What your symptoms suggest
- Thick, white, clumpy discharge with intense itching — usually yeast
- Thin, gray discharge with a fishy odor, especially after sex — usually bacterial vaginosis
- Frothy yellow-green discharge with irritation — possible trichomoniasis, which is sexually transmitted
- Burning with urination and no discharge — may be a UTI rather than a vaginal infection
- Symptoms that returned within a month of treatment — needs testing, not another guess
Why over-the-counter treatment often fails
Self-diagnosing a yeast infection is easy to get wrong, because bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis can feel similar. Antifungal creams do nothing for bacterial vaginosis or trich, so symptoms persist and the delay lets the real infection settle in.
A simple in-office exam and sample tells us which of the three it is in a single visit. Our on-site labs at both Fresno locations run the wet mount and related testing without sending you elsewhere.
How each one is treated
Yeast responds to a single oral fluconazole dose or a topical antifungal course. Bacterial vaginosis needs an antibiotic — metronidazole or clindamycin — and treating it matters, because untreated BV raises the risk of acquiring STIs and of complications in pregnancy.
Trichomoniasis is treated with oral antibiotics and requires partner treatment to avoid ping-ponging the infection back and forth. Because trich is sexually transmitted, we usually pair it with full STI screening.
When it keeps coming back
Four or more yeast infections a year warrants a longer suppressive plan and a look for contributors: uncontrolled blood sugar, recent antibiotics, hormonal contraception, or an immune issue. We can check an A1c and other labs the same day to rule diabetes in or out.
Same-day testing is part of our women’s health services, and recurring symptoms are followed up through primary care.
Come to urgent care for:
- Symptoms that didn't clear with over-the-counter treatment
- Odor, unusual discharge, or itching you want identified today
- Recurring infections — four or more in a year
- Symptoms plus a new partner or possible STI exposure
Go to the ER (or call 911) for:
- Fever above 101°F with pelvic pain
- Severe lower abdominal pain and vomiting
- Heavy vaginal bleeding with the discharge
Frequently asked
Can I get tested and treated in the same visit?
Usually yes. We examine, collect a sample at our on-site lab, and in most cases send a prescription before you leave.
Is bacterial vaginosis an STI?
No. BV is an imbalance of the normal vaginal bacteria. Sexual activity can trigger it, but you can get BV without ever having a partner.
Do I need to avoid sex during treatment?
It's best to wait until you finish treatment and symptoms clear. For trichomoniasis, wait until both you and your partner have completed treatment.
Will douching help?
No — douching worsens BV by stripping the protective bacteria. Plain water externally is all that's needed.
Could this actually be a UTI?
It can be, especially when burning with urination is the main symptom. We can run a urinalysis at the same visit; see our UTI symptoms guide for the difference.
Should my partner be treated?
For trichomoniasis, yes. For yeast and BV, routine partner treatment isn't recommended, though persistent cases sometimes change that.