Can a Yeast Infection Turn Into Chlamydia?

Do you suspect that your yeast infection turned into chlamydia? While a popular myth suggests that this could happen, in reality, it isn't possible. A yeast infection results from a fungal imbalance, while chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection. 

So can a yeast infection turn into chlamydia? No, but it's easy to mix up these two conditions, and you may unknowingly suspect that one turned into the other. 

Read ahead to learn everything you need to know about yeast infections and chlamydia. 

Chlamydia vs. Yeast Infection

While chlamydia and yeast infections can produce similar symptoms, these conditions are very different. Understanding their distinctions can help you identify which condition you're experiencing and determine the best next steps. 

A yeast infection, known by the scientific name candidiasis, occurs when your body produces excess Candida. Candida is a type of fungus naturally present in small amounts on your mouth, skin, and intestines. 

Your body may begin producing excess Candida, causing a yeast infection, when there is a disruption to the natural balance of bacteria in your body. Yeast infections occur for a range of reasons, such as a new pregnancy, untreated diabetes, antibiotic use, poor personal hygiene, or a change in sexual habits.

Typical symptoms of vaginal yeast infections include:

• Itching and irritation near the vulva
• Pain or discomfort during sex
• Thick, white discharge that resembles cottage cheese
• Redness and swelling of the vulva

Men can also get yeast infections known as balanitis, which means the inflammation of the head of the penis. 

Understand that yeast infection is not a bacterial infection, like bacterial vaginosis. Instead, it's an infection of the fungus in the body. 

Meanwhile, chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection that can spread through vaginal, anal, or oral sex. This infection results from the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis spreading through sexual contact. It's one of the most prevalent STDs in the world and can affect both men and women. 

Chlamydia spreads very easily from person to person and is often asymptomatic. That's why completing a 10-panel STD test regularly is important to check for underlying STDs.

Someone may have given you chlamydia who did not realize they had it themself. In some cases, individuals may have dormant forms of chlamydia that do not begin producing symptoms until weeks later, making it challenging to identify when the person contracted it. 

Chlamydia symptoms may include: 

• Abnormal discharge from the vagina or penis
• A burning sensation while peeing
• White, green, or yellow discharge
• Bleeding from the rectum

You can also contract an oral form of chlamydia from oral sex. This infection often produces a cough or sore throat. 

When left untreated, chlamydia can enter the fallopian tubes and lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women. PID can produce intense pain, vaginal bleeding, and fever, and ultimately result in difficulties getting pregnant. 

If you suspect you may have chlamydia, or you can't tell the difference between chlamydia and a yeast infection, order a rapid STD test to find out for sure. 

Can a Yeast Infection Actually Turn Into Chlamydia? 

Yeast infections and chlamydia may look similar. But can a yeast infection turn into chlamydia if left untreated? Not a chance. 

There's a common misconception that yeast infections can progress into chlamydia. But these infections have two different origins; yeast infections result from an overproduction of fungus, while chlamydia occurs from the spread of bacteria. You can't contract a yeast infection from someone else, as it forms due to an existing imbalance in your body. 

If you experience a yeast infection after having vaginal intercourse, it's likely just a coincidence. However, some people may develop yeast infections as a natural reaction to another person's general chemistry.

Having Both Yeast Infection and Chlamydia at the Same Time

If you suspect that a yeast infection turned into STDs like chlamydia and gonorrhea, you may actually just have both conditions at the same time. You may have identified the yeast infection first, then later found out you also had chlamydia through same-day STD testing.

If you never had your yeast infection diagnosed through a lab test, you may have assumed it was a yeast infection when it was actually chlamydia. Both conditions can produce abnormal discharge. Your chlamydia symptoms could have worsened over time, leading you to think that the condition had changed. 

Yeast infections do have a few distinct symptoms from chlamydia. For example, while a yeast infection can be uncomfortable, it typically doesn't cause pain. Yeast infections can also cause small tears or cuts around the genitals, while STDs generally don't produce any tearing. 

Testing for Yeast Infection and Chlamydia

When you experience any type of abnormality in your genital area, you should seek out a diagnosis as soon as possible. Waiting to treat a yeast infection or sexually transmitted infection will only lead the condition to worsen. 

If you suspect you have a yeast infection, make an appointment with your healthcare provider. They will take a sample of your discharge and send it to the lab for testing. The lab will identify the type of yeast that caused the infection, allowing your physician to determine the right medication to prescribe. 

You may be able to test for a yeast infection at home through an over-the-counter pH test. However, these tests can't tell you the type of infection you're experiencing; they can only tell you whether your pH is normal. 

Meanwhile, you can test for chlamydia through a 10-panel STD test. This comprehensive STD test can identify a wide range of sexually transmitted diseases and infections, ensuring that you do not overlook a possible condition. 

In a typical STD test, you will collect a swab sample from the infected area and send it to a lab. Your doctor may also order a urine test to diagnose chlamydia.

A lab technician will identify the bacteria in your sample to diagnose your condition. If Chlamydia trachomatis is present in the sample, that means you have chlamydia. 

Treating Yeast Infection and Chlamydia

Yeast infections and chlamydia have diverse treatment methods, which is why it's important to distinguish the two through comprehensive testing. They result from distinct pathogens that respond to different medications. 

If you have a yeast infection, your doctor will likely prescribe an antifungal medication that you will take for between three and seven days. These medications are available as:

• Ointments
• Creams
• Tablets
• Suppositories

If the infection is mild, your doctor may recommend an over-the-counter medication instead. Some single-dose treatments work well for yeast infections also. 

Even though over-the-counter medication is available to treat yeast infections, you still need an actual lab diagnosis. You don't want to assume that your yeast infection will respond to one of these medicines. 

Your doctor will ask about your hygiene habits and recent activities to help you determine why you developed a yeast infection. They may recommend wearing breathable underwear, avoiding vaginal douching, and cutting back on certain foods to prevent recurrent yeast infections. 

If your physician diagnoses you with chlamydia, they will prescribe an antibiotic medication. The most common antibiotic treatments are:

• Doxycycline, which you would take daily for one week
• Azithromycin, which you would take for three days 

These antibiotics can produce mild side effects in some users. The most common are stomach aches and diarrhea. 

More than 95% of people with chlamydia completely eliminate their infection as long as they take their antibiotics correctly, according to the NHS. Make sure to finish your full antibiotic cycle, even if your symptoms have resolved. Read the prescription closely and ask your doctor to clarify any instructions you don't understand. 

Your physician may advise you to return to the clinic within a few months of treatment to retest and ensure that the treatment effectively eliminated Chlamydia trachomatis in your body. Retesting is typically recommended for people who are 25 or younger. 

You should not be sexually active, even with a condom, until you have completed your chlamydia treatment. You should also be sure to alert any sexual partners to the possibility that they contracted chlamydia from you.  

If you've had chlamydia before, there's a chance that your current infection could be antibiotic resistant. If so, your doctor may prescribe a different type of antibiotic to treat it. 

Repeat chlamydia infections are very common, but you can take measures to prevent them. They often occur when a person's sexual partner has not received treatment for chlamydia or has not finished their full round of antibiotics.

Final Thoughts

Can a yeast infection turn into chlamydia? No, but these two conditions can produce similar symptoms, and you can have both at the same time. 

If you suspect you have a yeast infection, chlamydia, or both, seek testing as soon as possible. Visit a sexual health center near you or order a 10-panel STD test from Rapid STD Testing today.