Best OTC Ointments for Vaginal Yeast Infections

Vaginal yeast infections are an embarrassing and very common problem for many women of all different ages.  These occur during a shift in the hormonal balance such as menstruation, menaupose and pregnancy.  A recent course of antibiotiocs or just simply hanging around too long in wet swimsuits can also cause yeast to overgrow leading to a vaginal yeast infection. The best otc ointments for vaginal yeast infections are: topical creams, suppositories to antibiotics

Some are based on a doctor's prescription and others can be bought over the counter.

How Long Does It Take To Cure Vaginal Yeast infections using OTC ointments?

Typically 3 to 7 Days depending on the ointment chosen, although it is recommended that the treatment itself be continued for 1-2 weeks. If the infection was left untreated over a period of time, then the recovery time could take up to a couple of weeks. One thing to note is that over the counter ointments may not be quite as effective as a doctor's prescription treatment especially in cases of severe vaginal yeast infections.

The most commonly used over the counter ointments to treat vaginal yeast infections are topical creams. Some of them can applied directly on the vulva and some are administered through an application filled with cream which is inserted deeply into the vagina and preferably left overnight. Some women may find this uncomfortable and put off by the mess left the next morning. Some women may find the treatment very painful because they may be allergic to the ingredients within the treatment. Follow the directions given and if the treatment becomes intolerable, stop using it and look for an alternative ointment.

Some of the well known topical creams for treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis include: clotrimazole, butoconazole, tioconazole and miconazole nitrate. You will notice that most of these will end with - zole.

Suppositories are another common over the counter ointment to help vaginal yeast infections -these are inserted in the vagina and dissolved on their own. If you experience discomfort using this treatment - again look alternative treatments.

In all treatments there will be side effects experienced. Some women can be more allergic to the anti-fungal ingredients from some of these ointments more so than others. But in all cases expect some form of side effects: stinging, peeling, blistering and general irritation.

Before you go out and spend any money on over the counter ointments make sure that you are absolutely certain that what you have is a vaginal yeast infection. Oftentimes this infection can be mistaken with bacterial vaginosis due to similar symptoms and using the wrong treatment can make the infection worse. It's best to get a proper diagnosis from your doctor otherwise you may put your own health at risk.