What Causes Candida Vulvovaginitis?
Most cases of vaginal yeast infections are caused by candida albicans, which is a fungus. This fungus normally lives on bodily surfaces, including the vagina, without any consequences or symptoms. However, changes in the skin (due to medications, for example) sometimes allow overgrowth to occur, which in turn causes symptoms to arise. Risk factors include antibiotics (which kill the good and bad bacteria, permitting yeast to overgrow); birth control; pregnancy; diabetes; weak immune systems; and intravaginal devices (like the IUD).
