ANN ARBOR, Mich., Dec. 18 (UPI) -- Research released Thursday suggests the presence of yeast in male sex partners does not necessarily make U.S. women more prone to recurrent yeast infections.
The research, conducted by the University of Michigan Health System and published in the Journal of Women's Health, found certain sex practices appear to be linked to the infection's painful symptoms, including oral sex and masturbation.
"Many physicians, and many women, believe that women get recurrent yeast infections because their partner passes the yeast back to them during intercourse," said lead researcher, Dr. Barbara Reed. "This study suggests the risk for recurrent infections is related to something else -- perhaps the woman's immune response to the yeast."
Yeast infections are one of the most common diagnoses in American women, affecting three out of four at some time in their lives. About 40 percent have recurrent infections.
