Online Yeast Infection Treatment
Vaginal itching and burning are hard to ignore, and it is not always easy to tell whether it is a yeast infection or something else. If this is your first one, a drugstore cream has not helped, or the infection keeps coming back, you can talk to a licensed doctor from home, 24/7, with Your Doctors Online (YDO).
The doctor reviews your symptoms and medical history and can send a prescription to the pharmacy you choose when it is medically appropriate. Severe pain, a fever, or pain in your lower belly need in-person care.
How to get yeast infection treatment online
Get treated for a yeast infection from home in three easy steps.
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- Yeast Infection
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Hi Dr. Nicole, I have had a cottage cheese discharge with vaginal itching for 3 days. What can I do?
Get a prescription
Our online doctors can help you with your medical issues and give you prescriptions.
Prescription
- Fluconazole 150 mg tablet
- Take 1 tablet by mouth, one time
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What are the treatment options for a yeast infection?
A yeast infection is treated with antifungal medicine. The right treatment depends on how strong your symptoms are, whether you have had a yeast infection before, and whether you are pregnant. A doctor may recommend:
- Antifungal pill: A single dose of fluconazole taken by mouth can clear most mild yeast infections.
- Vaginal cream or suppository: Antifungal medicine you put inside the vagina, usually for 1 to 7 days. Some are sold over the counter, and stronger ones need a prescription.
- Longer treatment: Severe symptoms may need medicine for up to 14 days, or more than one dose of the pill.
- Treatment during pregnancy: A vaginal cream or suppository is used for 7 days, and fluconazole pills are avoided.
Over-the-counter yeast infection products are meant for people who have had a yeast infection diagnosed by a doctor. If this is your first yeast infection, you are not sure what is causing your symptoms, or a product you bought has not worked, a doctor can review your symptoms and you may be able to receive an online prescription the same day when medically appropriate.
What yeast infection medications can we prescribe online?
These are some of the prescription antifungal medicines our doctors may prescribe to treat a vaginal yeast infection. The right one depends on your symptoms, your medical history, and whether you are pregnant.
What is a yeast infection and what causes it?
A yeast infection (candidiasis) happens when Candida, a yeast that normally lives in the body, grows out of control. Small amounts of Candida live in the vagina, mouth, and gut and on the skin without causing problems. A vaginal yeast infection (vulvovaginal candidiasis) is one of the most common fungal infections, and most women have one at some point in their life.
It can affect more than your comfort. The itching, soreness, and pain during sex can get in the way of sleep, work, and your relationship, and infections that keep coming back are linked with anxiety, low mood, and social isolation. Yeast that does not respond to the usual medicine is becoming more common, which is why an infection that is not clearing should be checked by a doctor.
Yeast can also infect other parts of the body, including the mouth (oral thrush), skin folds, and the penis, where it can cause balanitis.
A yeast infection is more likely when something upsets the balance of germs in the vagina. Common causes include:
- Taking antibiotics, now or recently
- Pregnancy
- Birth control pills or other hormone changes
- Diabetes, especially when blood sugar is not well controlled
- A weakened immune system, or medicines such as steroids
- Obesity
- Tight or damp clothing that increases sweating in the genital area
A yeast infection is not considered a sexually transmitted infection, and passing it to a partner is rare.
What are the symptoms of a yeast infection?
Symptoms can be mild or severe. Common signs of a vaginal yeast infection include:
- Itching and burning of the vagina and labia
- Thick, white discharge that looks like cottage cheese, or a thin, watery white discharge
- Redness and swelling of the skin around the vagina (vulva)
- Pain or burning when you pee
- Pain during sex
- Small cracks or sore spots on the skin of the vulva
These symptoms can look a lot like bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, and other types of vaginitis, so testing helps decide the right treatment. Lower belly pain, a fever, chills, or foul-smelling discharge can be a sign of a more serious condition that needs a doctor.
What can you do about recurring yeast infections?
A yeast infection is called recurring when you have three or more in 12 months. It can be frustrating, but it can be managed with the right plan. A doctor may recommend:
- Confirming the diagnosis: A swab can show whether it is really yeast and which type it is, because other vaginal infections cause similar symptoms.
- Longer treatment: A longer course to clear the infection, then an antifungal pill or vaginal cream every week for about six months to help keep it from coming back.
- A newer prevention option: One newer antifungal pill is approved to lower the chance of recurring yeast infections in women who can no longer get pregnant.
- Checking for a cause: Diabetes or a weakened immune system can keep infections coming back, so a doctor may suggest testing. A lab requisition can be issued to you online, and you take it to a lab near you.
- Everyday habits: Wear cotton underwear and breathable clothing, keep the area clean and dry, change out of wet or sweaty clothes, and avoid douching and scented products.
Probiotics taken along with antifungal medicine may help in the short term, but the evidence is still weak, and they do not replace treatment.
FAQs about yeast infection treatment online
Can I get treatment for a vaginal fungal infection within 24 hours?
Yes. You can talk to a doctor through Your Doctors Online 24/7, from home. If the doctor confirms a yeast infection is likely and treatment is medically appropriate, your prescription can be sent to the pharmacy you choose the same day.
How long does a yeast infection last?
With treatment, a mild yeast infection usually clears up in a few days to a week. A more severe infection can need medicine for up to 14 days. Finish the full course even if you feel better, because stopping early can let the infection come back.
Can I get treatment for vaginal fungal infections if I am pregnant?
Our doctors can prescribe topical antifungals (clotrimazole or miconazole) to apply locally for seven days. Fluconazole pills are not recommended during pregnancy because of a potential risk to the baby. For more detailed information, please consult with our online doctors.
Why am I still itching after treatment for yeast infection?
Symptoms might persist if the first course of treatment does not completely clear up the infection. Sometimes, different treatments are needed for underlying conditions that cause similar symptoms, such as bacterial vaginosis or sexually transmitted infections.
How long do I have to wait before having sex after completing yeast infection treatment?
Wait until you have finished your treatment and your symptoms are gone. Vaginal yeast infection products tell you not to have vaginal sex while using them, and the creams and suppositories can damage condoms and diaphragms, so they may not protect you from pregnancy or STIs during treatment.
What are the signs of a healing yeast infection?
Reduction of symptoms like itching, burning, and redness in or around the vagina is a sign that a yeast infection is healing. Also, the consistency of the discharge may change, and it may become thinner and return back to normal. Any pain you may have experienced during sexual activity, as well as any sores or cracks that may have formed as a result of the infection, should begin to heal as the infection heals.
How can I get a yeast infection pill without going to the doctor?
Fluconazole, the yeast infection pill, needs a prescription, but you do not need an in-person visit to get it. You can talk to a doctor through Your Doctors Online, and when it is medically appropriate, the doctor can send a prescription to the pharmacy you choose.
What is the 3-day prescription for yeast infection?
A 3-day prescription treatment for a yeast infection is terconazole, a vaginal suppository used once a day at bedtime for 3 days. Miconazole and clotrimazole also come in 3-day vaginal products, but you can buy those over the counter without a prescription.
How long does a yeast infection last without treatment?
A yeast infection may not clear up without treatment, and the itching and soreness can get worse. Scratching can crack the skin and make you more likely to get a skin infection. With proper treatment, symptoms usually go away completely, so it is better to talk to a doctor than to wait.
What should you do if over-the-counter yeast infection medicine doesn't work?
If your symptoms do not get better within 3 days, or they last more than 7 days, stop using the product and talk to a doctor. You may not have a yeast infection at all, or you may have a type of yeast that needs a different medicine. A doctor can review your symptoms, suggest testing, and prescribe a stronger or longer treatment when medically appropriate.
How quickly does fluconazole work for yeast infection?
For most yeast infections, fluconazole is taken as a single 150 mg pill, and most people notice their symptoms easing over the next few days. If your symptoms do not improve, or they get worse, talk to a doctor, because you may need a different treatment.
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