Ask an Expert: Can partners share yeast infections?

Women's Health

Can partners share yeast infections?
10/15/2007

Question:

I have been seeing a married man for a while and we had unprotected sex a couple of times. After having sex with me one afternoon he went home and had sex with his wife. How ever he did not take a shower. About four days later he told me that his wife had a yeast infection. Could she have gotten it because of the different chemicals in our bodies? I already got cheeked and I do not have a yeast infection. Could she have had it already and days later get more serious sighns of it?

Answer:

Vaginal yeast infections are frequently caused by use of antibiotics, wearing underwear that does not allow air circulation to the crotch, wearing underpants to bed at night or using douches or other feminine “hygiene” sprays. However, yeast infections are not the only kind of vaginal infections that can cause symptoms of itching and discharge. I would say that if you do not have a yeast infection, it is unlikely that you transmitted the infection through your partner. It would be a good thing for her to get checked and determine the cause of her symptoms.

Also, in this situation, it is very important that you protect yourself from both sexually transmitted infections and pregnancies by consistent use of condoms. Although there are many excuses for not using them, the bottom line is that you are too important a person to be a victim of illness or unwanted pregnancy. Please think hard about using condoms and talk with your partner. It would be to the advantage of all three of you to take these precautions.

Hope this helps.

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Response by:

Elizabeth R Barker, APRN, BC, FNP, FAANP, CHE, PhD
Associate Professor
Director, MS Program
College of Nursing
The Ohio State University