Treatments for Vaginal Yeast Infections
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How to Treat Vaginal Yeast Infections

How to Treat Vaginal Yeast Infections
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Updated on September 30, 2025
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Most women have experienced the unpleasant symptoms of itching and burning associated with vaginal yeast infections. It’s estimated that about 3 in 4 women will get a vaginal yeast infection at least once in their lives and about half will get two or more.

Yeast infections are caused by the Candida genus of yeasts (a single-cell fungus), most often Candida albicans. Most women have a balance of yeast, including candida, in their vaginas, but several factors (from antibiotic use to hormonal changes to some soaps and deodorants) can cause an overgrowth and lead to infection.

Fortunately, there are numerous drugs that can be used to treat vaginal yeast infections, including those that can be purchased over-the-counter (OTC) or with a prescription, and take the form of an antifungal cream, ointment, suppository, oral tablet, or medicated tampon.

Medication for Treating Yeast Infections

If you have symptoms of a vaginal yeast infection like itching, burning, and thick, white discharge, it’s important to get diagnosed by your doctor before trying OTC drugs — especially if you’ve never had a yeast infection before.

 The symptoms of yeast infections are similar to other types of vaginal infections, including bacterial vaginosis (a bacterial infection of the vagina) and trichomoniasis (a sexually transmitted infection).

Standard medicines for yeast infections are all part of the class of antifungal drugs called azoles. They include:

  • miconazole (Monistat)
  • clotrimazole (Gyne-Lotrimin)
  • tioconazole (Vagistat)
  • butoconazole (Gynazole)
  • terconazole (Terazol)
Fluconazole (Diflucan) is a prescription pill for yeast infections. Most women only require a single dose of the medication to clear their yeast infection, but fluconazole is not recommended for pregnant women due to a potential risk of harming the developing baby.

Fluconazole may cause mild and infrequent side effects, such as headache, rash, and upset stomach. More rarely, severe side effects may develop, such as flu-like symptoms, swelling, and seizures.

Other prescription medications include oteseconazole (Vivjoa) and ibrexafungerp (Brexafemme), both of which are taken by mouth. Oteseconazole is meant for women who are not able to become pregnant and have recurrent infections, while ibrexafungerp may be prescribed when vaginal yeast infections have not responded to other medications.

Your doctor may prescribe additional prescription drugs to help treat your symptoms, such as steroids to relieve inflammation of the opening of the vagina.

Treatments last one, three, or seven days, all of which are equally effective. Unless you have an allergic reaction to the medication, side effects are generally mild.

You should not use tampons while using suppositories and creams.

It’s not generally recommended to have sex while you’re being treated for a yeast infection because it may worsen symptoms (by further irritating your vagina) and cause microtears in your skin that increase your risk of catching a sexually transmitted disease. Additionally, ingredients in certain antifungal medicines can degrade the materials used in condoms and diaphragms, making them less effective.

Treatment Options for Resistant Infections

Though azoles work well against C. albicans, some other candida species, including Candida auris, Candida glabrata, and Candida parapsilosis, can be resistant to these first-line drugs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), roughly 7 percent of all candida blood samples are resistant to fluconazole.

If you still have symptoms after trying one antifungal drug, your doctor can prescribe a different one to see if it will work. Ibrexafungerp is a non-azole drug that has shown promise in studies for treating antifungal-resistant yeast infections.

Lifestyle Changes That Support Medical Yeast Infection Treatment

While you’re taking yeast infection medication, certain lifestyle changes can help relieve symptoms and prevent worse symptoms. These include:

  • Keep your genital area clean and dry.
  • Avoid douching and using scented feminine sprays, fragrances, or powders, which can affect the microbial balance of the vagina (and potentially promote yeast growth).
  • Wear loose-fitting underwear, pants, or shorts to prevent irritation and sweating, which can lead to the growth of more yeast.
  • Promptly change out of wet bathing suits or exercise clothing, and wash sweat-covered or wet clothes after each use.
  • Keep your blood sugar level under control if you have diabetes.

Do Home Remedies Work for Yeast Infections?

Despite the effectiveness of prescription and OTC treatments, some people may choose to try home remedies for yeast infections, including:

But not all home remedies are backed up by clinical trials, and thus have not been proven effective against yeast infections. Some purported remedies, like adding vinegar or baking soda to your bath or inserting garlic into your vagina, should be avoided because they can be harmful, disrupting your vaginal flora and leading to intense irritation.

Yogurt and supplements containing Lactobacillus — “good” bacteria common in the vagina and elsewhere — are thought to help treat and prevent yeast infections. But evidence for the bacteria’s helpfulness is inconsistent and more research is needed.

The bottom line here is not to rely on home remedies to treat vaginal yeast infections and stick to proven options recommended by your doctor.

What to Know About Treating Recurring Yeast Infections

About 5 percent of women experience four or more yeast infections in a single year, a condition known as recurrent or chronic yeast infections.

It’s not clear why some women get chronic or recurring yeast infections, but there are several risk factors that can predispose you to it, such as pregnancy, birth control pills, estrogen therapy, regular antibiotic use, diabetes, and conditions that affect your immune system, particularly HIV.

Treating recurrent vaginal yeast infections typically involves longer courses of antifungal medications up to six months.

Your doctor may also discuss strategies to prevent yeast infections including avoiding douching and scented products in the vaginal area, not wearing tight-fitting clothing, and avoiding antibiotics when they’re not necessary.

The Takeaway

  • Dealing with a vaginal yeast infection involves addressing both the symptoms and the underlying causes to effectively alleviate discomfort.
  • While medications such as antifungal creams, suppositories, or oral tablets can provide relief, lifestyle changes such as keeping the genital area dry and avoiding scented products can support your treatment.
  • Remember to consult your doctor for an accurate diagnosis and a tailored treatment plan, especially if you experience recurring infections.

Common Questions & Answers

What are the best treatments for vaginal yeast infections?

The best treatments for vaginal yeast infections are antifungal drugs called azoles, which can be purchased over-the-counter or with a prescription. These treatments come in the form of creams, ointments, suppositories, medicated tampons, or oral tablets.

It is generally not recommended to have sex while being treated for a yeast infection because it can worsen symptoms and increase the risk of catching a sexually transmitted disease.

Some beneficial lifestyle changes include keeping the genital area clean and dry, avoiding douching and using scented feminine products, wearing loose-fitting underwear, and promptly changing out of wet clothing.

No, some Candida species, such as C. glabrata and C. krusei, are resistant to azole drugs. In these cases, other antifungals like nystatin, amphotericin B, or flucytosine may be prescribed.

Some popular home remedies for yeast infections include probiotic yogurt and supplements, boric acid suppositories, tea tree oil, and garlic. But the effectiveness of these remedies is not backed up by clinical trials.

Resources We Trust

EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
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  2. Yeast Infection. Yale Medicine.
  3. Mayo Clinic Q&A: Vaginal Infections Have Similar Symptoms, Require Different Treatments. Mayo Clinic.
  4. Fluconazole (Oral Route). Mayo Clinic.
  5. Yeast Infection (Vaginal). Mayo Clinic. November 19, 2024.
  6. Miconazole Vaginal Suppository and Cream Combination. Cleveland Clinic.
  7. Antimicrobial-Resistant Invasive Candidiasis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. April 26, 2024.
  8. Phillips N et al. Ibrexafungerp for the Treatment of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis: Design, Development and Place in Therapy. Drug Design, Development and Therapy. February 7, 2023.
  9. Vaginal Yeast Infection. MedlinePlus. July 12, 2023.
  10. Do Home Remedies Actually Work for Yeast Infections? Cleveland Clinic. May 27, 2025.
  11. Superti F et al. Warding Off Recurrent Yeast and Bacterial Vaginal Infections: Lactoferrin and Lactobacilli. Microorganisms. January 17, 2020.
  12. Vaginal Yeast Infections. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office on Women’s Health. February 27, 2025.
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John Paul McHugh, MD

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John Paul McHugh, MD, is an obstetrician-gynecologist and lifestyle medicine specialist in southern California. He has always placed wellness at the center of his work, in both delivering babies and improving practice standards. Dr. McHugh believes that bringing lifestyle medicine to the center of health and wellness empowers patients to make the change they seek and enjoy the benefits of true wellness.

He is a graduate of Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. He served as a department chair at Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego and is now the chair-elect for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists for California.

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