I've had a yeast infection on and off for a year. I've been to the doctor and taken a medicine, but it never really goes away. Can having sex pass it back and forth? My boyfriend has never been treated, but he has no signs of it. What do I need to do? – Stef* It's important to go back to your doctor and explain that the medicine isn't working. You may need a different medicine for the yeast infection. For example, if you used a vaginal cream, your doctor might give you a pill instead. Or, if you used a medicine that you bought at the store without a prescription, you may need a prescription medicine. Your doctor will probably do a vaginal exam and use a cotton swab to get a sample of the vaginal discharge. The sample will go to a lab for testing. Your doctor also will check to make sure that your symptoms aren't from something else. For example, some STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) can have signs that look like a yeast infection. Or, yeast infections can sometimes be a sign of another health problem (like diabetes or an immune system problem). Guys don't usually get yeast infections. So it's not likely that a yeast infection is passing back and forth between you and your boyfriend. Make your appointment as soon as you can. This is something that you and your doctor can take care of right away! *Names are changed to protect user privacy. Back to Articles Related Articles STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) You've probably heard lots of discouraging news about sexually transmitted diseases. The good news is that STDs can be prevented. Find out how to protect yourself. Read More Birth Control Methods: How Well Do They Work? Some birth control methods work better than others. This chart compares how well different birth control methods work. Read More How Can I Tell If I Have a Yeast Infection? Find out what the experts have to say. Read More I've Never Had My Period, So What's This Discharge? Find out what the experts have to say. Read More Why Has My Discharge Changed? Find out what the experts have to say. Read More Vaginal Discharge: What's Normal, What's Not Normal vaginal discharge has several purposes: cleaning and moistening the vagina and helping to prevent infections. But sometimes discharge indicates there's a problem. Get the facts on what's normal and what's not. Read More Vaginal Yeast Infections What are vaginal yeast infections? Can anything be done to prevent them? Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.