ABSTRACT
Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is probably the most commonly perceived abnormal condition affecting a woman’s lower genital tract. There is no doubt that this perception has been fueled by the availability of over-the-counter antifungal products for the treatment of VVC. Almost every time a woman experiences itching, burning, discomfort, or abnormal discharge of the lower genital tract she will diagnose herself with a ‘yeast infection’. While approximately 75% of women will experience at least one episode of yeast vulvovaginitis in their lifetime, about 50% will experience more than one episode and 5% will have recurrent episodes1. The problem with VVC is that in a symptomatic patient it is difficult to know if it is an infection or an overgrowth of the endogenous yeast present as part of the endogenous vaginal microflora. Approximately 15-20% of women in the reproductive age group are colonized by yeast; this is referred to as asymptomatic endogenous carriage2.
