Can a Yeast Infection Cause Pelvic Pain?
- 4 hours ago
- 2 min read
By Alicia Jeffrey-Thomas, PT, DPT, PRPC
We most often think about pain as originating from an injury: You fall and break your leg, your leg hurts. When it comes to pelvic pain, things get a little more complex. Pelvic pain - meaning pain felt in the lower abdomen, pelvis, or perineal region - can be triggered by a whole range of things including musculoskeletal causes, urological/gynecological/colorectal causes, and neurological causes. We can also see pain stemming from injuries (e.g. childbirth or physical trauma), stress or emotional trauma, and hormonal changes.
So what about a yeast infection?
What is a yeast infection?
Yeast infections are caused by overgrowth of candida, which is a fungus. The most common symptoms are vulvar redness and swelling, vaginal itching, burning during urination or intercourse, and the hallmark “cottage-cheese-like” vaginal discharge. It is typically treated with a course of antifungal medication, for which there are both over the counter and prescription options.
Yeast infections and pelvic pain
As described above, the yeast infection causes pelvic pain while the infection itself is active. After going through a course of treatment, sometimes people will report lingering symptoms (people will also sometimes report this after treatment for a urinary tract infection, or UTI). This is usually because the muscles and nerves in the pelvic region have gone on high alert during the active infection phase and might not get the message that the coast is clear after the infection has cleared. There might also be residual cracks in the skin on the vulva that drive irritation while they’re continuing to heal.
Some people report:
Persistent burning
Pain during or after sex
Urinary symptoms like burning, incomplete emptying, or increased frequency
If you’re concerned about lingering symptoms, you can absolutely make a follow-up appointment with your gynecologist or primary care provider to ensure that a sufficient treatment regimen for the yeast infection has been done. If the infection has cleared and you’re still feeling “off,” it might be time to take a look at the pelvic floor muscles to see if they might be driving some of those residual symptoms.
Can pelvic floor therapy help yeast infections?
A pelvic floor therapist can assess the tone of the muscles (especially around the vaginal opening) to see if they are tight or if there is evidence of skin integrity issues or nerve involvement. We can work to help to calm everything back down and get you back to living your life without pelvic pain.
If you’re continuing to experience pelvic pain or have questions about your symptoms, give us a call. Our team at Wellest Integrative Health would be happy to help. You deserve care that addresses all of your concerns.