Antifungal medicines are available in the form of gels applied directly or tablets taken orally. If you have been using the treatment for a long time or are suffering from HIV, the effect of the medicine can lessen or the infection may not respond to the treatment.

If this infection has been transmitted sexually to your partner, see to it that you and your partner get simultaneously treated for it. Generally, it takes a week for the infection to get cleared completely.

Can the Infection Become Resistant to Treatment?

Overuse of these antifungal medications can increase the chance that they will eventually not work (the fungus becomes resistant to the medicine).

Herbal Remedy

Eat yogurt since it helps maintain the proper bacterial balance in your intestines and vagina. Use plain yogurt with no other added ingredient.

You can also rub the yogurt around the vaginal area. This will not only clear the infected area but will also sooth the itchy feeling. Leave on the skin for about an hour before washing off with warm water.

You can soothe it with a bath of warm or cold water with half a cup of salt. Sit in the bath with your legs apart until the water cools. You can also soothe it with an ice pack.

Prevention

• Wear loose fitting cotton under wear.
• Get out of your wet swimming suit immediately after swimming or change your underwear after your gym or aerobic class.
• When on your period, change your pad every six hours. Do not use tampons.
• Avoid deodorants or hygiene sprays near your vaginal area since it may affect the acid levels of body.
• Wash your vaginal area regularly in the morning and evening with warm water. Always wipe from front to back.
• Do not use talcum powder. This is because it is starch based which helps the growth of fungus.

(With inputs from Dr. Sudha Tandon, Gynaecologist, Mumbai)