Understanding Diagnosis and Treatment of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a frequently encountered infection, affecting as many as three out of four women at least once in their lifetime. n India, the condition is estimated to affect between 10% and 35% of women.

Although many cases remain asymptomatic, careful diagnosis is crucial, as clinical signs alone can sometimes be misleading. In complicated or recurrent cases, laboratory confirmation, particularly through culture, guides appropriate treatment.

Topical and intravaginal azole antifungal agents remain the primary treatment for VVC. Oral antifungal therapy is reserved for women with predisposing risk factors or recurrent episodes. In patients experiencing vulvar symptoms alongside pruritus, topical corticosteroids may be considered as adjunct therapy. Pregnancy is an important risk factor, and intravaginal azoles can be safely offered from the second trimester onward, while oral azoles should be avoided.

The rise of non-albicans Candida species makes VCC more challenging to manage, highlighting the need for accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment. Women with severe or recurrent infections may require longer courses of therapy and closer follow-up, while asymptomatic male partners usually do not need treatment.

Reference:

Gandhi AB, Purandare A, Athota K, Kumar PG, Tandon S, Seth S, Shah P. Vulvovaginal candidiasis: Epidemiology, treatment and prevention strategies [Internet]. Indian J Obstet Gynecol Res. 2022 [cited 2025 Oct 22];9(3):328-334. Available from: https://doi.org/10.18231/j.ijogr.2022.063

https://ijogr.org/archive/volume/9/issue/3/article/13471