| If you currently have something strange going | | | | sexually transmitted parasite called |
| on in your genital area, you may have a | | | | tricomoniasis, and by the STD's called |
| common type of infection. Yeast and bacteria | | | | Chlamydia and Gonorrhea. All these infections |
| are the usual suspects, and the symptoms of | | | | must be treated by your doctor. If you have a |
| these different types of infection are so | | | | vaginal discharge along with a fever, nausea, |
| similar that it is often difficult to make a | | | | chills, upset stomach or vomiting, and/or |
| proper diagnosis without your doctor's help. | | | | abdominal pain, you may have a much more |
| Making the wrong diagnosis could put your | | | | serious type of infection. Yeast does not |
| health in danger. Yeast infections are | | | | cause these symptoms. You may have a kidney |
| usually quite harmless, even though they itch | | | | infection, appendicitis or pelvic |
| and often cause an irritating discharge. | | | | inflammatory disease, and urgent or emergency |
| Unless your immune system is compromised, you | | | | care may be needed. Get yourself to a doctor. |
| have little to fear from a yeast infection, | | | | Are male infections easier to diagnose? Not |
| other than the temporary discomfort. | | | | necessarily. A male yeast infection shows up |
| Bacterial infections, on the other hand, are | | | | as an itching, red rash on the penis. The |
| considerably more serious. Some can be | | | | rash will look red and flat, with sharp |
| sexually transmitted to your partner, and | | | | scalloped edges. You may see small pustules |
| some can cause damage to your reproductive | | | | around the edges of the rash, and it may itch |
| organs, resulting in infertility. You can | | | | or burn. A rash around the anus may be white |
| see, then, why it's so important to know if | | | | or red, and will itch. Men who have a thin |
| you infection is from yeast of one of the | | | | whitish discharge from the penis with pain or |
| more dangerous germs. Symptoms of a vaginal | | | | burning during urination may have Tricomonas |
| yeast infection are: • Itching and | | | | or Gonorrhea. You don't want either of these |
| burning in the vagina and around the vulva | | | | infections, and you certainly don't want to |
| • A white vaginal discharge. It may | | | | share them with your partners, so head over |
| look like cottage cheese, and may smell like | | | | to your doctor's office or clinic for proper |
| bakers' yeast or beer • Pain during | | | | care. The symptoms often go away on their |
| sexual intercourse • Swelling of the | | | | own, but the infection is still there, |
| vulva Unfortunately, symptoms of bacterial | | | | causing internal damage and waiting to infect |
| vaginosis are almost exactly the same. The | | | | your next partner. Yeast infections are so |
| discharge may smell fishy instead of yeasty, | | | | common that we often assume that our |
| and may be stronger after sex or after | | | | discharge, itching, pain or rash is being |
| washing with soap. You will also itch or | | | | caused by yeast, but remember that if you do |
| burn, and the discharge can be either white, | | | | have an infection yeast may not be causing |
| gray or yellow. Other infections that can | | | | it. It's always safest to see your doctor so |
| have very similar symptoms are caused by the | | | | you can know for sure. |