You know the familiar symptoms of itching, burning, and irritation in the vaginal region and how annoying they can be. Yeast infection, which is caused by a fungus called Candida, is one of the most commonly diagnosed vaginal infections, affecting up to 3/4 of women at some point in their lifetime. If you want to eliminate yeast infections and relieve the irritating symptoms, it's important for you to understand yeast infection treatment options.
Fortunately, yeast infection treatment options are now available over the counter. Before choosing to treat the infection with drug store medications, it's important to be sure you truly have a yeast infection. There are other more serious causes of vaginal irritation and burning, including gonorrhea and Chlamydia. If you develop symptoms after a recent sexual contact, it's best to see your doctor before using yeast infection treatments. This will allow you to rule out more serious sexually transmitted diseases. If symptoms fail to resolve after use of over the counter yeast medications, you should see your doctor for a pelvic exam.
Yeast infections are usually treated with topical antifungal medications that are applied in and around the vagina. These medications include Ministat, Terazol 3, and Femstat 3 which are available without a prescription at your local drugstore. You shouldn't use these medications if you're pregnant until you consult with your doctor. These medications, if used according to instructions, will cure a yeast infection in around 85 percent of cases.
As an alternative yeast infection treatment, your doctor may give you a prescription vaginal tablet or a single dose oral antifungal tablet. The advantage of the oral antifungal is the convenience of one dose treatment. The disadvantage is the potential for side effects including nausea, abdominal discomfort, and headache.
What if you continue to have recurring yeast infections despite yeast infection treatment? In this situation, you will want to see your doctor, as this can be a sign of diabetes or of certain medical conditions that cause a weakened immune system. You would also want to rule out the possibility of another cause for your symptoms such as a sexually transmitted disease.
In some cases, where yeast infections continue to occur despite treatment, your doctor may give you a low dose of an antifungal vaginal cream to use daily to keep your symptoms under control. He may also suggest careful attention to hygiene including the use of cotton panties and the avoidance of tight clothing which may play a role in the development of yeast infections. The use of oral antibiotics and birth control pills can also alter the vaginal flora, resulting in development of a yeast infection.
Yeast infection treatments are now widely available. By recognizing the symptoms of a yeast infection and understanding your treatment options, you can eliminate the annoying symptoms of this common condition.
