Understanding Vaginal Yeast Infection - Diagnosis & Treatment

How is a vaginal yeast infection diagnosed?

Your doctor may diagnose you with a vaginal yeast infection based on the description of your symptoms and possibly a vaginal exam. During the exam, your doctor may take a vaginal wet smear to look for the yeast under a microscope. This helps confirm that you do have a vaginal yeast infection.

What is the treatment for a vaginal yeast infection?

If you have had a vaginal yeast infection previously and you’re confident that’s what you have, you may choose to treat it with an over-the-counter topical cream or suppository (medication that dissolves in the vagina). These topical treatments may cause burning or irritation.

Some women prefer, and some doctors even recommend, treating a vaginal yeast infection with a single dose of the prescription pill fluconazole due to convenience. If over-the-counter medications are not effective in treating a vaginal yeast infection, your doctor may prescribe a cream with terconazole or an oral antifungal pill containing fluconazole. Though it’s usually well tolerated, some women may experience stomach upset with fluconazole.

Due to the potential for complications, certain women who suspect they have a vaginal yeast infection should see their doctor and not try to treat it themselves. These women may need longer treatment. This includes:

Women with diabetes
Pregnant women
Women with weakened immune systems
Women with frequent vaginal yeast infections (4 or more a year)

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Reviewed by Michael W. Smith, MD on September 10, 2008

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As You Journey through Menopause, Vivelle-Dot Is By Your Side

VIVELLE-DOT (estradiol transdermal system) IS AVAILABLE BY PRESCRPTION ONLY.

INDICATION

Vivelle-Dot is used after menopause to: reduce moderate to severe hot flashes; treat moderate to severe dryness, itching and burning in or around the vagina; help reduce your chances of getting osteoporosis (thin weak bones); and treat certain conditions in which a young woman's ovaries do not produce enough estrogens naturally. Vivelle-Dot 0.025 mg/day is only used to prevent osteoporosis from menopause. If you use Vivelle-Dot only to treat your dryness, itching, and burning in and around your vagina or if you use Vivelle-Dot only to prevent osteoporosis from menopause, talk with your healthcare professional about whether a different treatment or medicine without estrogens might be better for you.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Estrogens increase the chances of getting cancer of the uterus (womb). Report any unusual vaginal bleeding right away while you are taking estrogens. Vaginal bleeding after menopause may be a warning sign of cancer of the uterus (womb).

Do not use estrogens with or without progestins to prevent heart disease, heart attacks, or strokes. Using estrogens with or without progestins may increase your chances of getting heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer, and blood clots. Using estrogens with progestins may increase your risk of dementia (decline in memory and thinking skills).

Vivelle-Dot should not be used if you have unusual vaginal bleeding; currently have or have had certain cancers, including cancer of the breast or uterus; had a stroke or heart attack in the recent past (for example, in the past year); currently have or have had blood clots; currently have or have had liver problems; or think you may be, or know that you are, pregnant.

The most common side effects that may occur with Vivelle-Dot are headache, breast tenderness, and back pain.

You and your healthcare professional should talk regularly about whether you still need treatment with Vivelle-Dot.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see Full Prescribing Information for Vivelle-Dot.

Prescribing Information