Is It an STD or Yeast Infection? Vaginal Cuts Explained

Hi there Aunt Vadge,

I have long cuts/ lines on my vaginal crease. It’s not painful all the time, only every once in a while there will be a flare up and it’s painful. It’s been going on for a while, but it seems to heal itself and I think it’s all good, and then it comes back again. I’m scared it’s an STD and don’t want it to affect my reproductive system.

Could it be a yeast infection?

Sincerely,
Cut
Age: 19
Country/Area: Delaware, USA
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Dear Cut,

Those long cuts do sound like a yeast infection. It seems very unlikely, unless you are having other symptoms, that you have a sexually transmitted infection.

Luckily, yeast infections tend to be very easy to fix, so go to our yeast infection page and see what you can do at home cheaply. I would suggest you avoid antifungals unless you really have to, since antifungal resistance is as much of a thing as antibiotic resistance, which creates superbugs that are really hard to kill.

There are so many ways to treat a yeast infection at home anyway, and you may just have it between your labial folds. This is even easier, since you could probably just treat your labial folds, unless you have symptoms in your vagina (itching, thick, white discharge). Yeast loves warm, moist places, and between your labia is a lovely spot to live.

If it doesn’t go away with simple at-home yeast infection treatments, write back or go see your GP to be examined, making sure you go when the cuts are there.

Let me know if you need any more help!

Warmest regards,
Aunt Vadge