Highly-cited estimates of the cumulative incidence and recurrence of vulvovaginal candidiasis are inadequately documented.

BACKGROUND: Available literature concerning the epidemiologic or clinical features of vulvovaginal candidiasis commonly reports that: 75% of women will experience an episode of vulvovaginal candidiasis in their lifetimes, 50% of whom will experience at least a second episode, and 5-10% of all women will experience recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (≥4 episodes/1 year). In this debate we traced the three commonly cited statistics to their presumed origins. DISCUSSION: It is apparent that these figures were inadequately documented and lacked supporting epidemiologic evidence. Population-based studies are needed to make reliable estimates of the lifetime risk of vulvovaginal candidiasis and the proportion of women who experience recurrent candidiasis. SUMMARY: The extent to which vulvovaginal candidiasis is a source of population-level morbidity remains uncertain.