Prevalence of Recurrent Vulvovaginal Candidiasis in 5 European Countries and the United States

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to estimate prevalence of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and recurring VVC (RVVC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: An online omnibus survey was administered to 6,010 women aged 16 and older in 6 countries. RESULTS: We analyzed surveys from 6,000 women. Depending on the country, between 29% and 49% of participating women reported having a health care provider-diagnosed vaginal yeast infection during their lifetime. More than one fifth of women reporting one vaginal yeast infection also reported a 12-month period with 4 or more infections (RVVC) (overall 9%). The cumulative probability of RVVC after an initial vaginal yeast infection was very high. By age 25 years, the probability was 10% for women having had 1 initial yeast infection. By age 50 years, it was 25%. CONCLUSIONS: The overall rates of VVC and RVVC were high and consistent with previous findings. Results were consistent across countries with the exception of France, which had a lower rate of VVC. This may reflect differences in risk behavior, response to infection, or sampling biases. Recurring VVC is a significant health problem in western countries, and the probability that VVC will progress to RVVC is high.