Yeast infections can be uncomfortable, but they’re usually not serious. You may have itching or irritation in or around your vagina, as well as a thick, white discharge. In many cases, an antifungal treatment will clear up your symptoms.
If you’re not sure whether you have a yeast infection or something else, it’s important to see a doctor for the right diagnosis and treatment. This is important. If you don’t really have a yeast infection, antifungals won’t help you get better. They can actually prolong the real problem, because while you’ll think you’re treating the issue, the real cause will continue to develop.
Yeast infections are common during pregnancy due to fluctuating hormones. If you’re pregnant and think you may have a yeast infection, see a doctor so that you can get the right diagnosis and treatment.
Topical antifungals are safe to use during pregnancy, but you won’t be able to take oral antifungal medications.
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)Trusted Source, oral fluconazole (Diflucan) taken during the first trimester of pregnancy may cause birth defects. A 2016 studyTrusted Source also linked the use of oral fluconazole taken during pregnancy with an increased risk of miscarriage.
Itching, burning, redness — a yeast infection can be a total pain. While they aren’t life-threatening, yeast infections are irritating — both physically and mentally. So, when undesirable symptoms appear ‘down there,’ should you consult your physician or self diagnose and treat with over-the-counter (OTC) medications?
First things first, unfortunately, almost all women will experience at least one yeast infection (genital candidiasis) — an infection caused by an overgrowth of the fungus Candida — at some point in life. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates nearly 75 percent of women are likely to contract one yeast infection in their lifetime, with up to 45 percent of women experiencing recurring ones. Menopausal women are the group most prone to yeast infections, but they can affect anyone.
Luckily, there’s a pretty quick solution for women who suffer from first-time yeast infections and exacerbated yeast infections that don’t respond to topical treatment. “The good news about yeast infections is that they are always treatable,” Sulak said. “For women who get chronic yeast infections, oral prescription medications are extremely effective. Studies have shown patients who took prescription yeast infection tablets once a week for several months treated the condition faster. When you need long-term maintenance therapy for yeast infections, this tablet is the only answer. Over-the-counter medications won’t provide the same result.”
