Is Monistat Good for Yeast Infection?

A vaginal yeast infection is very common and happens to 75% of women worldwide at least once in their lifetime. It can seriously affect your quality of life, your relationship, and productivity.

That’s why, although it’s not life-threatening, it’s crucial to start your treatment as soon as you notice first symptoms before they get worse. If you’re suffering from a yeast infection, you may be experiencing the following symptoms:

• Red, itchy and swollen vulva and vagina

• Your discharge is either watery and transparent or thick and white

• You experience discomfort during intercourse

It’s easy to confuse vaginal yeast infection symptoms with other vaginal infections, such as bacterial vaginosis or trichomoniasis, so it’s important to be sure it’s a yeast infection before you start your treatment. When it comes to diagnosis, you’ve got two options:

• Go to see your doctor and have your vaginal swabs tested for 100% accurate results

• If you cannot see your doctor, use a vaginal pH strip to check your vaginal pH, it will help you establish what kind of infection you’ve got, however, the result is not as accurate as the one you could get from your doctor.

Once you know it’s a yeast infection, you can consider different treatment options. Your doctor may prescribe antifungal medication (oral or vaginal) or you can opt for OTC suppositories. One of the most popular OTC medications for vaginal yeast infection is Monistat.

How Does it Work?

Monistat contains Miconazole, an antifungal agent that’s been scientifically proven to kill Candida (yeast) cells. It’s effective against Candida albicans (the most common in yeast infections) and other Candida strains, such as Candida glabrata.

A study from 2015 shows that two doses of 1200 mg miconazole vaginal suppositories are as effective as 2 doses of 150 mg of fluconazole, an oral medication for yeast infection. This makes Miconazole containing suppositories and creams, such as Monistat, a popular and effective choice for many women.

Which Monistat is Best for Yeast Infection?

Monistat comes in 3 different variants: Monistat 1, Monistat 3 and Monistat 7. They differ in the amount of Miconazole per dose and in the number of doses.

Monistat 1 is a one-day treatment with one dose of 1200 mg of Miconazole.

Monistat 3 is a three-day treatment with three applicatorfuls of 200 mg of Miconazole.

Monistat 7 consists of seven doses for a full week of treatment, each dose contains 100 mg of Miconazole.

Based on Amazon reviews and other sources, Monistat 7 seems to be the most effective option that provides long-lasting results. Some women that used Monistat 1 and 3 complain that the infection came back in no time or that it didn’t clear at all, while Monistat 7 users rarely report this problem.

So it’s best to undergo a longer treatment with a lower dosage to make sure all harmful Candida cells die and don’t cause a new infection within weeks.

• Read More: Which Monistat Works Best for Yeast Infection?

Who Shouldn’t Use Monistat?

• If you’re pregnant consult your doctor before starting treatment. Although Monistat is considered safe for pregnant women, you may need a different length of treatment.

• Miconazole can interact with the following drugs: Astemizole, Terfenadine, Tolterodine, Dronedarone, Cisapride, Coumarin anticoagulants, Carbamazepine, Hydantoins, Amiodarone and some immunosuppressants. For a full list of drug interactions visit WebMD. If you’re taking any of the above drugs, consult your doctor before starting Monistat treatment.

• Do not use Monistat if you’re allergic to Miconazole.

Does Monistat give any Side Effects?

Some women who have used Monistat complain from severe burning and itching. This reaction is more common when using Monistat 1, but can occasionally happen with Monistat 3 and 7. It’s usually an allergic reaction to Miconazole and other ingredients of Monistat.

If you experience increased burning and itching after inserting Monistat, stop using it and try to remove the cream from your vagina. If your symptoms get worse, seek medical help immediately.

Should I Take any Precautions When Using Monistat?

• Remember to not interrupt your treatment. If you take Monistat 7 and see a great improvement after the first night, don’t be tempted to stop the treatment. Use all 7 applicatorfuls for 7 consecutive nights to make sure the infection doesn’t come back.

• The vaginal cream may leak overnight, so use a pantyliner before going to bed.

• Miconazole can damage the latex in condoms and diaphragms so it’s best to use alternative methods of contraception (or abstain from sex) while you’re using Monistat.

What are Good Monistat Alternatives?

Occasionally, Monistat may not cure your yeast infection completely. Should that happen, there are many other OTC options to choose from. You can use antifungal suppositories with a different kind of antifungal compound, for example, clotrimazole.

I recommend 7 Day Clotrimazole Vaginal Cream which comes with a convenient applicator. It’s got 100% positive reviews on Amazon and it’s a very economical option.

If you prefer a 100% natural yet very effective option, opt for boric acid suppositories. Studies show that they are an excellent option even for women suffering from recurring and persistent yeast infections.

You can buy boric acid on Amazon, my favorite product is BoriCap because they guarantee same day shipment if you order before 2 pm. It means you’ll be able to start your treatment swiftly before your symptoms get worse.

Boric acid suppositories are relatively safe, however, they can occasionally cause side effects such as a burning sensation. You can read more about using boric acid for yeast infection here.

Conclusion

Monistat is an excellent choice for women who want to get rid of a vaginal yeast infection fast. It’s an economical and easily available form of treatment making it number one choice for most women.

Remember that when you suffer from vaginal itching and abnormal discharge it’s best to see your doctor to get properly diagnosed and find a treatment that suits you best.

If you want to relieve your symptoms at home before seeing your doctor, check my articles about using coconut oil and honey for a yeast infection.

Tell me about your experiences with Monistat. Which Monistat is your favorite and why? If you’ve got any questions, please use the comment section below.