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Yeast Infection Treatments

Oral Medication

Oral medications may be prescribed to treat yeast infections. The treatment plan may be single-dose or multi-dose. [2] If you are pregnant, you should not take this medication. It can be harmful to your baby or fetus.

Single-dose oral medication is taken only once. Doctors often prescribe the antifungal drug fluconazole (Diflucan). If your infection is severe, you may be put on a multi-dose treatment plan. Your doctor may prescribe two or three doses of an antifungal drug. Both single and multi-dose oral medications are not recommended for pregnant women.

Vaginal Therapy

Vaginal therapy involves using medications that are administered directly to the vagina to treat yeast infection. [3] The treatment may be short-course or long-course and involves the use of antifungal medications like miconazole (Monistat 3) and terconazole. Some medications for vaginal therapy are available as creams, ointments, and suppositories that may be purchased over the counter or strictly by prescription.

Short-course vaginal therapy typically lasts between three to seven days. You should speak to a doctor if your yeast infection remains after following a short-course treatment plan or returns within two months. Long-course vaginal therapy takes significantly longer. It is usually prescribed for severe yeast infections or infections that recur frequently. Here, the antifungal medications are taken every day for two weeks, after which the dosage is reduced to once a week for six months.