Ask the Sexpert: Apr. 29, 2010

Dear Sexpert,

My girlfriend just found out she has a yeast infection. I remember reading somewhere that yeast infections can be sexually transmitted to men. Is this true? What exactly is a yeast infection? Should I be worried?

- Curious

Dear curious,

Though a yeast infection is not a sexually transmitted infection, it is possible to transmit it from one partner to another through sexual contact. Yeast naturally lives in warm, wet places, like the vagina. Normally this is not a problem because the body has certain natural defenses. However, sometimes conditions change - for example, a slight upset in pH levels in the body, which could be caused by a variety of things, such as taking antibiotics - and yeast may begin to grow rapidly, causing discomfort. There is treatment available for yeast infections, so your girlfriend should be feeling better soon, but in the meantime you are right to be worried: Yeast infections can indeed be transferred between sexual partners of the opposite and of the same sex.

If a man were to have sex with a woman while she had a yeast infection, it would be possible for the yeast to spread and cause infection in the urethra or in the mouth and throat (though oral yeast is not common in healthy college students). If the yeast were transmitted to the urethra, he would experience discomfort in his genitals such as itching, dry skin, redness and burning when he urinates. Many men, however, experience no symptoms at all. Women can also spread yeast infections to one another via same-sex sexual contact. An oral yeast infection is called thrush, and it usually appears as white sores in the mouth or throat.

I suggest that the two of you don't have sex until the infection has completely cleared up. For one thing, the medicine prescribed for most yeast infections can destroy latex condoms. In addition, any sort of sexual activity could make your girlfriend's inflammation worse and increase her discomfort. Also, if a man contracts a yeast infection from his partner, it is possible for him to transmit it back to her after her original infection has been resolved. And a yeast infection will probably make your girlfriend too sore to have sex anyway.

Luckily, yeast infections are likely to clear up in a few days once treatment has begun, so take the brief hiatus from sex to take care of your girlfriend, and your sex life will be back to normal in no time.

- The Sexpert

The Sexpert is written by a team of peer sexual health educators and fact-checked by University health professionals. You can submit questions to sexpert@dailyprincetonian.com. Don't be shy!