Yeast infections are common in women; they are even more common during pregnancy due to hormonal changes in the body. They occur when a fungus, called Candida albicans, multiplies abnormally fast and overwhelms competing organisms in the vagina. Yeast infections may cause no symptoms, but most women develop some severity of itchiness, soreness, burning and redness in the labia and vagina. A white, creamy discharge and burning during urination may also be present. Some yeast infections cause pain during sexual intercourse.
Step 1
Visit your obstetrician for a full examination and testing for sexually transmitted diseases. If you treat for a yeast infection, but actually have a different type of infection, you may be putting yourself and your baby at risk.
Step 2
Purchase an over-the-counter clotrimazole suppository that includes a separate topical cream to relieve itching and other external symptoms. Your doctor will likely recommend you use the seven-day treatment, as these are typically more effective during pregnancy.
Step 3
Read the directions on the package carefully to determine how to place the suppository into the applicator.
Step 4
Insert the suppository into your vagina once each day for seven days. This is best done right before bed, as lying down prevents the medication from running out of your vagina. If you choose to insert the suppository during the day, sit or lie down for as long as possible after doing so, and wear a pad to protect your underwear from stains.
Step 5
Cover your entire external vaginal area with the topical anti-itch cream. Use this cream several times per day, if necessary.
Step 6
Soak in a cool bath to relieve soreness and itching, but avoid using soaps or other products near your vagina. These can worsen symptoms.
Step 7
Eat yogurt that contains live cultures of Lactobacillus acidophilus every day. This may help speed recovery from a yeast infection and prevent a recurrence.
Step 8
Treat your partner for a yeast infection, even if he shows no symptoms. It is possible to pass a yeast infection back and forth between sexual partners.
Things You'll Need
- Over-the-counter yeast infection medication
