Most women know the tell-tale signs: that persistent itch, irritation, and sometimes a cottage cheese-like discharge – classic symptoms of a vaginal yeast infection. Yeast infections are extremely common; about 3 out of 4 women will experience at least one in their lifetime. Though they’re not usually serious, they can be very uncomfortable and inconvenient. The good news is that yeast infections are generally easy to treat once you recognize what you’re dealing with. In this article, we’ll discuss how to identify a yeast infection (and not confuse it with other issues), effective treatments – including medications and home care – and ways to prevent those pesky infections from coming back. Is It Really a Yeast Infection? The vagina has a delicate balance of flora, including the yeast, Candida. A yeast infection happens when something upsets that balance (like antibiotics, hormonal changes, or diabetes) and yeast overgrows, leading to irritation. However, other infe...