With the way most women pay attention to their bodies these days, you would think they were quite familiar and knowledgeable on it.
However, familiarity does not necessarily translate into knowledge, and this is why we have to keep women well-informed.
Not many women are quick to discern when they have a vaginal yeast infection that needs treatment.
Not everyone gets to decipher the infection behind the signs that are showing.
They could simply dismiss the unusual, whitish discharge as just another secretion while they're ovulating.
They could keep washing and masking the smell with fragrances without concluding that the unusual, foul smell could have a deeper underlying cause.
If you figure you might have a vaginal yeast infection, you should immediately see a medical doctor or health practitioner.
The first thing they would do is to take some samples of your vaginal discharge.
They will run tests on it to confirm whether or not you have a yeast infection.
Part of the diagnostic test would be to rule out other illnesses such as sexually-transmitted diseases.
Therefore, you have nothing to lose from a prompt checkup, and you have more to gain in terms of peace of mind.
Once you have been diagnosed as having a vaginal yeast infection, the treatment proceeds quickly and smoothly in 3 possible ways.
First, your doctor could prescribe oral antifungal drugs unless you are pregnant.
Second, you could also be instructed to buy over-the-counter antifungal vaginal creams and suppositories which are much safer and just as effective.
It would be up to your doctor whether to go for a clotrimazole or nystatin treatment.
As to usage, you will have to insert the suppository or cream into the vagina once a day, preferably at bedtime.
This goes on for 7 days straight or at a course of treatment prescribed by your doctor.
Complete relief won't happen overnight, so expect a few more days of treatment before the symptoms disappear and you feel better.
If your condition does not improve, the third option is to resort to natural home remedies, still under a doctor's supervision.
It can be as simple as an ice pack to cool the itching or a cool soak to relieve the discomfort.
You can't get this kind of assurance if you keep it a secret and start self-medicating your secretions.
Those over-the-counter medications you experiment on may not work.
What's worse, they could be contraindicated for your condition.
Besides, the symptoms you think you see may be indicative of something else related or totally unrelated to vaginal yeast infections.
Don't miss out on the opportunity to get the best and the right vaginal yeast infection treatments that work for you.
You can only get this done by having yourself examined and tested.
You do get to pinpoint the real cause behind those symptoms, and you don't get the complications that come with delayed treatments.