Treatments for yeast infection

Remember, the only way to know for sure if your symptoms are being caused by a yeast infection is to visit your doctor. Your doctor can confirm that you have a yeast infection and recommend an appropriate treatment. It is especially important to see your doctor if:

If you are pregnant or breast-feeding and need to treat a yeast infection you should consult with your doctor. Pregnancy increases the risk of yeast infections, probably due to increased estrogen levels.

Vaginal products and tablets (oral products) are equally effective. In general, both non-prescription and prescription medications are about 80% to 90% effective for most women, no matter which medication or length of treatment you choose. This is because the shorter treatments contain higher doses of medication per day. For some women, shorter treatment courses may also help avoid missed doses and make it easier to finish the treatment.

Whichever treatment you are using, your symptoms should start getting better in one to two days and go away completely within seven days of starting the treatment. It's very important to use the full course, even if your symptoms start to improve before all the medication has been used. If your symptoms do not go away within seven days, if they seem to get worse, or if new symptoms appear, see your doctor.