Symptoms of vaginal infections may be similar to symptoms of other vaginal disorders. For this reason, you should always consult your doctor to determine if you really have vaginal yeast infection. Your doctor will run laboratory tests to identify the true cause of vaginal itching.



Here are some of the most common symptoms of vaginal yeast infection. Once you experience these symptoms, you should immediately go to your doctor to seek proper treatments.

First, you can experience excruciating itch around the vulva and in your vagina. This is the most common sign that you could have a yeast infection. In some cases, itching can spread from the vaginal opening all the way to your anus.

You can also experience a burning sensation in your vaginal area. This burning sensation can be caused by the swelling of the vaginal tissues that have been irritated by the infection. You will notice that there are considerable inflammations and redness on your vaginal opening.

The third most common symptom of vaginal yeast infection is the presence of unusual vaginal discharge that may look cheesy and chunky. The unusual discharges however will not have a fishy odor.

Lastly, you can experience painful urination and intercourse if you have vaginal yeast infection. The tissues surrounding the vulva may be too irritated already due to the infection. That is why any contact with it will be very painful.

It is possible to treat vaginal yeast infection with over-the-counter antifungal creams. You can purchase these non-prescription creams from drugstores and pharmacies.

Vaginal creams come in different dosage strengths. The active ingredients of these over-the-counter vaginal creams would be similar to prescription creams but they usually have less concentrated doses.

When you buy over-the-counter vaginal creams, they will usually contain applicators. These applicators will help you in measuring the right dose of the antifungal cream to effectively kill the yeast that is causing the infection.

Most vaginal creams can be used only during bedtime. That is because these creams could leak out of your vagina and may become messy if applied during the day. Some creams may include a topical solution that you can apply externally on the vulva to relieve vaginal itch.

When using over-the-counter vaginal creams, it is highly recommended that you should abstain from sex. These creams are oil-based and they will damage rubber or latex condoms and diaphragms.

Aside from vaginal antifungal creams, you can also use suppositories and tablets to kill yeast cells that cause vaginal yeast infection. Make sure to read the medication instructions contained in the product labels and inset before you use any kind of over-the-counter treatments for vaginal yeast infection.

Before buying over-the-counter treatments, you should determine if your symptoms are really caused by yeast infection and not by other vaginal diseases such as bacterial growth or sexually transmitted disease. So, it is still important to consult your doctor so a proper examination can be done.