Choosing an Over–the–Counter Vaginal Thrush Treatment Product

Most women at some point in their lives will suffer from a mild case of vaginal thrush and treat it with over-the-counter medicines. However, if the symptoms prove to be more severe it may be worth seeing a doctor who would be able to recommend the right course of treatment. When it comes to choosing an over-the-counter vaginal thrush treatment product, there are a few things you may like to consider.

There are several over-the-counter treatments for vaginal thrush available

Mild Cases Can be treated with Pessaries or Creams

If you’re suffering from a mild case of thrush, you can buy an over-the-counter anti-thrush medicine which you normally have to take over the course of one to three days. For more severe symptoms, you would need to take the medicine for a little longer in order for the condition to clear up.

There are several anti-thrush treatments available over-the-counter so it can seem a bit of a daunting task to find the right one to suit your needs. Below is a list of treatments which are specially formulated to deal with the symptoms of vaginal thrush:

Anti-thrush pessaries – these deal very effectively with Candida that may be present internally. Very much like a tampon, the pessaries are inserted using the applicator they come with. The pessaries contain clotrimazole which goes under the brand name of Canesten.

Anti-thrush cream – these are also very effective and treat Candida that may be present on any sensitive skin found on the outside of the vagina. Again, over-the-counter creams contain clotrimazole (Canesten)

Anti-thrush tablets – these can be used to treat the condition instead of having to deal with pessaries and creams. The tablets are taken orally with water however; there are a few side-effects to using them.

Canesten a popular over-the-counter anti-thrush treatment

How Effective Are the Treatments?

If you are stumped when it comes to choosing either a pessary or oral treatment, both have proved to work very effectively when treating vaginal thrush. Studies have shown that around 80% of women suffering from the condition were able to clear it up using either of these treatments.

If you have a mild, straightforward case of thrush, then treating it with a pessary or cream is the best choice and this is especially true for pregnant or breast-feeding women. However, oral treatments for vaginal thrush are an easier and more convenient option. The downside is they come with a few side effects and are only recommended for women who suffer from continued flare ups of vaginal thrush.

Types of Anti-thrush Over-the-counter Tablets

One of the popular treatments for vaginal thrush which comes in tablet form contains Flucanozole which is a single-dose treatment that goes under the brand name of Diflucan.

Get Advice from Your Doctor

If it’s the first time you are suffering from vaginal thrush whether a mild or severe case, you should seek advice from your doctor before you buy any over-the-counter treatments and this applies to creams, pessaries or tablets. However, if you have suffered from the condition before then any of these treatments can be used to clear it up.

The one thing to bear in mind is that none of the over-the-counter treatments whether pessaries, creams or tablets should be taken over long periods of time without first discussing your condition with a doctor. Pregnant women should also seek advice before buying any over-the-counter vaginal thrush treatments.

Conclusion

There are several very effective over-the-counter treatments for vaginal thrush so knowing which is the best can seem a bit daunting. However, if you are unsure you should consult your doctor so they can recommend which to use or take. You may find that if the symptoms are more severe, your doctor might want to prescribe a stronger treatment. If it’s just a mild case, your doctor would certainly be able to recommend whether you should use pessaries, creams or tablets to clear up the condition.

Image Credits: victuallers2 and theechaya