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Vaginal Yeast Infections - Treatment Overview
SYMPTOMS & TREATMENTS
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You have a number of treatment options for a vaginal yeast infection, including nonprescription vaginal medicine, prescription oral or vaginal medicine, or nonprescription vaginal boric acid capsules.
Only use nonprescription vaginal yeast infection treatment without a doctor's diagnosis and advice if you:
- Are not pregnant.
- Are sure your symptoms are caused by a vaginal yeast infection. If you have never been diagnosed with a vaginal yeast infection, see your doctor.
- Have not been exposed to a sexually transmitted disease (STD), which would require a medical exam.
- Are not having multiple, recurrent infections.
The risk of self-treatment is that your symptoms may be caused by another vaginal infection, such as a sexually transmitted disease, that requires different treatment. If you may have been exposed to an STD, it is best to discuss your symptoms with your doctor before using a nonprescription medicine. Your doctor may recommend testing for STDs if you have risk factors for these diseases.
For more information about self-treatment, see:
Yeast infection during pregnancy
Vaginal yeast infections are common during pregnancy, likely caused by elevated estrogen levels. If you are pregnant, don't assume you have a yeast infection until it is diagnosed, and don't use nonprescription medicines without discussing your symptoms with your doctor.
Vaginal medicine is used to treat a vaginal yeast infection during pregnancy. If you are pregnant, do not use antifungal medicine pills that you take by mouth. Also, do not use vaginal boric acid treatment.
Acute vaginal yeast infection
For the occasional yeast infection, you can use a nonprescription vaginal medicine without seeing your doctor first. Only use these medicines if you are certain that your symptoms are caused by a yeast infection. If you prefer, you can use a single-dose prescription oral tablet, a prescription vaginal tablet, or boric acid capsules. Vaginal treatments are applied at bedtime. Medicines are used for 1 to 7 days, depending on the type.
If you have HIV infection, your vaginal yeast infection treatment options are the same as those for women without HIV.1 But your treatment may take longer or need to be repeated.
Recurrent yeast infection
For a vaginal yeast infection that recurs within 2 months of treatment, or four times in 1 year (recurrent vaginal yeast infection), see your doctor. Further testing or a different treatment may be needed. If you have been using a nonprescription medicine for your vaginal symptoms, be sure to tell your doctor. This information could affect what treatment is recommended.
Recurrent vaginal yeast infection can be treated with prescription oral medicine, nonprescription vaginal medicine, or vaginal boric acid capsules, followed by less frequent suppressive or maintenance therapy over 6 months to 1 year to prevent reinfection.2
A vaginal yeast infection is not a sexually transmitted disease (STD). After having unprotected sex with a partner who has a yeast infection, you may have more than the normal amount of yeast in your vagina. But if after having sex you develop a yeast infection that causes symptoms, it is most likely because other factors are also involved.
What To Think About
It is important to complete the entire recommended treatment to cure a yeast infection.
Studies have shown that vaginal infections caused by types of yeast other than Candida albicans may be more difficult to cure with standard antifungal medicine. For treatment-resistant infections, a culture of vaginal discharge is done to identify the type of yeast causing the infection.
Boric acid is usually effective for treating Candida albicans (C. albicans) infection, and non–C. albicans yeast infections that don't respond to antifungal medicine.2
Women who take the anticoagulant medicine warfarin (such as Coumadin) and use a nonprescription vaginal yeast-fighting medicine may have increased bruising and abnormal bleeding. If you take warfarin, talk with your doctor before using a yeast-fighting medicine.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: June 8, 2010 |
| Medical Review: | Sarah Anne Marshall, MD - Family Medicine Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology | |
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
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