Why Do I Always Get a Yeast Infection During My Period?

Do yeast infections always seem to pop up right around your period? Well, you're not alone. Many people with periods experience this frustrating pattern, and understanding why it happens can help you manage and prevent cyclical yeast infections. 

Let's dive into why you might be getting a yeast infection during your period and what you can do about it.

Key takeaways

• Hormonal shifts and changes in vaginal pH around your period make yeast infections more likely before, during, and after bleeding.
• Estrogen drops in the days before your period, and menstrual blood temporarily raises vaginal pH while lowering protective Lactobacilli levels.
• You can treat a yeast infection while on your period the same way you would at any other time, with antifungal medication.
• If infections keep recurring around your cycle, test with the Evvy Vaginal Microbiome Test to understand what's driving the pattern.

What is a yeast infection during a period?

A vaginal yeast infection, also known as vaginal candidiasis, is a common fungal infection caused by an overgrowth of the Candida fungus in the vagina. Most yeast infections are caused by a yeast called Candida albicans, specifically.

While yeast is naturally present in the vagina, it usually exists in balance with other bacteria, namely, healthy bacteria like Lactobacillus. However, when this normal balance is disrupted, yeast can grow excessively, leading to a yeast infection. Periods are one of the most common reasons why your vaginal flora may be disrupted (more on that below).

Yeast infection symptoms often include: 

• Vulvar and vaginal itching
• Vaginal irritation
• Redness or swelling of the vulva
• Unusual vaginal discharge that looks a bit like cottage cheese
• Pain during sex 
• A burning sensation when you pee 

How is a vaginal yeast infection linked to the menstrual cycle?

You might experience yeast infections before, during, or after your period due to hormonal changes, fluctuations in vaginal pH, and shifting bacterial levels. These factors can create a perfect environment for yeast to grow.

• Hormonal changes: Throughout your menstrual cycle, hormonal fluctuations can affect yeast growth in the vagina. Right before and during your period, estrogen levels are at their lowest, creating a less acidic environment that favors yeast growth. However, higher estrogen levels can also promote Candida growth. Estrogen peaks twice during your cycle: around ovulation (mid-cycle) and again during the luteal phase, dropping just before your period. Estrogen helps yeasts attach to the cells of the vaginal wall more easily.
• Menstrual blood: Menstrual blood can also affect the pH balance of the vagina. During your period, the acidic environment of the vagina changes, making it more susceptible to yeast growth. Normally, the vagina has a slightly acidic pH (between 3.8 and 4.5), which helps to keep harmful bacteria and fungi in check. However, the vaginal pH can increase slightly during your period, making you more prone to vaginal infections. This happens because menstrual blood has a higher pH, which can disrupt the natural balance and allow yeast to thrive. Research also shows that levels of Lactobacilli decrease during your period, which can further alter vaginal pH and reduce protection against yeast overgrowth.
• Moisture and warmth: The presence of menstrual blood and the use of pads or tampons can create a warm, moist environment, which yeast loves. This can make it easier for yeast to grow, leading to an infection.
• Immune system changes: Your immune system may be slightly weaker during your period, making it harder to keep yeast levels in check.

This doesn't mean you're guaranteed to get a yeast infection every time you get your period, just that the changes happening inside your body (and vagina) at that time can become the perfect storm for Candida overgrowth. Other risk factors for yeast infections include:

• Being sexually active (even though yeast infections aren't considered sexually transmitted infections)
• Having high blood sugar (uncontrolled diabetes)
• Being on birth control
• Taking antibiotics
• Having a weakened immune system (from autoimmune diseases and steroid use). 

Yeast infection before your period

If you tend to notice yeast infection symptoms in the days leading up to your period, it's not a coincidence. During the luteal phase (the second half of your cycle, after ovulation), estrogen rises and then drops sharply right before your period begins. This pre-period estrogen dip lowers the amount of glycogen available in your vaginal tissue, a nutrient source Lactobacillus relies on, which can reduce protective bacteria levels just as Candida is poised to take advantage.

At the same time, vaginal pH can start to shift in the days before bleeding even starts, as hormone levels fluctuate in preparation for your period. This means the perfect environment for yeast overgrowth often begins before you actually see blood, which is why some people swear their yeast infections always strike right on schedule each month.

If you notice a consistent pattern of symptoms within the same pre-period window each cycle, it's worth tracking alongside your cycle to confirm the timing, as this can help your provider tailor treatment or suggest preventive options, such as starting an antifungal proactively before symptoms typically begin.

Yeast infection after your period

For others, symptoms of a yeast infection show up or linger after their period ends rather than before or during. This happens because it takes time for your vaginal pH to fully normalize once bleeding stops. Even after your period ends, residual changes in pH and lower Lactobacillus levels can persist for a few days, leaving a window where Candida can still take hold or continue growing if it started during your period.

It's worth distinguishing a lingering yeast infection from simple post-period irritation. Irritation from pads, tampons, or just general moisture during your period typically fades within a day or two once you're no longer bleeding and tends to involve mild redness or chafing without thick discharge. A true yeast infection, on the other hand, usually comes with persistent vaginal itching, thick white vaginal discharge, and a burning sensation that doesn't improve on its own and may worsen over the following days.

If your symptoms haven't started improving within a couple of days after your period ends, or if they match the more classic signs above, it's worth treating with an antifungal rather than waiting it out.

Treating vaginal yeast infections during your period

The good news is that your period won’t make it harder to treat yeast infections. And if you do get a yeast infection while you’re on your period, you can treat it just as you would at any other point of your cycle. 

For mild yeast infections, your healthcare provider may prescribe a short course of vaginal antifungal medication in the form of a cream, ointment, or vaginal suppository. These medications often end in “-azole,” such as terconazole or miconazole. Alternatively, you may be given a single dose of the oral medication fluconazole. 

For more severe or recurrent yeast infections, your doctor may recommend a longer course of treatment or different types of antifungal medications.

If the initial treatment doesn't work, or if your yeast infection isn't caused by Candida albicans, your doctor may suggest other medicines such as boric acid, nystatin, or flucytosine, which can be taken as a vaginal suppository. Despite what you may have read online, there's no evidence that home remedies like tea tree oil, coconut oil, or probiotic supplements can treat yeast infections.

How to prevent yeast infections around your period

While you can't fully prevent the hormonal shifts that come with your cycle, a few habits can lower your risk of a yeast infection showing up before, during, or after your period:

• Change pads and tampons frequently (every 4 to 8 hours) to avoid prolonged moisture and warmth that yeast thrives in.
• Choose cotton period products and underwear over synthetic materials, which trap heat and moisture.
• Avoid scented pads, tampons, or wipes, since fragrance can irritate the vaginal area and further disrupt your microbiome on top of the natural pH shifts your period already causes.
• Change out of a wet bathing suit or sweaty workout clothes promptly, especially around your period.
• Consider a probiotic with Lactobacillus strains, like Evvy's Vaginal Probiotic Suppositories, if you notice a consistent pattern of infections tied to your cycle, to help support your protective bacteria during the most vulnerable windows of your cycle.
• Test your microbiome if infections keep recurring around the same point in your cycle, since Evvy's Vaginal Microbiome Test can help identify whether a resistant Candida strain or broader imbalance is driving the pattern.

FAQs about yeast infections and your period 

How do you treat a yeast infection while on your period?

If you get a yeast infection during your period, you can treat it just like you would at any other point of your cycle: with antifungals. These can be purchased over the counter or prescribed by your healthcare provider. 

Will my period flush out a yeast infection?

No, having your period will not "flush out" a yeast infection. A mild yeast infection might (rarely) clear up on its own, but most of the time, you will need to take antifungal medications to treat the infection.

Can pads cause a yeast infection?

While menstrual pads themselves don't directly cause yeast infections, they can create conditions that promote the growth of yeast if you don't change them frequently enough. Wearing pads for extended periods can increase moisture and warmth in the vaginal area, creating an ideal environment for yeast to thrive. That said, they're perfectly safe to use, and it's unlikely that they'll trigger a yeast infection unless you wear a pad for too long and you're very, very, very prone to them. 

Can tampons cause a yeast infection?

No, tampons themselves don't directly cause yeast infections, but leaving one in for too long can create a warm, moist environment that makes yeast overgrowth more likely. Tampons are generally fine to use during a yeast infection, but if you're prone to recurring infections, it's worth changing them on schedule (every 4 to 8 hours) and avoiding scented varieties, which can further irritate the vaginal area.

What does a yeast infection look like during your period?

A yeast infection during your period looks much the same as it would at any other time: thick, white, cottage cheese-like discharge, itching, and irritation around the vulva. It can sometimes be harder to notice changes in discharge against the backdrop of menstrual blood, so itching, burning, and soreness are often the more reliable signs to watch for during your period.

Can your period cause a yeast infection?

Your period doesn't directly cause a yeast infection, but it creates conditions that make you more likely to develop one. Hormonal shifts, a temporary rise in vaginal pH from menstrual blood, and lower protective bacteria levels all combine to make your vagina more hospitable to Candida overgrowth around your period, whether that's in the days before, during, or just after.

Can a period make a yeast infection worse?

Yes, it's possible. If you already have a yeast infection going into your period, the added pH shift from menstrual blood can make symptoms feel more intense or take slightly longer to clear, even with treatment. On top of that, friction from pads or tampons can aggravate already-sensitive, irritated skin, making itching and discomfort feel worse than they otherwise would.