How often is genital yeast infection sexually transmitted?

Abstract

We analysed data from a computer-based bank of clinical records of patients seen in a clinic for sexually transmitted diseases over a three-year period to investigate the association between genital yeast infections and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). We classified STDs as primary and secondary syphilis; gonorrhoea; lymphogranuloma venereum; trichomoniasis; scabies; pediculosis; genital herpes; warts; and molluscum contagiosum. Of a total of 2984 disease episodes among women, 1054 (35.3%) included yeast infections, whereas only 382 (6.9%) of 5501 episodes in heterosexual men were associated with yeast infections. We found a significant association between yeast infection and STD and non-specific genital infection (non-specific urethritis (NSU) and proctitis in men, and female contacts of men with NSU), which suggested that yeast infection was sexually acquired in 414 out of 1054 disease episodes in women (39%) and 110 out of 382 episodes in heterosexual men (29%). We conclude that sexually active patients with genital yeast infections should be screened for other STDs, particularly non-specific genital infection. © 1977, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.