We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Online Pharmacy & OTC The Best Over-The-Counter Yeast Infection Medicines for Fast Relief Relieve uncomfortable vaginal yeast infection symptoms without a prescription. By April Benshosan Updated on November 13, 2024 Medically reviewed by Renita White, MD Fact checked by Rich Scherr Print In This Article View All In This Article Our Top Picks Reviews Ingredients to Look For in OTC Yeast Infection Treatments Types of OTC Yeast Infections Treatments What Healthcare Providers Want You to Know When to See a Healthcare Provider How We Selected the Best OTC Yeast Infection Medicine Our Experts Why Trust Verywell Health Verywell Health / David Hattan Up to 75% of people with vaginas will experience yeast infections at some point in their lives, which is why over-the-counter (OTC) yeast infection medications are great to keep on hand. People become symptomatic when an overgrowth of the yeast, typically Candida, penetrates the superficial layers of the skin, says Barbara Frank, MD, an OB-GYN in Massachusetts. The result is often an uncomfortable combination of itching, burning, and redness. Thankfully, OTC yeast infection medicines, made with antifungals, are easily accessible at most drugstores and often work just as well as prescriptions. We spoke to OB-GYNs about what to look for in an effective yeast infection medication and asked them for their top recommendations. Note that if the infection spreads to a larger area or you experience yeast infections frequently, a doctor’s visit and oral prescription medication may be necessary. Ingredients to Look For in OTC Yeast Infection Treatments Antifungals: Ingredients usually ending in—azole (including miconazole and tioconazole) are antifungals that eliminate the yeast in infections. Numbing agents: Products containing only benzocaine (a numbing agent), resorcinol (an analgesic), and hydrocortisone (a mild steroid) help numb symptoms but don't cure yeast infections as antifungals do. Types of OTC Yeast Infections Treatments Yeast infection treatments come in many different forms. Most commonly, you can find OTC yeast infection treatments in the form of inserts (suppositories), pre-filled ointment applicators, and creams. If you’ve never had a yeast infection before or don’t have any experience taking these medications, something like an insert may be intimidating. Still, they're easy to use and provide effective relief. What Healthcare Providers Want You to Know Menstrual cycle: Yeast infection medication doesn't directly delay your menstrual cycle. But if you get anxious about it, the stress can delay your period, according to Sophia Yen, MD, MPH, the co-founder and CEO of Pandia Health. Potential harm: You shouldn't take yeast infection medication if you aren't positive you have a yeast infection. The vagina contains natural yeast and bacteria that coexist in harmony, and if you use it when you don't have an actual yeast infection, the medication will kill the healthy yeast present in the vagina—which can lead to bacteria taking over, potentially causing bacterial vaginosis, says Yen. When to See a Healthcare Provider Although cure rates for OTC yeast infection medications exceed 90%, sometimes, you still may need to see a doctor. Here are common scenarios where you should schedule a doctor's visit: If you've never had a yeast infection before If you're uncertain if you have a yeast infection or something else (such as a sexually transmitted infection or STI) If you have severe symptoms (such as fever) or your symptoms worsen significantly If your yeast infection doesn't start to improve after a few days of treatment If you complete treatment and are still uncomfortable If you're pregnant or live with a chronic condition (like diabetes or HIV). Pregnant people and immunocompromised people may take longer to clear a yeast infection and would be better suited to a seven-day treatment or a different treatment option that they should discuss with their doctor, says Deepali Kashyap, MD, FACOG, IFMCP, NMCP, a functional gynecologist based in Las Vegas, Nevada.. Our Top Picks Easiest to Use: SALE Monistat 1-Day Yeast Infection Treatment at Amazon $16 $12 Jump to Review Best Natural : NutraBlast Boric Acid Suppositories at Amazon $23 Jump to Review Best Preventative: SALE Metagenics UltraFlora Women's Probiotics for Vaginal Health at Amazon $41 $33 Jump to Review Best for Sensitive Skin: SALE Monistat 3-Day Yeast Infection Treatment at Amazon $24 $16 Jump to Review Best for Men: Lotrimin AF Jock Itch Antifungal Cream at Amazon $11 Jump to Review Easiest to Use Monistat 1-Day Yeast Infection Treatment PHOTO: Amazon $16 $12 at Amazon $16 at Walmart $15 at Target Pros One-dose treatment is easy and convenient Widely available in most pharmacies Suitable for active people Cons May cause irritation in some people Key Specs: Form: Suppository (ovule insert) | Active Ingredients: 1,200 mg miconazole nitrate | Dosage: One-dose treatment Why We Recommend It In terms of convenience, Monistat One-Day is superior to all other over-the-counter products, says Staci McHale, MD, FACOG, a board-certified OB-GYN in Las Vegas, Nevada. It also comes recommended by Kashyap. This treatment comes as a suppository that you insert into the vagina with a provided applicator, and it's less messy than creams or ointments (that usually come in pre-filled applicators). Plus, the insert is designed to stay in place, so you won't even notice it's in there as you go about your day. You only have to insert it once instead of using multiple inserts over several days. Because it's a one-dosage treatment, it increases compliance with completing the treatment and allows women an effective and easy choice in treating vaginal yeast infections. In other words, this product is highly concentrated and convenient for folks who find it hard to remember to take medications for multiple days at a time, Kashyap says. Our editor enjoyed the convenience of a "one and done" treatment and found it the easiest OTC treatment she's used. This OTC medication contains 1,200 milligrams of miconazole nitrate, an effective ingredient in treating yeast infections. The combination pack treatment also comes with a medicated antifungal cream that helps relieve symptoms like itching and burning associated with yeast infections. Plus, it often offers quick results—within one day; however, the infection can take up to seven days to fully clear, even with the one-day treatment. A comparable product to this pick by Monistat is Vagistat by Vagisil's 1-Day Treatment. This pick contains 6.5% tioconazole antifungal, which has been clinically proven to treat yeast infections. And it usually costs less than Monistat's 6.5% tioconazole treatment. However, the formula is very concentrated and can cause irritation for some, says McHale. Keep In Mind Monistat's one-day treatment offers convenience but may be more irritating due to the higher concentration of antifungal medication, McHale says, and one of our editors agrees. When she used it for a yeast infection, she experienced a powerful stinging sensation. It subsided in a few hours, but it was highly uncomfortable. If you have sensitive skin, you might want to opt for the three-day or seven-day treatment instead. Best Natural NutraBlast Boric Acid Suppositories PHOTO: Amazon $23 at Amazon View on Nutrablast.com Pros Helps balance vaginal pH Natural formula Cons Slow-acting Key Specs: Form: Suppository | Active Ingredients: 600 mg boric acid powder | Dosage: Seven-day treatment Why We Recommend It Each vaginal suppository contains the recommended 600 milligrams of 100% pure boric acid powder to target and eliminate excess yeast at the source. Boric acid is an excellent antiseptic and antifungal agent for infections with Candida yeast species. And boric acid suppositories have been used as a more natural remedy for vaginal yeast infections, says McHale. Boric acid also helps with inflammation from bacterial infections, says Kashyap. NutraBlast Boric Acid Suppositories offer immediate pain relief and work to improve overall vaginal health, balance pH, and eliminate odors. To use these, you have to be comfortable sticking the suppository into your vagina, but suppository applicators are sold separately and are a good option if you want a more hands-off application, McHale says. Keep In Mind These suppositories are slower-acting and need to be taken continuously for seven to 14 days. Boric acid kills the healthy or normal organisms in the vagina, so you want to avoid taking boric acid too frequently, Kashyap says. Also very important to note: Boric acid is a poison and should never be taken orally—this product is only designed for use in the vagina. Best Preventative Metagenics UltraFlora Women's Probiotics for Vaginal Health PHOTO: Amazon $41 $33 at Amazon View on Metagenics.com Pros Contains clinically proven probiotic strains Natural, non-medicated treatment Cons Won't treat active yeast infections Key Specs: Form: Capsule | Active Ingredients: None | Dosage: Once-daily capsule Why We Recommend It The science behind Metagenics UltraFlora Women’s Probiotic makes it McHale's first recommendation for women looking to prevent vaginal yeast infections. Metagenics has long been a leader in women’s health supplements, and the bacterial strains in this probiotic supplement are research-proven to restore the vaginal biome and prevent recurrent vaginal infections, McHale says. Each serving contains 2 billion CFU of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14, two strains shown to help reduce the risk of yeast infections as well as urinary tract infections (UTIs) and bacterial vaginosis. You'll take one capsule daily, and the probiotic pills are gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, and non-GMO. We also love that Metagenics' products are independently verified for quality, and the brand publishes testing information for every formula they create on their website. Simply enter the lot number, located on the bottom of the jar near the expiration date, for a detailed report on your product. Keep In Mind This is a probiotic supplement used to help balance the vaginal microbiome—it doesn't contain any medications such as antifungals, so it won't treat an active yeast infection. If you get recurring yeast infections, schedule a visit with a women’s healthcare provider for examination and appropriate diagnosis rather than self-treating repeatedly, McHale says. Best for Sensitive Skin Monistat 3-Day Yeast Infection Treatment PHOTO: Amazon $24 $16 at Amazon $16 at Target $22 at Walgreens Pros Kills fungus on site Widely available in most pharmacies Cons You need to take it over multiple days Key Specs: Form: Suppository and cream | Active Ingredients: 200 mg miconazole nitrate | Dosage: One suppository for three days Why We Recommend It Compared to Monistat's One-Day Treatment, this three-day treatment is less irritating and is better tolerated by many women, McHale says, adding that she usually recommends this three-day treatment for patients to avoid the potential irritative effects of the one-day treatment. One package contains three suppositories that come with a disposable applicator (you'll insert one every day for three days). Each treatment contains 200 milligrams of miconazole nitrate, a clinically proven antifungal. This Monistat treatment comes with an external cream containing miconazole nitrate, which works to help relieve itching fast. Other anti-itch creams, including the Vagisil brand, do not treat vaginal infections because they only contain anti-itch and numbing ingredients—not antifungals. That means they can provide temporary itch relief but will not actually treat a vaginal infection, says McHale. Keep In Mind The Monistat Three-Day Treatment requires you to remember to take the medication for three days, so make sure to set an alarm or find another way to remind yourself. It also won't clear your infection as quickly as the Monistat One-Day treatment, but they are both effective in correcting overgrowth of vaginal yeast. Best for Men Lotrimin AF Jock Itch Antifungal Cream PHOTO: Amazon $11 at Amazon $15 at CVS $14 at Walgreens Pros Kills fungus on site Easy to use Relieves burning, itching, and irritation Cons Small tube Key Specs Form: Cream | Active Ingredients: 1% clotrimazole | Dosage: Use daily for two weeks Why We Recommend It Though uncommon, men can get yeast infections, too. Frank says that this can happen in the glans of the penis (which is more likely if uncircumcised) or in the groin folds. If this is the case, there are certain products for men to manage yeast infection symptoms. Look for products that advertise as relieving “jock itch,” or burning, itching, and chafing. For men dealing with yeast infections, a cream tends to be easy to apply exactly where it’s needed. This OTC antifungal cream from Lotrimin is marketed for a general jock itch, but it also relieves itching, burning, and other symptoms of yeast infections—and works quickly for fast relief. It’s tough on yeast and other fungi yet gentle enough for use around the groin. The active ingredient is 1% clotrimazole, which is an effective antifungal. Keep In Mind Lotrimin recommends using the product every day for two weeks, so you might have to buy a second tube to get the full effects. How We Selected the Best OTC Yeast Infection Medicine To help narrow down the best OTC yeast infection treatments you can find at your local pharmacy or online, we spoke to doctors about what to look for in an effective product and asked them for their top recommendations. We evaluated these OTC meds for the following criteria: Active ingredients: All of the meds on this list, except for our "Best Preventative" pick, contain doctor-recommended antifungal medications that work to get rid of a yeast infection. The active ingredients in these medications are antifungals ending in -azole, such as miconazole and tioconazole. Symptoms targeted: Because the medications on our list contain antifungal medications, you can trust that the products on our list are clinically proven to cure a yeast infection rather than just mask the symptoms. Ease of use: We chose products that are easy to use; for example, we prioritized products like one-day treatments, which require less compliance than seven-day treatments. Our Experts We spoke to doctors to ensure we're picking the most effective treatments available over the counter. The doctors we spoke to include: Staci McHale, MD, FACOG, a board-certified OB-GYN in Las Vegas, NevadaDeepali Kashyap, MD, FACOG, IFMCP, NMCP, a functional gynecologist based in NevadaBarbara Frank, MD, an OB-GYN based in Massachusetts and medical adviser to Attn: GraceSophia Yen, MD, MPH, the co-founder and CEO of Pandia Health Why Trust Verywell Health April Benshosan is an experienced health journalist and editor whose work highlights her passion for helping people make informed decisions about their health. She's interviewed countless doctors and other medical professionals and has written multiple articles on women's health and OTC medications throughout her career. 3 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Mayo Clinic. Yeast infection (vaginal). Paladine HL, Desai UA. Vaginitis: Diagnosis and treatment. Am Fam Physician. 2018;97(5):321-329. Metagenics Institute. Science review: (bacterial vaginosis) lactobacilli strains and their effect on women’s urogenital health. By April Benshosan April Benshosan is a writer, editor, and content strategist covering health, fitness, beauty, and wellness. Her work has been published in both print and digital outlets, including Women’s Health, EatingWell, LIVESTRONG.com, Paceline.fit, Eat This, Not That!, OK! Magazine, Travel Squire, and more. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit