Women’s health · Online · Japan
Get English guidance on symptoms, medicine and treatment in Japan, and ask whether an online consultation or an examination in person is the suitable next step.
Itching and white discharge can fit a vaginal yeast infection, but symptoms alone cannot confirm it. Bacterial vaginosis, irritation and sexually transmitted infections can look similar. An online consultation is a practical first step; if this is your first episode, the symptoms are unusual, or testing is needed, we will recommend an in-clinic assessment rather than guessing.
Please message us on LINE if you need help arranging the consultation in English.
The pattern matters, but no single symptom proves the diagnosis.
A strong fishy or unpleasant smell, grey or yellow-green discharge, pelvic pain, fever, sores or unexpected bleeding point away from a straightforward yeast infection and need medical assessment.
These are different conditions and need different treatment.
| Condition | Common pattern | Why assessment matters |
|---|---|---|
| Vaginal yeast infection | Marked itching or soreness, vulval redness, thick white discharge that often has little smell | Symptoms can recur or be caused by something else |
| Bacterial vaginosis (BV) | Thin grey-white discharge and a fishy smell; itching may be less prominent | Antifungal medicine does not treat BV |
| STI or cervicitis | May cause unusual discharge, bleeding, pain with urination or sex, pelvic discomfort — or no symptoms | Testing is needed to identify the infection and appropriate treatment |
| Irritation or dermatitis | Burning, redness or itching after a new product, shaving, pads, detergent or friction | Repeated antifungal treatment may worsen irritation and delay the right care |
Vulvovaginal candidiasis is not generally classified as an STI. Sexual activity can sometimes be associated with symptoms, but Candida commonly overgrows without sexual transmission. If STI exposure is possible, see our English STD testing page.
An online consultation can review the timing and pattern of symptoms, previous diagnoses, medicines, pregnancy status and possible STI exposure. It is most useful for deciding the safest next step without first navigating a Japanese-only clinic.
An online appointment does not guarantee a diagnosis or a particular medicine. Genital symptoms often need visual examination or laboratory testing, and the doctor may ask you to attend the clinic.
The existing English price list includes Candida testing. Contact the clinic first to confirm whether the test is appropriate for your symptoms.
| Item | Published information | First-visit price |
|---|---|---|
| Candida test | Listed by SWIFT Clinic; suitability and the examination required must be confirmed before attending | ¥8,900 |
The amount above is the price currently published on the clinic’s English STD testing page. Confirm the current total before attending because a separate examination or treatment fee may apply. All care is self-pay and Japanese national health insurance does not apply.
Treatment uses antifungal medicine. Depending on the diagnosis and individual circumstances, this may be a vaginal preparation, a cream for external symptoms or an oral medicine. The correct choice is different in pregnancy, recurrent infection and infections caused by less common Candida species.
This page does not promise a named medicine. Any prescription decision is made by the doctor after assessment.
Repeated symptoms deserve confirmation rather than repeated self-treatment. The CDC describes recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis as three or more symptomatic episodes in less than one year. A clinician may consider culture or other testing, a longer treatment plan and possible contributing factors.
Use water or a gentle unscented emollient rather than fragranced intimate washes, dry the area gently, avoid vaginal douching and change out of damp clothing. These measures may reduce irritation but do not replace diagnosis or treatment.
Vaginal yeast infection is not generally treated as an STI, and a partner without symptoms does not usually need treatment. A partner with genital redness, itching, soreness or discharge should seek medical advice.
Sex can be uncomfortable while the area is inflamed. Some antifungal creams and vaginal products can also weaken latex condoms or diaphragms, so check the medicine instructions and ask a pharmacist or clinician about contraception during treatment.
Vulvovaginal candidiasis is not generally classified as a sexually transmitted infection. Sexual activity can sometimes be associated with symptoms, and similar symptoms can also be caused by bacterial vaginosis or an STI, so symptoms alone cannot confirm the cause.
An online consultation can assess your symptoms and help decide the next step, but it cannot always confirm the diagnosis. A first episode, atypical symptoms, pregnancy, repeated symptoms or treatment failure may require an examination or laboratory test.
Common symptoms include vulval or vaginal itching, irritation, soreness, stinging during urination or sex, and white discharge that often has little or no odour. These symptoms are not specific to yeast infection.
Arrange an in-person assessment if this is your first episode, you are pregnant, symptoms keep returning, treatment has not worked, or you have fever, lower abdominal pain, sores, bleeding or strongly unpleasant-smelling discharge.
Some vaginal antifungal products in Japan are available through pharmacies for recurrence in people who have previously been diagnosed, subject to product instructions and pharmacist assessment. First-time or uncertain symptoms should be medically assessed rather than self-diagnosed.
Partners are not routinely treated when they have no symptoms. A partner with redness, itching, irritation or other genital symptoms should seek medical advice.
You do not need to be fluent in Japanese. The clinic supports consultations using translation tools and written notes. There is not an English-speaking doctor, so please contact the clinic on LINE before booking if you need help with the Japanese booking form.
The clinic’s current English price page lists first-visit Candida testing at ¥8,900. Contact the clinic first to confirm whether this test is appropriate for your symptoms and whether any separate examination or treatment fee applies.
General medical information cannot replace an individual assessment.
Tell us what you are experiencing in English. We will confirm whether online consultation is available for your situation or whether an examination or test should come first.
