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Follow these tips to eliminate your vaginal yeast infection quickly.
What exactly is a vaginal yeast infection?
Yeast live in the vagina all the time in small, harmless numbers.
But when these fungi grow out of control, the resulting itchiness,
burning, and redness are extremely uncomfortable. In some cases, a
thick, white, odorless discharge, resembling cottage cheese, also
appears. Lactobacillus bacteria (a healthy type) normally keep the
vagina's pH and yeast levels in check. But the balance can be tipped
by antibiotics, corticosteroids, uncontrolled diabetes, or raised
estrogen levels from birth control or pregnancy. Yet, in many cases,
there's no easily identified culprit for the pesty yeast infection.
Here's what's new, what's natural, and what's tried-and-true in the
battle to beat vaginal yeast infections:
Oral Antifungal
For 5% of women, vaginal yeast infections are chronic, returning at
least 4 times a year. (These 7 everyday habits could give you a
yeast infection.) In a study at Wayne State University School of
Medicine, women with a history of recurrent episodes took the oral
antifungal fluconazole (Diflucan) weekly for 6 months; during that
time, the rate of recurring infection dropped 90%. Six months
afterward, 43% were considered cured, compared with 22% of those
taking a placebo. (Maintenance therapy with OTC creams, although
messier than pills, has also been found effective.)
Probiotics
Many yogurts contain the same type of probiotics that keeps the
vagina healthy, yet studies have not been able to prove effectively
that eating a daily cup offers any benefit for vaginal yeast
infection treatment. But in a recent Italian study, women with
chronic yeast infections who placed a probiotic tablet directly in
the vagina (once a night for 7 nights, then every 3 nights for 3
weeks, and then once a week) saw their rates of yeast infection drop
by 87%. Laurie Cullen, ND, a naturopathic physician and a professor
at Bastyr University, suggests treating an infection with a
conventional therapy first, and then trying a Lactobacillus pill
(such as Jarrow Fem-Dophilus, $29, amazon.com) to maintain a healthy
vaginal environment.
Home Screening
While women often self-diagnose a vaginal yeast infection, in many
cases, "they actually have bacterial vaginosis, which has similar
symptoms but, unlike a yeast infection, needs to be treated with
antibiotics," says Jennifer Reinhold, PharmD. Urinary tract
infections also have overlapping symptoms (pain and burning, though
not discharge), but they, too, require different medications. A home
vaginal swab that measures pH levels, taken with an OTC test such as
the Monistat Vaginal Health Test ($15, amazon.com), can confirm a
yeast infection diagnosis. But health experts recommend that women
with complicating factors, such as pregnancy or recurrent
infections, schedule a doctor visit.
Tea Tree Oil
The essential oil derived from tea tree leaves has been shown in
several lab and animal studies to act as an antifungal against
yeast. While more studies need to be done to prove the oil's
efficacy, some women report that they get yeast infection relief
from inserting a tampon doused in tea tree oil at night. Try this
with caution, Cullen advises: "The vagina is very sensitive, so I
would hesitate to put something that might be irritating in an
already irritated environment." If you find this home remedy
uncomfortable, discontinue it immediately. Also check in with your
doctor first, and make sure to use a 100% pure oil. (Tea tree oil is
also one of these 6 best products to treat annoying ingrown hairs.)
Boric Acid Suppository
"For uncomplicated yeast infections, my top-shelf treatment is boric
acid," says Cullen. The substance is a natural antifungal and
antiseptic, and studies have shown that it inhibits the growth of
Candida albicans, the strain of yeast behind most cases of the
infection, as well as other kinds, such as Candida glabrata, an
increasingly common cause of infection that tends to be more
resistant to other treatments. The powder, an irritant, should never
be applied directly; look for a suppository capsule that contains
it, such as Vitanica Yeast Arrest ($24, amazon.com), and use for
only 5 to 7 days.
Cotton Underwear (or none)
A warm, moist environment may push a yeasty infection colony into
overdrive, so the age-old advice wear cotton-lined underwear, avoid
panty hose and tight jeans, and change out of wet swimsuits and gym
clothes right away still stands. Or, if you're up for it, go
commando. "I'm a big fan of wearing long skirts with no underwear to
let air get to the perineal area for women who have a history of
chronic infections," says Jill Rabin, MD, head of urogynecology at
Long Island Jewish Medical Center and the author of Mind Over
Bladder. She advises against using scented douches, body sprays, and
the like, which can disrupt vaginal pH levels. Rabin also suggests
showering with an unscented soap (like Dove Beauty Bar for sensitive
skin) after sex, especially oral sex, to avoid letting someone
else's bacteria set up shop.
Progestin-Only Birth Control
Estrogen-based contraception, such as combination birth control
pills, may cause an uptick in yeast. "If a patient is very reliant
on her method of birth control, we'll work around it, but it is
worth considering nonestrogen methods such as progestin-only mini
pills and IUDs," says Cullen. Spermicides, which can alter the
vaginal environment, may also present problems. Birth control aside,
Cullen recommends using a lubricant (water-based only, like Shibari
Personal Lubricant; avoid yeast-friendly glycerin) during sex:
"Friction can upset the ecology of the vagina."
Drugstore Antifungals
The gold-standard treatment for most vaginal yeast infection cases
is any one of the creams or suppositories lining drugstore shelves.
These products use drugs called azoles, antifungals that have been
proven to clear up 80 to 90% of yeast infections. The type of azole
varies brand to brand (miconazole is used in Monistat; clotrimazole,
in Gyne-Lotrimin), and treatment can span 1 to 7 days. Each is
equally effective for a patient with an uncomplicated vaginal yeast
infection, so buyers can choose the least expensive, says Reinhold.
One other factor: If you're particularly itchy, you may prefer a
soothing cream. Women with recurrent infections, which are harder to
treat, should choose the 7-day option, says Reinhold. (We like
Monistat 7 Vaginal Antifungal Cream, $12, amazon.com.) If the
infection doesn't abate, make an appointment: A doctor can determine
whether it is yeast at all, and then match the strain to the most
effective medication (prescribing Terconazole cream, for example, to
thwart non-albicans strains).
Prescription Tablets
Certain vaginal yeast infections may require a more aggressive
treatment than a cream. Your doctor can prescribe one to three doses
of the oral antifungal fluconazole, which has a success rate of up
to 90%, according to the CDC. If your infection is chronic, "your
doctor can give you a standing prescription," says Reinhold. Having
a prescription at the ready may also be worthwhile when starting a
course of antibiotics if on previous occasions the drugs prompted a
yeast infection.
