Frequency and Etiology of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis in Women Referred to a Gynecological Center in Babol, lran

Background: Vulvovaginal candidiasis is the most common fungal disease in sexually active women of which Candida albicans is the primary etiologic agent. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed to determine the etiologic agents of vulvovaginal candidiasis amongst 2000 women who presented to the Gynecological Center of Babol Shahid Yahyanejad Educational Hospital from 2006-2007 with symptoms of vulvovaginal candidiasis. Results: Discharge and pruritus were the most common symptoms in patients (80%). There were 42 out of 97 (43.3%) specimens which were positive for yeast. Of these, 80.95% belonged to Candida albicans and 14.29% were Candida krusei. Conclusion: Discharge and pruritus were the most common symptoms of vulvovaginal candidiasis. In our study, C. albicans was the most common species isolated from the specimens.