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Discharge Instructions for Vaginal Yeast Infection

A vaginal yeast infection is caused by a fungus. Yeast is common in the vagina, but it can cause problems when too much of it grows.

This problem causes irritation and discharge. It is treated with medicine. You should feel better in a few days.

Steps to Take

Activity

Return to normal activities as you are able. You can resume having sex when the doctor says it is okay.

Medications

Medicine will be given to treat infection. Probiotics may also be given to ease symptoms.

Note: Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant.

Take all the medicine you are given. Do this even when you are feeling well.

When taking medicine:

Take your medicine as advised. Do not change the amount or schedule.
Be aware of the side effects of your medicine. Tell your doctor if you have any.
Talk to your doctor before you stop taking any prescription medicine.
Do not share your prescription medicine.
Medicines can be harmful when mixed. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking more than one, including over the counter products and supplements.

Problems to Look Out For

Call your doctor if you are not getting better or you have:

Symptoms that do not go away in a few days
Pain when urinating
Pain during sex

If you think you have an emergency, call for medical help right away.

RESOURCES:

American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
http://www.acog.org

Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians
http://www.familydoctor.org

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
http://www.sogc.org

Women's Health Matters
http://www.womenshealthmatters.ca

REFERENCES:

Candidiasis, vulvovaginal. EBSCO Nursing Reference Center website. Available at: https://www.ebscohost.com/nursing/products/nursing-reference-center. Accessed April 28, 2021.

Vulvovaginal candidiasis. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/vulvovaginal-candidiasis. Accessed April 28, 2021.

Yeast infection. American Academy of Family Physicians Family Doctor website. Available at: https://familydoctor.org/condition/yeast-infections. Accessed April 28, 2021.

6/29/2018 DynaMed Systematic Literature Surveillance https://www.dynamed.com/condition/vulvovaginal-candidiasis: Xie HY, Feng D, et al. Probiotics for vulvovaginal candidiasis in non-pregnant women. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;11:CD010496.

Last reviewed March 2021 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Beverly Siegal, MD, FACOG Last Updated: 11/3/2021

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