a bit further. Because while probiotics get talked about a lot when it comes to gut health, they can also help improve your vaginal health, too. 

Probiotics are essentially healthy bacteria. When these healthy bacteria populate in your vagina, they help to maintain your vaginal pH and kill bad microbes like Candida albicans before they can cause infection2. Happy V’s Prebiotic + Probiotic is doctor-formulated to contain probiotic strains that have been clinically proven to restore your vaginal microbiome. It also includes other ingredients like Vitamin C and garlic extract that have immune-boosting and antimicrobial properties to maintain vaginal wellness and fight not only yeast infections but BV and UTIs as well.