Yeast infection (vaginal)

Diagnosis

To diagnose a yeast infection, your healthcare professional may:

• Ask about your medical history. This might include past vaginal infections or sexually transmitted infections.
• Do a pelvic exam. This involves looking at your outer genitals for signs of infection. Then your healthcare professional puts an instrument called a speculum into your vagina. The speculum holds the vaginal walls open so the vagina and cervix are easy to see. The cervix is the lower, narrower part of the uterus.
• Test vaginal fluids. Lab tests of vaginal fluid can look for yeast or find the type of fungus causing the yeast infection. Knowing the fungus can help your healthcare professional suggest treatment.

Treatment

Treatment for yeast infections depends on how bad the infections are and how often they happen.

If you have mild to moderate symptoms and don't get infections often, treatment options include:

• Short-course vaginal therapy. Using an antifungal medicine for 3 to 7 days most often clears a yeast infection. Antifungal medicines come in the form of creams, ointments, tablets and small objects you put into your vagina, called suppositories. They include miconazole (Monistat 3) and terconazole. You can get these medicines with or without a prescription.
• One dose of medicine taken by mouth. Your healthcare professional might prescribe one dose of fluconazole (Diflucan). To manage severe symptoms, you might take two doses three days apart. Oral medicine is not used often in pregnancy, especially in the first trimester.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved two medicines to treat vaginal yeast infections. One is oteseconazole (Vivjoa), taken by mouth. This medicine is only for people who can't get pregnant and who have infections that keep coming back.

The other medicine is ibrexafungerp (Brexafemme). This also is taken by mouth. Studies show that these medicines might work for vaginal yeast infections that don't respond to other treatments.

See your healthcare professional again if treatment doesn't clear your symptoms or if your symptoms return within two months.

Treatment for yeast infections that have severe symptoms or that happen often might include:

• Long-course vaginal therapy. You use an antifungal medicine daily for up to two weeks. Then you take it once a week for six months.
• More than one dose of medicine taken by mouth. You take 2 to 3 doses of an antifungal medicine by mouth instead of having vaginal therapy. But this therapy isn't for pregnant people.
• Boric acid therapy. A capsule that has boric acid is put into your vagina. This medicine may be fatal if taken by mouth. It only treats candida fungus that doesn't respond to other treatments. It is not recommended for use in pregnancy.

Alternative medicine

No alternative medicine therapies have been proved to treat vaginal yeast infections. Some alternative therapies may give some relief when taken with what your healthcare professional suggests.

Talk to your healthcare professional about what alternative therapies for vaginal yeast infection may be safe for you.

Preparing for your appointment

If you've been treated for a yeast infection in the past, your healthcare professional may prescribe a treatment over the phone without seeing you. If not, you likely need to see your primary care professional or gynecologist.

What you can do

Don't use tampons or douche before your appointment.

Make a list of:

• Your symptoms and when they began.
• Other medical conditions you have.
• All medicines, vitamins or supplements you take, including doses.
• Questions to ask your healthcare professional.

Some questions to ask about vaginal yeast infections include:

• What can I do if my symptoms return after treatment?
• How can I prevent yeast infections?
• What symptoms should I watch out for?

Be sure to ask all the questions you have.

What to expect from your doctor

Your healthcare professional is likely to ask you questions, such as:

• Do you notice a strong vaginal odor?
• Have you ever been treated for a vaginal infection?
• Have you tried products you can get without a prescription to treat your condition?
• Have you recently taken antibiotics?
• Are you sexually active?
• Are you pregnant?
• Do you use scented soap or bubble bath?
• Do you douche or use feminine hygiene spray?