Key takeaways
- Evidence backing home remedies for treating vaginal yeast infections remains mostly anecdotal and limited. Some options, like Greek yogurt, probiotics, coconut oil, and boric acid suppositories, have preliminary research, but effectiveness varies widely.
- Common home remedies include applying plain Greek yogurt, taking oral probiotics or vaginal suppositories, using coconut oil topically, and adding apple cider vinegar to baths.
- If symptoms worsen, new symptoms appear, or the infection returns after home treatment, contact a healthcare professional. You may need prescription medication.
A vaginal yeast infection typically develops due to an overgrowth of the Candida fungus. It can cause symptoms such as itchiness and discharge.
It may be necessary to receive medical treatment to treat the infection. While there is limited evidence, some people claim that home remedies may help treat a vaginal yeast infection.
Probiotics can
These bacteria help promote a healthy environment in the vagina, and they can help address an overgrowth caused by an imbalance.
However, as the
When it comes to using yogurt for a yeast infection, opt for plain Greek yogurt. It’s vital that the yogurt doesn’t contain any added sugar, flavoring, or fruit. Added sugar can fuel the growth of the Candidafungus.
Boric acid is a powerful antiseptic, and some people claim it can help clear up yeast infections resistant to other remedies.
You can use boric acid vaginal suppositories in combination with medications to treat vaginal infections.
However, boric acid is toxic in large amounts. It can lead to:
- kidney damage
- acute circulatory system failure
- death if you absorb too much
Using boric acid safely
Avoid using boric acid on broken skin, and never take it orally.
If you’re pregnant,
Discontinue use if you notice any discomfort.
Probiotics can help restore the bacteria-yeast balance throughout the body.
Taking oral probiotics that contain strains of the Lactobacillus acidophilus bacteria may offer a number of health benefits, including helping bring your digestive tract and vaginal flora back into alignment.
Coconut oil is a fatty oil derived from the flesh of the coconut. The oil has many health benefits, including antifungal properties.
A 2024 in-vitro study found that coconut oil may be effective against C. albicans, making this home remedy one of the few with supporting evidence.
To treat a vaginal yeast infection using coconut oil, be sure to buy pure, organic coconut oil. You could apply the oil directly to the affected area.
Some people claim that taking an apple cider vinegar bath may help treat a vaginal yeast infection.
Anecdotally, some people suggest adding half a cup of apple cider vinegar to a lukewarm bathtub and soaking for 20 minutes. This may be beneficial as apple cider vinegar contains antimicrobial properties, which can help kill the fungus.
An apple cider vinegar bath is not the same as douching, which was designed to flush out all bacteria (but actually eliminates good andbad) from the vagina. Douching leaves you more prone to a recurrence of the yeast infection, so avoid douching with apple cider vinegar, or any other substance.
Be sure to dilute vinegar in water before it touches your skin. In addition, you could also try adding apple cider vinegar to your diet.
A
If you want to try garlic to treat a yeast infection, it’s best to simply add more garlic to your diet.
Some websites recommend inserting garlic into the vagina, but this is not advisable. That’s because the active compounds in garlic can cause burns and pain when applying it to your skin or mucosa.
Hydrogen peroxide is an antiseptic that can kill bacteria and yeast. Lactobacillus bacteria in the vagina produce hydrogen peroxide as part of their natural biological activity.
Some people use hydrogen peroxide topically when they get a yeast infection.
Adding it to a bath or diluting it in water before applying it to your skin may help with yeast growing on the genitals. You can dilute by combining equal amounts of water and hydrogen peroxide.
Just keep in mind that hydrogen peroxide may not work on every species of yeast, and no strong research supports the use of hydrogen peroxide to treat vaginal infections.
Keep this in mind
Avoid douching with hydrogen peroxide, never use hydrogen peroxide internally, and avoid using it for an extended period of time.
Vitamin C is an immune system booster that also has a role in skin health. A strong immune system allows your body to bring itself back into balance.
Vitamin C, also called ascorbic acid, has antimicrobial components, so some people add it to their diet to treat Candida overgrowth.
You can try increasing your intake of vitamin C to boost your body’s ability to beat the yeast infection.
Using vitamin C safely
Don’t apply the acidic vitamin C to the sensitive vaginal tissue. While vitamin C is available as suppositories, it is important not to use these without first seeking medical advice.
Some doctors recommend vitamin E for certain types of vaginal inflammation. In fact,
You can purchase vitamin E suppositories intended for vaginal use, or apply vitamin E oil to your vulva or vagina.
Vitamin E may help soothe:
- itching
- burning
- inflammation
If vitamin E doesn’t seem to help, a good next step involves asking a healthcare professional for more guidance.
It may take some time to notice results when using a home remedy to improve your yeast infection.
It may be best to speak with a healthcare professional if your symptoms get worse or if you notice new symptoms appear at any time during treatment.
If your infection goes away with a home remedy but then returns, it’s best to contact a healthcare professional, such as a primary care doctor or obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN), for advice. You may need a prescription-strength treatment to get rid of the infection.
Keep in mind that some yeast infections can be severe. You’ll typically want to make a doctor’s appointment if:
- you’re pregnant
- you have frequent yeast infections
- you have a weakened immune system from medications
- you’re experiencing skin discoloration, swelling, or itching severe enough to create sores or tears in the vaginal tissue
For more serious yeast infections, a doctor
- fluconazole, an oral tablet
- topical antifungal medications
- a prescription suppository or tablet vaginal treatment
The fastest — and most reliable — way to get rid of a yeast infection is to take prescription medication at a doctor’s recommendation. The doctor may prescribe fluconazole, an oral treatment that may take a few weeks to get rid of the infection.
A mild yeast infection may go away on its own, but this is not common. It’s always a good idea to treat a yeast infection, even if it’s mild. Without proper treatment, a yeast infection may be more likely to return.
Yeast infections and UTIs occur in the same area, but they have very different symptoms.
With a vaginal yeast infection, you may have unusual, generally odorless vaginal discharge that has a thick and milky appearance. You may also have pain or itchiness in your genital area.
With a UTI, you may notice pain and burning when urinating and foul-smelling urine, as well as fever, chills, nausea, pain in your pelvis, and increased frequency and urgent need to pee.
Vaginal yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis (BV) have similar symptoms but different causes and treatments. Both cause inflammation of the vagina or vaginitis.
One of the differences between BV and a yeast infection is that BV produces a foul-smelling, fishy odor, while a yeast infection produces a yeast or dough-like-to-no vaginal odor. Additionally, a yeast infection may cause inflammation of the vulva, while BV doesn’t produce such symptoms.
Anecdotally, some people claim that remedies such as Greek yogurt, garlic, apple cider vinegar, coconut oil, and vitamin C can help treat a vaginal yeast infection.
Keep in mind that any product, natural or otherwise, may irritate sensitive vaginal skin. Stop using the remedy and seek medical advice if you experience any irritation or discomfort.
It is also best to speak with a healthcare professional if symptoms do not improve or if the infection keeps coming back. Prescription-strength treatments may be necessary.