Yeast Infections can be treated medically and naturally. Many people choose to combine both approaches to avoid a reoccurrence but to get instant relief from the yeast infection. This section covers medical yeast infection treatment as well as natural yeast infection treatment. You can skip to the section you are interested by clicking the links below.

YEAST INFECTION MEDICAL TREATMENT USA
YEAST INFECTION MEDICAL TREATMENT UK
NATURAL YEAST INFECTION TREATMENT


Yeast Infection Treatment in the USA

Yeast infection treatment in the USA is varied and there are many options available to people to treat the issue. You can get creams and lotions to help overcome the symptoms that can be irritating and itchy as well as lozenges, pills and vaginal suppositories to overcome the problem for good.

Generally the most common yeast infection treatment is the use of antifungal drugs which are available over-the-counter as well as from your Doctor. These include: miconazole, tioconazole, clotrimazole, fluconazole, and butoconazole as well as polyene antifungals including nystatin and amphotercin B. Amphotercin B is only used when one has a serious systemic yeast infection and other options do not help. Nystatin is used more for superifical yeast infections including thrush.

The “azole” treatments are the most commonly used and some can be found over-the-counter. Examples are Monistat 3, 5 and 7 (Miconazole), Monistat-1 and Vagistat-1 (tioconazole) and Femcare (clotrimazole). All these allow women to treat their yeast infections effectively at home. Of course though if you intend to use any of these and it is your first yeast infection, it is advised to seek medical advice. Symptoms may not necessarily be yeast infection related or you may have other issues besides just a yeast infection. It is also very important to consult your Doctor if you are pregnant before using any medication as many anti-fungals are unsafe for pregnant or breastfeeding women.

If you use these treatments and after a week your symptoms have not gone away then you will need to see your Doctor who can prescribe something stronger or give you another solution to remedy the problem.

Thrush

When treating thrush nystatin an antifungal agent is usually use and swished around in the mouth. It is important to maintain good oral hygiene when dealing with thrush. If you are breastfeeding, you will also be checked for Candida of the breast.

In addition to nystatin you can also be given lozenges and pulls like Diflucan to help clear up the thrush infection.


Yeast Infection Treatment UK

Below is the yeast infection treatment usually prescribed in the UK. It sectioned depending on what type of yest infection/thrush a person has.

Yeast Infection Medical Treatment in the UK

Oral Thrush/Yeast Infection

Oral thrush is usually treated with antifungal medicines and these come in the form of tablets, powders, lozenges, creams as well as rinses. If you are unable to swallow or have a very dry mouth then an antifungal rinse can be helpful.

As one of the causes of oral yeast infection can be antibiotics, if you are on antibiotics, then the treatment you receive may have to be adapted or reduced in order not to interfere with your antibiotic treatment.

As well as taken into consideration whether you are using antibiotics, it is important to let your Doctor know if you are pregnant or breastfeeding as some of the antifungal medications should not be taken while in either position.

Antifungal medicine often administered include:

  • Nystatin
  • Fluconazole
  • Econazole
  • Ketoconazole
  • Miconazole

Some of these can be bought over-the-counter but it is always important to see the advice of your Doctor if it is a first time occurance or if you have any other medical conditions.

Antifungal Medicine Side Effects

As we most medications, antifungal medication can have some side effects. These include:

  • Stomach ache
  • Diarrhoea
  • Nausea
  • Indigestion
  • Headache

Sometimes an oral yeast infection can be persistent and prolonged treatment maybe necessary to overcome the thrush for good. Of course though, medication generally only treats symptoms and it may be worth looking into lifestyle changes to help prevent a recurrence

Thrush In Babies

Babies can pick up oral yeast infection from their mothers while breastfeeding and some babies may get an infection for other reasons. Usually if a baby gets an oral thrush infection, it will clear up within a few days without needing treatment but for some babies this may not happen and treatment may be needed. If you are concerned you should always call you Doctor to ease any concerns of anxieties and to make sure that your baby doesn’t need to be treated.

In terms of treatment, a baby will be treated in the same way as an adult, with antifungal medicine. Usually Miconazole is the antifungal medicine that is prescribed and the dosage will vary depending on the age of your child. This is usually in gel form and can also be bought over-the-counter but it is very important you consult with your Doctor first as some babies should not be given miconazole and may need to be prescribed something else.

Vaginal Yeast Infection Treatment

Most women who suffer from a vaginal yeast infection are given a short course of antifungal medicines which will take 1 to 3 days to work and get rid of the problem. However, if have symptoms that are more severe, your Doctor will most likely advise that you go on a prolonged treatment plan to completely eradicate it.

The types of antifungal treatment given are oral and intravaginal. You can get tablets by mouth or you can insert on into the vagina. Sometimes you may even get a combination of these. Antifungal treatments like this can be bought over-the-counter and many women opt to do this instead of seeing their Doctor. However, if this is your first yeast infection, it is wise to seek medical advice to be certain that thrush is what you have and not another infection such as a sexually transmitted disease.

80% of women are successfully treated with oral and intravaginal treatments. These are also a lot less messy than creams however topical creams are available to help soothe sore parts of the vulva and can be prescribed if necessary. Some are also available over-the-counter.

If symptoms do not clear up, always go back to your Doctor to find out what the next step should be.

Oral Antifungal Treatment for Vaginal Yeast Infection

Oral antifungal yeast infection treatment is not suitable if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Oral antifungals are also usually recommended if a young girl (12-16 years old) has a vaginal yeast infection.

The most common oral antifungal medications prescribed are fluconazole and itraconzole and like any medication do not come without side effects.

Side effects of oral antifungals include:

  • Constipation
  • Stomach ache
  • Vomiting
  • Headaches
  • Diarrhoea
  • Wind
  • Bloating
  • Nausea

Intravaginal Medication (Pessaries) for Vaginal Yeast Infection

The most common intravaginal medications prescribed for yeast infections are clotrimazole, econazole and miconazole.

Intravaginal treatment comes with less side effects than oral medication but can cause a mild burning sensation and itching. They can also be difficult to use and if using condoms as contraception, is worth noting that they can damage latex condoms so another form of contraceptive should be used while being treated.

Over-The-Counter Medication & Pregnancy/Breastfeeding

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding and think you have a vaginal yeast infection, do NOT use over-the-counter medication to treat it. Instead it is much safer to see your Doctor who will prescribe an intravaginal pessary. Oral medication can affect your baby.

Recurring Yeast Infection Treatment

If you suffer from recurring yeast infections, you Doctor will consider giving you a logner treatment of antifungal medication and also do tests to rule out other underlying conditions causing the recurrent episodes. You may also be given a prescription you can use whenever symptoms arise again.

Male Yeast Infection Treatment

For male yeast infection, the first line of treatment is antifungal creams called topical imidazoles. These include: clotrimazole, econazole, ketoconazole and miconazole. The antifungal cream is applied to the area and breaks down the fungi cells.

Antifungal creams can cause a mild burning sensation and for some can cause a more severe burning sensation and severe skin irritation. If this happens to you stop using the cream and see your Doctor.

Antifungal creams can be bought over-the-counter without a prescription.

If your symptoms do not improve after 2 weeks, then you may need something other than antifungal cream to overcome the yeast infection. Usually, when antifungal cream fails, Fluconazole is prescribed. Fluconazole comes in both cream and tablet form and is available over-the-counter. Fluconazole has side effects that include:

  • Stomach pain
  • Nausea
  • Flatulence
  • Diarrhoea

If Fluconazole doesn’t help after 2 weeks, then your Doctor will refer you to a Dermatologist.