Chronically recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis is the most common vaginal infection. Candidomycosis and complaints related to it are the main reason for visiting a specialist. In order to avoid chronification of the process and unnecessary administration of medication, it is important to make the diagnosis in time and to be followed by appropriate treatment. 1. What causes candidiasis? This infection is caused by dimorphic yeasts of the genus Candida, most commonly Candida albicans. The fungus is a normal inhabitant of the human body and is found on the skin and mucous membranes, most often the vagina and oral cavity. Under suitable conditions for development, overgrowth of the yeast occurs and a change in the biological relationship between man and microorganisms, whereby Candida albicans passes from a saprophytic to a parasitic existence. The reasons for this are usually antibiotic treatment, pregnancy, immune deficiency, endocrine diseases, etc. It has been found that about 80% of women at least once in their life face this disease. It appears when there is a predisposition, combined with favorable conditions for the development and reproduction of this microorganism. 2. What are the symptoms? They are well described and recognizable. In most cases, the main symptoms are: strong itching, whitish fluorine (white discharge), burning during urination, unpleasant to painful sensation during sexual intercourse. Itching affects the external genitalia and can cause severe redness and scarring of the delicate skin covering a woman’s external genitalia. The flow is usually scanty and has an unpleasant but not repulsive smell. Very characteristic of vaginal candidiasis is the white coating – like curdled milk. The inflammation causes redness and swelling of the mucous membrane. 3. Predisposing factors When we are healthy, we have good immune protection, our body is strong enough to prevent the harmful influence of the various microorganisms it encounters. Therefore, when diseases are triggered that affect many systems and organs of our body and that develop over a long period of time, they lead to exhaustion and lowering of defense forces. Any such condition can become the cause of transition from an asymptomatic carrier of Candida albicans to the development of an infection. The predisposing factors are: a disturbance in the normal vaginal microflora – intake of antibiotics, corticosteroids, vaginal washes, incorrect performance of intimate hygiene; pregnancy; diabetes; hypo- and avitaminosis; tight synthetic underwear. 4. What are the ways we can get infected? Most often they are two: recto-vaginal contamination, sexually transmitted infection – from the sexual partner. Provided that there are 3 or more episodes of candidomycosis, we are talking about a chronic-recurrent form of vulvovaginal candidiasis. The cause is usually reinfection from the gastrointestinal tract, which is due to increased yeast resistance and lowered immune defenses. NEWS_MORE_BOX 5.How is the diagnosis made? It begins with a conversation to establish the complaints that the woman has and data on treatment on another occasion, after which a gynecological examination is performed and a sample of the vaginal contents is taken for microbiological examination. A native preparation is also prepared, which can be observed under direct microscopy. 6. What is the treatment? Treatment depends on the woman’s condition. It is determined by how pronounced the symptoms are, what are the results of the conducted clinical and laboratory tests. Different antifungal agents are used, and depending on the specific case, the most appropriate form of the preparation and duration of treatment is chosen. An important condition for achieving a good therapeutic effect is to apply treatment to the sexual partner in order to avoid re-infection.