Ask An Expert: Yeast Infection During Pregnancy

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Ask An Expert: Yeast Infection During Pregnancy

Question:

What medication can be taken when a yeast infection develops in the last month of pregnancy?

Answer:

Vaginal yeast infection is common, and pregnancy can increase the risk of occurrence. While yeast infections do not harm the pregnancy, they can cause uncomfortable symptoms for the patient. Symptoms include an intense vaginal itch and a thick, white vaginal discharge.

Yeast infections are caused by overgrowth of a vaginal microorganism called Candida. Infections are readily treated with antifungal drugs called azoles. In pregnancy, the drugs are applied vaginally as either a cream or suppository. In a nonpregnant woman, the infection usually resolves in three days, but often seven days of treatment are required in pregnancy. Examples of vaginally administered azoles are clotrimazole and miconazole. They are available without a prescription.

In nonpregnant women, an azole called fluconazole can be taken by mouth as a single dose. The medicine is secreted into the vagina over the next three days. It is a convenient way to treat yeast. However, the pill is not safe to use in pregnancy since it would expose the fetus to the drug and potentially cause injury.

Joan Bengtson, M.D., is assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive biology at Harvard Medical School and a member of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproduction at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

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Last updated:	January 24, 2007