Deep breast pain during lactation, whether associated with nipple pain and soreness or not, has been informally linked to infection by Candia albicans, though there is not enough evidence in the literature to suggest that C. albicans causes womens breast symptoms. A case-control study of breastfeeding women was thus conducted that included 35 women with, and 35 without symptoms that could be attributed to C. albicans. The symptoms included radiating, burning and penetrating or non-penetrating breast pain with or without associated nipple pain, during or after breastfeeding. The investigators tested the hypothesis that breastfeeding women with symptoms commonly associated with C. albicans infection will have a growth of C. albicans in their breast milk more often than women without these symptoms. They also compared the breastfeeding self-efficacy, measured by the BSES-SF (Breastfeeding Self Efficacy Scale -Short Form), between cases and controls. None of the women in the control group and 8 women in the case group exhibited C. albicans growth in their breast milk. No statistically significant differences could be noted in the severity or type of symptoms between those in the case group with and without growth of C. albicans in their breast milk. According to the BSES-SF measurement, no statistically significant differences existed between cases and controls. However, when analyses were stratified for parity, multiparous controls exhibited statistically significant higher scores for breastfeeding self-efficacy than multiparous cases. Therefore, neither clinical symptoms nor microbial cultivation seemed to be reliable variables for establishing a diagnosis of C. albicans infection of the breast. It is important that skilled breastfeeding consultants provide support with positioning, attachment and identification of physical barriers to successful breastfeeding. The findings highlight that healthcare professionals should be aware of the fact that uncertainty in the breastfeeding situation may be responsible for mothers breast symptoms. The findings are published in the International Breastfeeding Journal.