Heat, humidity, wet swimsuits, and sweaty workout clothes can all make vaginal symptoms more noticeable. Here’s how to understand common differences, support vaginal health, and know when it may be time to check in with your Premier Women’s Health provider.
Summer often means more time at the pool, more workouts, more travel, and more days spent in heat and humidity. It can also be a time when women notice more vaginal irritation, odor, discharge, or discomfort. When that happens, it is easy to assume every symptom means the same thing, but that is not always the case. Vaginal symptoms are common, and several different conditions can cause them.
What is vaginitis?
Vaginitis is a broad term for inflammation or irritation of the vagina. It is not one specific diagnosis. Instead, it is an umbrella term used to describe symptoms such as itching, burning, discharge, odor, or discomfort that may be caused by different conditions. Common causes include yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis, also called BV.
What is a yeast infection?
A yeast infection happens when yeast that normally lives in the vagina grows too much. It commonly causes itching, soreness, burning, irritation, discomfort with sex, and abnormal discharge. Yeast infections are often associated with thicker white discharge and more irritation than odor. Symptoms alone are not always enough to confirm yeast, which is one reason it can be important to check in if symptoms are new or not improving.
What is BV?
Bacterial vaginosis happens when the normal balance of vaginal bacteria is disrupted. When that balance shifts, certain bacteria can overgrow and lead to symptoms. BV often causes a thin white, gray, or milky discharge and a noticeable fishy odor, sometimes especially after sex. Some women also notice burning or mild irritation, while others may have no symptoms at all.
So how can you tell the difference?
A simple way to think about it is this:
- Vaginitis is the umbrella term
- A yeast infection is one common “type” of vaginitis
- BV is another common type of vaginitis
In general, yeast tends to cause more itching, soreness, redness, and thicker white discharge, while BV is more likely to cause thinner discharge and a strong fishy odor. But there can be overlap, and not every vaginal symptom is caused by yeast or BV.
Signs it may be a yeast infection
A yeast infection may be more likely if you notice:
- Intense itching
- Burning or soreness
- Redness or irritation around the vaginal opening
- Thick white discharge
- Discomfort with urination or intercourse
For many women, yeast feels more irritating than anything else.
Signs it may be BV
BV may be more likely if you notice:
- Thin white, gray, or milky discharge
- A noticeable fishy odor
- Mild irritation or burning
- Symptoms that seem more about odor and discharge than itching
For many women, BV is less about intense irritation and more about a change in odor or discharge.
Why it can be hard to self-diagnose
Even though these symptoms can follow a pattern, they do not always read like a textbook. Some women have mild symptoms. Some have overlap. And sometimes the cause is something else entirely. CDC notes that the typical symptoms of yeast infection are not specific to yeast alone.
Many women with vaginal symptoms often try over-the-counter products before getting evaluated. So, it’s important to not assume every vaginal symptom is a yeast infection. If your self-diagnosis is wrong, the treatment may not help and may delay getting relief.
Why summer can make symptoms more likely & noticeable
Summer itself does not directly cause every vaginal infection, but it can create conditions that make irritation more likely and noticeable. Heat, moisture, tight clothing, wet swimsuits, sweaty workout clothes, and changes in routine can all make the vaginal area feel less comfortable. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) also notes that sexual activity can introduce new bacteria into the vagina, which can play a role in vaginal infections.
Healthy vaginal rules of thumb for summer
A few simple habits can go a long way during the warmer months:
- Change out of wet or sweaty clothes: After swimming or exercising, try not to stay in damp clothing longer than necessary. Dry, breathable clothing is better for comfort and can help reduce irritation.
- Choose breathable underwear: Cotton underwear and lightweight clothing can help reduce trapped moisture in hot weather.
- Avoid scented products: Scented washes, sprays, wipes, and bubble baths can irritate sensitive tissue.
- Skip douching: The vagina is self-cleaning, and douching can disrupt the natural balance of bacteria and raise the risk of irritation or infection.
- Don’t guess if symptoms are new: If symptoms are different than what you have had before, or they are not improving, it is worth checking in with our team. Not every itch or change in discharge is caused by yeast.
- Pay attention to odor: A strong fishy odor is more suggestive of BV than of a yeast infection.
Know when to call your provider
Reach out if symptoms are severe, recurrent, not improving, or paired with pelvic pain, sores, fever, bleeding, or burning with urination. If something feels off, do not feel like you have to guess. Getting the right diagnosis is the best way to get the right treatment and feel better faster. Visit premierwomenshealthmn.com
This content was review by Rebekah Roverrud, PA-C at OBGYN West.