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Lifestyle and home remedies
By Mayo Clinic staffA number of natural products purport to prevent or cure vaginal yeast infections without prescription medication. Some popular yeast infection home remedies include:
- Vinegar douches
- Tea tree oil cream
- Garlic or boric acid vaginal suppositories
Anecdotally, some women report success with these home remedies. However, well-designed, randomized, controlled trials are needed to investigate the safety and effectiveness of these therapies before any reliable clinical recommendations can be made.
One exception may be lactobacillus, bacteria normally found in the vagina, but scientific evidence of benefit is limited. Some studies show that lactobacillus — available in some types of yogurt — taken orally or used intravaginally successfully reduced the amount of vaginal yeast cultures and provided symptom relief. But the studies were in a small number of women, with no control groups, and other studies haven't been able to corroborate those findings.
- Frequently asked questions: Vaginal yeast infections. National Women's Health Information Center. http://womenshealth.gov/faq/vaginal-yeast-infections.cfm. Accessed April 21, 2010.
- Vaginitis. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp028.cfm. Accessed April 21, 2010.
- ACOG Committee on Practice Bulletins — Gynecology. Vaginitis. Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2006;107:1195.
- Hemsell DL. Gynecologic infections. In: Schorge JO, et al. Williams Gynecology. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aid=3149718. Accessed April 21, 2010.
- McCormack WM. Vulvovaginitis and cervicitis. In: Mandell GL, et al. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/linkTo?type=bookPage&isbn=978-0-443-06839-3&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06839-3..00107-7. Accessed April 21, 2010.
- Sexually transmitted diseases treatment guidelines 2006. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment/2006/vaginal-discharge.htm. Accessed April 21, 2010.
- Corigliano MA, et al. Candidiasis, vulvovaginal. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2010: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/198374960-2/0/2088/112.html?tocnode=58125592&fromURL=112.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05609-0..00012-5--sc0010_2218. Accessed April 21, 2010.
- Sobel JD. Candida vulvovaginitis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 21, 2010.
- Nyirjesy P. Vulvovaginal candidiasis and bacterial vaginosis. Infectious Disease Clinics of North America. 2008;22:637.
- Falagas ME, et al. Probiotics for prevention of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis: A review. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. 2006;58:266.
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