Clothing that traps moisture, such as nylon underpants, panty hose, and tight jeans, may contribute to infection. Although candidiasis is not a sexually transmitted disease, sexual activity can precipitate this condition or encourage recurrence. A woman does not necessarily have to consult a doctor to treat a yeast infection. One common home remedy is douching twice a day for 2 or 3 days with a mixture of 1 tablespoon of vinegar in 1 pint of water. These are usually antifungal ointments used from 3 days to 1 week.
Some physicians prescribe oral medications for patients who have yeast infections.
Whatever the remedy, avoid intercourse until your symptoms have disappeared, because sexual contact can prolong your infection. If your vaginal discharge and itching do not improve with self-directed measures, or if you have abdominal pain and cramping or fever and chills, you should consult a physician. An evaluation is important when you have these additional problems because they may mean you have another type of vaginal infection. Your physician can identify your problem more specifically through laboratory tests, such as a microscopic evaluation of vaginal discharge. Two other vaginal infections are bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis , which both produce an unpleasant-smelling, usually gray discharge, but tend to cause less itching than a yeast infection.