Font Size
A
A
A

Vaginal Yeast Infections (cont.)

Other Therapy

The following are common home-care techniques, although scientific studies have not proven their effectiveness:

  • Vinegar douches: Many women douche following menstrual periods or intercourse. However, doctors discourage such routine cleaning. The vagina is naturally designed to clean itself, and douching may remove healthy bacteria that line the vagina. Attempting to treat an abnormal vaginal discharge by douching may worsen the condition.
  • Eating yogurt that contains live acidophilus cultures (or eating acidophilus capsules): Yogurt acts as a medium for certain good bacteria to thrive. Despite popular belief, studies about the benefits of eating yogurt with lactobacillus acidophilus cultures as a way to prevent yeast infection have yielded conflicting results. The scientific benefit of consuming yogurt cultures has not yet been proven.
  • Antihistamines or topical anesthetics: These are numbing medications that may mask the symptoms of a vaginal yeast infection. However, they do not treat the underlying cause.


Next: Next Steps »

Viewer Comments & Reviews

Yeast Infection - Effective Treatments

The eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:

What kinds of treatments have been effective for your yeast infection?

Anonymously share your comment to help others. Viewer Comments FAQs
See 2 Viewer Comments & Reviews

Submit Your Review


Printer-Friendly Format  |  Email to a Friend

ENABLEX is a prescription medicine used in adults to treat the following symptoms due to a condition called overactive bladder:

  • · having a strong need to go to the bathroom right away (also called "urgency")
  • · leaks or wetting accidents (also called "urinary incontinence")
  • · having to go to the bathroom too often (also called "urinary frequency")

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

You should not take once-daily ENABLEX if you have certain types of stomach problems, glaucoma, or have trouble emptying your bladder. Side effects of ENABLEX include blurred vision, and more commonly dry mouth, constipation, indigestion, and abdominal pain. Use caution when doing certain activities until you know how ENABLEX affects you.


Women's Health

Find out what women really need.

Are You Depressed? Take the Quiz


Read What Your Physician is Reading on eMedicine

Vaginitis »

Vaginitis (infection of the vagina) is the most common gynecologic condition encountered in the office.

Read More on eMedicine »

Medical Dictionary