Can a Yeast Infection Cause Bleeding?

Yeast infections can cause a little bleeding, in addition to the symptoms most people are familiar with—itching, burning while urinating, and discharge.

Yeast infections (also called candidiasis) are caused by an overgrowth of the yeast Candida.

If you have a yeast infection and notice blood after wiping, it might be alarming and make you wonder if you have a yeast infection or something more serious.

This article discusses vaginal yeast infection symptoms, additional causes of vaginal bleeding, and when to see a healthcare provider.

What Is a Yeast Infection?

Yeast infections (also called candidiasis) commonly occur in people when the Candida fungus is overgrown.1 When it affects the vagina and the tissues at the opening of the vagina (vulva), it's called a vaginal yeast infection.

The human body has Candida at all times and the immune system is tasked with controlling its growth. If your vaginal chemistry gets thrown off balance, the normal yeast that lives in your vagina can grow too much and lead to an infection. 

A vaginal yeast infection can be caused by many things, such as a weakened immune system, pregnancy, and even normal hormonal changes during a menstrual cycle.1

Yeast Infections and Bleeding

A yeast infection can lead to minor bleeding, but it may not occur in everyone or every yeast infection people get throughout their lives. Typically, the bleeding is nothing to be worried about. It is caused by small cuts, tears, or sores in vaginal tissue that can occur because of the infection. Those most at risk of having bleeding during a yeast infection are those who have recurring yeast infections.

A yeast infection is a type of vaginitis, which refers to several disorders that cause vaginal inflammation. The inflammation can lead to:1

• Pain or soreness
• Swelling
• Itching
• Abnormal vaginal discharge
• Bleeding

Vaginitis is usually a result of a change in the normal balance of vaginal bacteria, an infection, or reduced estrogen levels after menopause. There are seven common types of vaginitis:2

• Candida or "yeast" infection
• Bacterial vaginosis
• Trichomoniasis vaginitis
• Viral vaginitis
• Noninfectious vaginitis
• Atrophic vaginitis
• Chlamydia
• Gonorrhea

These conditions present similarly in terms of symptoms. All require different treatments and thus should be checked by a healthcare provider before you try any over-the-counter medications. The types of vaginitis and other conditions can also cause bleeding similar to that of a yeast infection.

Other Symptoms of a Yeast Infection         

Not everyone experiences bleeding when they have a yeast infection, so it's important to recognize the other signs of a yeast infection. The symptoms that occur in someone with a vaginal yeast infection, include:1

• Extreme itching around and inside of the vagina
• White or yellowish discharge that is watery or chunky in nature
• Burning sensation during urination
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Swelling and redness of the vulva and vagina
• Small cuts or cracks in the skin
  

Other Causes of Bleeding

Bleeding caused by a yeast infection tends to be very mild and is usually only found in small amounts. If the bleeding is on the heavier side, it may be a sign that the bleeding is not caused by yeast at all. A few other conditions can cause abnormal vaginal bleeding.

Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)

Bacterial vaginosis is a bacterial infection of the vagina. It occurs when the good bacteria that live in the vagina, known as Lactobacilli, are replaced by bad microorganisms that live in the vagina like Gardnerella vaginalis, Prevotella, Peptostreptococcus, and Bacteroides.

These anaerobic microorganisms grow in abundance within the vagina and can lead to symptoms such as a fishy odor and white discharge. It is the most common type of vaginosis in women of childbearing age and has been shown to lead to reproductive complications.3

Other common symptoms of BV include pain, itching, and burning in or around the vagina and burning during urination.

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

A urinary tract infection is caused by microscopic organisms, such as fungi, viruses, or bacteria, but the majority of UTIs are caused by bacteria.4 The urinary tract includes the kidneys, ureters, urethra, and bladder, and a UTI can affect any part of that system. However, it is usually only present in the urethra and bladder.

The symptoms of a UTI will differ depending on where in the urinary tract system it affects. For UTIs in the lower urinary tract, symptoms may include:5

• Pain or burning while peeing
• An increased urge to pee, but not much comes out when you go
• Pressure in your lower abdomen
• Urine that smells bad or looks milky or cloudy
• Pain in the lower stomach or back under the ribs
• Fever, which may mean the infection has reached your kidneys
• Blood in the urine 
• Feeling tired, shaky, confused, or weak (more common in older women)

Trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that has been shown to affect millions of adults each year.6 It is a type of parasitic infection caused by the protozoan parasite known as Trichomonas vaginalis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, symptoms are only present in roughly 30% of those who have the infection.7

When people do present with symptoms, they are different in both men and women. In women, the symptoms of the parasitic infection include:7

• Discomfort while urinating
• Itching and burning of the genital area
• Soreness and redness in the genital area
• Changes in discharge that can be white, yellow, or greenish with a fishy smell

A trichomoniasis infection can heighten the risk of spreading other sexually transmitted infections such as HIV because of the inflammation that occurs in the genital area. Bleeding that occurs in this type of infection stems from the cervix and is often referred to as a "strawberry cervix."

Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is another STI that can cause symptoms similar to those of a yeast infection. It is the second most commonly reported bacterial STI in the United States, and it is estimated that approximately 1.6 million new infections occurred in the U.S. in 2018.8

Most women who have gonorrhea do not show symptoms, but when they do, they include:8

• Pain or burning while peeing
• An increase in vaginal discharge
• Vaginal bleeding between periods

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is another STI that is commonly asymptomatic. If a chlamydia infection goes untreated, it can lead to fertility issues or an ectopic pregnancy.9 Studies have shown that cases of chlamydia among young adults were rising steadily from 2007 to 2016, with over 10,000 cases per 100,000 people that year.10

The most common symptoms include:11

• Burning during urination
• Abnormal discharge from the vagina or penis 

The infection can also cause bleeding between periods caused by inflammation. The bleeding could be heavy or light. Sometimes cramping or a dull or sharp pain in the lower abdomen originating from the pelvic region may also be present.

Kidney Stones

Urine filters our waste from the body, but when there isn’t enough urine to do that, crystals begin to form from the waste left behind. These crystals join together with other elements and form a kidney stone.

This stone will continue to grow unless it is excreted in urine. In some cases, a kidney stone may be passed out of the body with limited discomfort, but if it doesn’t move out quickly enough, it can cause a blockage and pain.

Since the size of kidney stones differs, the symptoms vary as well. Some kidney stones could be as small as a single grain of sand, while others are pebble-sized. Typically, the size of the stone will determine the severity of the symptoms. Common symptoms include:12

• Sharp pain that comes and goes in the groin, back, side, or lower belly below the belly button
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• A feeling that sand or small substances are being passed through your body as you urinate
• Painful urination
• The urge to pee without the ability to relieve oneself
• Blood in the urine

The pain caused by a kidney stone is usually only present if a blockage in the kidney or other parts of the urinary tract occurs. It can begin suddenly and progress rapidly.

In many cases, kidney stones are passed without causing any permanent damage to the urinary tract, but there have been some incidents where repeat bouts with kidney stones can lead to the development of chronic kidney disease.13

Other Factors

Other factors that may cause bleeding include intense exercise, birth control devices, and hormone therapy.

Exercise: Very intense or extreme exercise, commonly running, can cause bleeding but it's not actually coming from the vagina. Instead, it is blood in the urine and usually resolves within three days after stopping intense activity.14

Birth control devices: Using birth control devices such as an intrauterine device (IUD) can cause spotting.15

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT): A treatment used to relieve symptoms of menopause, one of the side effects can be unexpected vaginal bleeding or spotting.16

How to Treat a Yeast Infection

Treatment for vaginitis will depend on the type of vaginitis. Possible treatments include:17

• Antibiotics (pills, cream, or gel) for bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia
• Anti-fungal medication (pills, vaginal suppositories, or cream) for a yeast infection
• Estrogen cream for atrophic vaginitis
• Removing the irritant (such as vaginal sprays, douches, or spermicidal products) for noninfectious vaginitis

When to See a Healthcare Provider

Bleeding for any reason outside of your typical menstrual period warrants a visit to your healthcare provider. If you suspect that a yeast infection is to blame for the bleeding and it continues following treatment and resolution of other symptoms, talk to your healthcare provider because it could be a sign of another health issue.

Summary

Yeast infections (candidiasis) are caused by an overgrowth of the yeast Candida. Itching, burning while urinating, and unusual discharge are commonly known symptoms of a yeast infection, but a little bleeding can also occur. 

There are several conditions besides a yeast infection that can cause bleeding. Thus, any vaginal bleeding outside of your typical menstrual period warrants a visit to your healthcare provider so they can accurately diagnose and then treat the condition.