If you’ve never had a yeast infection before, standing in front of the pharmacy shelves filled with a variety of types and brands of yeast infection medicine can be a daunting experience. Do you need a 1-day treatment or a 7-day? What is an ovule? Do you need cream? Pre-filled applicators? Unraveling the mystery of yeast infection medicine is quite a task.
Consult Your Doctor
Before beginning any medication, you should consult your doctor. Some of the symptoms of a yeast infection are the same as those of other conditions such as bacterial vaginosis, chlamydia and gonorrhea. You should rule out the possibility that your problems are being caused by something other than yeast.
Active Ingredient
The existence of the plethora of different brands of yeast infection medicine is not just a reflection of a competitive market. Each brand or type of medicine has a different active ingredient. While one active ingredient may work for some women, for others it will have little effect. You have to find the active ingredient that does the trick for your particular infection. Check the side of the package for the active ingredient. For creams, you will see either include butoconazole, clotrimazole, miconazole and terconazole. In tablet form, you’ll find clotrimazole, miconazole, terconazole or nystatin. Oral medication needs to be prescribed and may contain fluconazole. You may want to stick to the name brands until you figure out what works for you. Monistat and Canesten are trusted brands. You could also find the active ingredient in these popular brands and then choose a generic treatment with the same ingredient, which might save you a few bucks.
Treatment Length
Yeast infection medicine comes in 1, 3, 6 and 7-day treatments. The length of treatment you choose makes little difference to the effectiveness of the cure. A shorter treatment length will simply have a higher dose of the active ingredient, while a longer one will spread the same amount of medicine out over several days. For some women, a single day treatment is not effective though, so going with at least a 3-day treatment is the best idea.
Three Types
There are basically three types of yeast infection medicine: ovules or tablets that are inserted into the vagina, creams that are applied to the labia and surrounding area and oral medication. The first two types are available over-the-counter. If you are experiencing significant itching or discomfort on the outside of your vagina, getting a cream, or a combination cream and ovule treatment, is a good idea since the cream can be applied topically. If itching is not an issue, but you have other symptoms of a yeast infection, like a thick, white discharge, ovules or tablets are the way to go. They come with an applicator that helps you place the ovule high in your vagina, which you should do right before bed to reduce leaks while the medicine works. If you’d like to take your medication orally, you’ll need to talk to your doctor and get a prescription.
Home Remedies
There are many home remedies and non-pharmaceutical options for treating yeast infections including probiotics, boric acid and tea tree oil. Some people use normal household items like garlic, yogurt and apple cider vinegar to create their own treatments for yeast infections. If you’re going to attempt one of these natural cures, do your research and talk to your doctor.
