- Symptoms and Diagnosis |
- Treatments |
- Causes |
- Preventive Care |
- Video |
- Tips |
- Warnings
Itching, burning, and discharge? Yeast infections certainly aren’t fun! 3 out of 4 women will get a yeast infection at some point in their life, so you’re not alone in your discomfort. [1] X Trustworthy Source US Office on Women's Health U.S. government agency providing resources for women's health Go to source Also known as vaginal candidiasis , yeast infections form from an overgrowth of a bacteria called Candida and rarely go away on their own, but thankfully, there are many ways to treat it. We’ve put together a guide of everything you need to know about taking care of yeast infections, from treating them with over-the-counter medications to preventing them with a tall glass of cranberry juice. So, take a deep breath and get ready to show Candida who’s boss!
Things You Should Know
- Try over-the-counter topical treatments like Monistat and Vagistat-1 if you have minor or mild symptoms.
- Talk to your doctor about taking a single-dose oral treatment like Diflucan to quickly ease mild yeast infection symptoms.
- Drink 6 to 19 oz (177 to 296 mL) of 100% cranberry juice a day and eat live culture yogurt to improve your vaginal bacterial health and prevent yeast infections.
Steps
Expert Q&A
Video
Tips
- Purchase an at-home pH test if you’re experiencing yeast infection symptoms but can’t get to a doctor right away. Simply hold the test strip against the wall of your vagina for a few seconds, then wait for it to change color. [21] X Trustworthy Source US Food and Drug Administration U.S. government agency responsible for promoting public health Go to sourceThanks
Warnings
- If you’ve had more than 4 yeast infections in a year (a condition called vulvovaginal candidiasis ), contact your doctor, as this may be a sign of an underlying medical condition.Thanks
- If you use an over-the-counter treatment and don't experience relief within 2 to 3 days, make an appointment with your physician to discuss a new treatment plan.Thanks
- Be careful with condoms if you use anti-fungal creams or suppositories. The oil in some of the medications can weaken a condom’s latex. [22] X Trustworthy Source US Office on Women's Health U.S. government agency providing resources for women's health Go to sourceThanks
- Wait until a yeast infection passes before having sex. The infection doesn't spread through sexual contact, but men can develop symptoms, such as itching, after having sex with someone with an infection. [23] X Research sourceThanks
References
- ↑ http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/vaginal-yeast-infections.html
- ↑ http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001511.htm
- ↑ http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001511.htm
- ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001511.htm
- ↑ https://youngwomenshealth.org/guides/yeast-infection/
- ↑ http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001511.htm
- ↑ https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/pregnancy-complications/yeast-infections-during-pregnancy/
- ↑ https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2000/0601/p3306.html
- ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007460.htm
- ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000656.htm
- ↑ https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/genitourinary-tract/Pages/Yeast-Infections-in-Girls-and-Young-Women.aspx
- ↑ https://youngwomenshealth.org/guides/yeast-infection/
- ↑ https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/pregnancy-complications/yeast-infections-during-pregnancy/
- ↑ https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=19&contentid=cranberry
- ↑ https://goaskalice.columbia.edu/answered-questions/yogurt-yeast-infections/
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/do-home-remedies-actually-work-for-yeast-infections/
- ↑ https://intermountainhealthcare.org/blogs/topics/live-well/2018/03/preventing-vaginal-yeast-infections-with-lifestyle-and-diet-changes/
- ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001511.htm
- ↑ https://youngwomenshealth.org/guides/yeast-infection/
- ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001511.htm
- ↑ http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/InVitroDiagnostics/HomeUseTests/ucm126074.htm
- ↑ http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/vaginal-yeast-infections.html
- ↑ http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001511.htm
About This Article
To treat a yeast infection, start by visiting your doctor to confirm that you actually have a yeast infection. Based on your symptoms and medical history, your doctor may prescribe an anti-fungal medication in the form of pills, creams, or suppositories. Along with medication, you can try drinking 100% cranberry juice, which can help treat the yeast infection, especially in the early stages. You may also want to speak with your doctor about taking probiotics, which may help restore the levels of healthy bacteria in your vagina. For more tips from our Medical reviewer, including how to prevent a yeast infection from getting worse, read on!
Reader Success Stories
- "Whenever there is a situation and natural remedies can be used to help eliminate a problem, I'm all for that. This article provided a good balance between home remedies and Rx medicines that could help cure a yeast infection. Best of all, I like how it is made very clear that some women may not get the results they're looking for." ..." more