If you answer yes to any of the following questions, click on the "Yes" in front of the question for information about how soon to see a health professional.
Review
health risks that may increase the seriousness of your
symptoms.
If you have any of the following symptoms, evaluate those symptoms
first.
| Note: | If you plan to see a doctor, do not douche, use vaginal creams or
suppositories, or have sex for 48 hours before your appointment. |
| Yes | Do you have
pelvic or lower abdominal pain with other symptoms?
See
significance of pelvic or lower abdominal pain if you
need information to help you answer the questions below. Review
health risks that may increase the seriousness of your
symptoms. | Note: | If you need information on how to take a temperature, see
the topic
Body Temperature. |
Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to
any of the following questions. | YES | Do you have
severe pain? | | YES | Do you have a fever of
102
°
F (39
°
C) or higher?
| | YES | Do you think that you have a moderate to high fever but
you are unable to measure your temperature? |
Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to
any of the following questions. | YES | Do you have
moderate pain and a fever of less than
102
°
F (39
°
C)?
| | YES | Do you have moderate pain and think you have a mild to
moderate fever, but you are unable to measure your temperature? |
You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to
the following question. | YES | Have you had
mild pain or cramping without a fever for 24 hours or
longer? |
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
|
| Yes | Do you think your vaginal symptoms may be caused by
sexual abuse? See
significance of vaginal symptoms that may be caused by sexual
abuse if you need information to help you answer the question
below. Review
health risks that may increase the seriousness of your
symptoms. Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to
the following question. | YES | Do you think your vaginal symptoms may be caused by
sexual abuse? |
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
|
| Yes | Do you have a
rash,
sore, blister, or lump in your vaginal area? See
significance of a rash, sore, blister, or lump in your
vaginal area if you need information to help you answer the questions
below. Review
health risks that may increase the seriousness of your
symptoms. Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to
the following question. Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to
any of the following questions. You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to
any of the following questions. | YES | Have you had a rash that is causing
mild pain for 48 hours or longer? | | YES | Have you had areas of raw or irritated skin larger than
1 in. (2.5 cm) across for 3
days or longer?
| | YES | Have you had a lump in your vaginal area for 48 hours or
longer? |
You need an appointment within the next 1 to 2 weeks if you answer "Yes" to
any of the following questions. | YES | Do you have a
wartlike rash in your vaginal area? | | YES | Have you had a rash in the vaginal area that has not gone
away after 1 week? | | YES | Is there a red, patchy rash in the vaginal area with
greasy silvery or yellow crusts, and is the rash also present on other parts of
the body? |
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
|
| Yes | Do you have
vaginal itching or a change in your vaginal
discharge? See
significance of vaginal itching or a change in your vaginal
discharge if you need information to help you answer the questions
below. Review
health risks that may increase the seriousness of your
symptoms. | Note: | If you have symptoms of a
vaginal yeast infection and have been diagnosed and
treated by your doctor for this condition in the past, you may want to think
about using a nonprescription medicine, such as miconazole (for example,
Monistat) or clotrimazole (for example, Gyne-Lotrimin), to treat your symptoms.
It is important to remember to contact your doctor if you are pregnant or if
your symptoms do not improve with home treatment in 2 or 3 days. Do not use a
nonprescription medicine to treat symptoms of a yeast infection if you are or
may be pregnant. For more information, see the topic
Pregnancy-Related Problems. |
Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to
any of the following questions. | YES | Do you have a fever of
101
°
F (38.3
°
C) or higher?
| | YES | Do you think you have a high fever but you are unable to
take your temperature? | | YES | Do you have
severe pain? |
Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to
any of the following questions. | YES | Do you have
mild to moderate pain? | | YES | Do you have a fever of less than
101
°
F (38.3
°
C)?
| | YES | Do you think you have a fever but you are unable to take
your temperature? | | YES | Do you have moderate to severe vaginal itching? |
You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to
any of the following questions. | YES | Have you had a bad-smelling vaginal discharge for 1 week
or longer? | | YES | Have you had mild vaginal itching for 1 week or
longer? |
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
|
| Yes | Do you think you have a
vaginal infection? See
significance of symptoms of a vaginal infection if you
need information to help you answer the questions below. Review
health risks that may increase the seriousness of your
symptoms. Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to
any of the following questions. | YES | Do you have
moderate pain? | | YES | Do you have a fever of less than
101
°
F (38.3
°
C)?
| | YES | Do you think you have a fever but you are unable to take
your temperature? | | YES | Do you have
mild or cramping pain and a change in your vaginal
discharge? |
You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to
any of the following questions. | YES | Have you had an unusual vaginal discharge for 1 week or
longer? | | YES | Have you had pain during sex for 1 week or longer? | | YES | Have you had pain when you urinate for 1 week or
longer? |
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
|
| Yes | Do you think your vaginal symptoms may be caused by a
medicine? See
significance of vaginal symptoms caused by a medicine
if you need information to help you answer the question
below. Review
health risks that may increase the seriousness of your
symptoms. Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to
the following question. | YES | Do you think your vaginal symptoms may be caused by a
medicine? Note: If you answered "Yes": - Call the doctor who prescribed the
medicine. He or she can determine whether you should stop taking it or take a
different one. An appointment may not be necessary.
- If you are
taking a nonprescription medicine, stop taking it. Call your doctor if you feel
you need to continue taking the medicine.
|
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
|
| Yes | Do you feel a
bulging into your vagina or
increased pelvic pressure with movement? See
significance of bulging into vagina or increased pelvic
pressure if you need information to help you answer the questions
below. Review
health risks that may increase the seriousness of your
symptoms. Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to
the following question. | YES | Do you have low back or pelvic area pain or pressure that
is interfering with your daily activities? |
You need an appointment within the next 1 to 2 weeks if you answer "Yes" to
any of the following questions. | YES | Do you feel a bulging into your vagina or outside your
vaginal area? | | YES | Have you had a change in your bowel habits? |
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
|
| Yes | Do you have
pain or bleeding with sex? See
significance of pain or bleeding with sex if you need
information to help you answer the questions below. Review
health risks that may increase the seriousness of your
symptoms. Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to
any of the following questions. You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to
the following question. | YES | Have you had mild bleeding or spotting with sex for 1
week or longer? | Note: | These symptoms could indicate a
sexually transmitted disease. Do not have sex until
you see your doctor. This will reduce the risk of spreading a possible
infection to your partner. Your partner or partners may need to be treated as
well.
|
|
You need an appointment within the next 1 to 2 weeks if you answer "Yes" to
the following question.
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
|
| Yes | Are you unable to
remove an object from your vagina? See
significance of removing an object from the vagina if
you need information to help you answer the question below. Review
health risks that may increase the seriousness of your
symptoms. Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to
the following question. | YES | Are you unable to remove an object from your
vagina? |
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
|
| Yes | Do you have vaginal
symptoms that have not improved with treatment? See
significance of vaginal symptoms not improving if you
need information to help you answer the questions below. Review
health risks that may increase the seriousness of your
symptoms. Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to
the following question. | YES | Have your vaginal symptoms gotten worse after using
treatment recommended by your doctor? |
You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to
any of the following questions. | YES | Do you have vaginal symptoms that have not improved after
using treatment recommended by your doctor for 24 hours? | | YES | Have your vaginal symptoms gotten worse after using home
treatment for 24 hours? | | YES | Do you have vaginal symptoms that have not improved after
using home treatment for 2 to 3 days? |
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
|
Other Symptoms to Watch For
Do you have any of the following symptoms?
If a visit to a health professional is not needed immediately, see the Home Treatment section for self-care information.
Last Updated:
November 3, 2007
