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Short answer How to tell a UTI from a yeast infection Common questions Related questions Sources**A UTI is a bacterial infection of the urinary tract, usually from E. coli that travels from the bowel into the urethra, while a vaginal yeast infection is an overgrowth of Candida, a fungus that already lives in the vagina.**
Because the causes differ, the treatments differ: UTIs need antibiotics and yeast infections need antifungals, so guessing wrong means the symptoms keep going. The symptom pattern is the clearest clue. Burning during urination, urgency, going often, and cloudy urine point toward a UTI, while itching, external soreness, and thick white discharge point toward yeast. Common yeast triggers include a recent course of antibiotics, pregnancy, uncontrolled diabetes, and hormonal shifts, and helpful habits include drinking enough water, urinating after sex, and not douching. If you have fever, back or side pain, blood in your urine, symptoms during pregnancy, or repeat infections, get checked by a clinician rather than treating at home.
How to tell a UTI from a yeast infection
Common questions
What causes uti vs yeast?
A UTI starts when bacteria, most often E. coli from the bowel, get into the urethra and bladder. That causes burning when you pee, needing to go often and urgently, and cloudy or strong-smelling urine. A yeast infection is an overgrowth of Candida, a fungus already present in the vagina, often after antibiotics, during pregnancy, with uncontrolled diabetes, or with hormone changes. It causes itching, soreness, and thick white discharge, with little change in how often you pee. Treatment differs: UTIs need antibiotics, yeast infections need antifungals. See a clinician for fever, back pain, blood in urine, or symptoms in pregnancy.