Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) has a poor therapy outcome and has a severe impact on women and their partners,both physically and psychologically.Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for patients with RVVC is significant.Only a little is known about HRQOL in patients with the disease.In this study,we aim to identify clinical and mycological characteristics of the women with RVVC and the effects of RVVC on womens HRQOL.We designed the study as a descriptive,case control study.HRQOL was measured using Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) in 102 patients with RVVC and 101 health care women (controls).Recurrent VVC was defined as four or more episodes of proven VVC in the previous 12-month period.The definition of VVC was the presence of vulvar itching,vaginal discharge and demonstration of blastoconidia or pseudohyphae on a wet,10% potassium hydroxide (KOH) treated vaginal slide and positive Candida culture.Group comparisons were carried out with ANOVA or Chi square test where necessary.Mean age at first diagnosis of patients with RVVC and controls was 30.96 (SD 5.38) and 29.75(SD 5.83) years old(p>0.05).The duration of the complaints of the patients varied from 6 months to 10 years with a mean duration of 22.28(±21.75) months.The common complaints were: increased vaginal discharge (102 cases,100%),vulvar itching (97 cases,95.1%),dyspareunia (65 cases,63.7 %),and vulvar burning (79 cases,77.5 %).C.albicans was the predominant Candida species (86 strains,84.3%) in the patients,followed by C.glabrata (12 strains,11.8%).C.parapsilosis (1 strain,0.9 %),C.tropicalis (1 strain,0.9 %),C.krusei (1 strain,0.9 %) and C.lusitaniae (1 strain,0.9 %).The mean SF-36 dimension scores of physical function,role physical,bodily pain,general health,vitality,social functioning,role emotional,and mental health were significantly lower in patients with RVVC than that in controls (85.20,61.39,77.79,54.95,53.17,67.89,52.48 and 59.17 V.S.90.20,80.87,87.08,67.38,59.69,79.86,68.01 and 65.38).The physical composite score domains and mental composite score of patients with RVVC were 63.06 and 64.87,which were lower than those in controls (75.01 and 74.87),p<0.05.We concluded that nearly all patients with RVVC have clinical symptoms.RVVC were mainly caused by C.albicans.RVVC has negative effects on womens health related quality of life both in physical composite and mental composite.