Tommie asked
Are there any OTC cream I can go to rite aid or Walmart or dollar general store I can buy for feminine (vaginal) itching? I have no insurance. Thank you!
Answer
There are plenty of products out there that you can get over the counter without a prescription.
The first thing you want to try and find out however, is if you could possibly have a yeast infection. Products solely intended for feminine itching will not help clear up an infection.
Yeast infections can happen for any variety of reasons including antibiotic use, high levels of estrogen, an altered vaginal pH level, pregnancy and immune system status. If you have a few of the common symptoms for yeast infections, you will want to try a product intended to treat them. Some of the common symptoms are:
- A thick,white discharge
- Pain and itching
- Painful urination
- Swelling and redness in the vaginal area
So let's get to the products you can buy over the counter. We will separate these into two groups. Firstly, the products you should get if you suspect a yeast infection and secondly, products that are intended to relieve vaginal discomfort.
Products for Yeast Infections
All of the over the counter products are intra-vaginal therapies and must be applied by the user. This differs from prescription products that you can take by mouth. All of the different products work just about the same and can clear 80-90% of yeast infections. In addition, the length of application for each product varies from 1 day to 7 days. Again, they are all about as effective as one another. Even though a 1 day product obviously has less applications, it still takes about the same amount of days to clear up an infection. All of the following products are available over the counter and should range from about $5-$20.
- Monistat (Miconazole) and the associated generic products are the most common thing you will see. They go by the name Monistat-1, Monistat-3 and Monistat-7. The number indicates the days of therapy. They come as either a vaginal cream or tablet. Monistat (Miconazole) 3 day and 7 day therapies are the most commonly recommended by pharmacists and doctors. The longer day therapies are sometimes more recommended because women who have recurrent infections respond better to longer therapies.
- Mycelex-7 (Clotrimazole) is another very common over the counter yeast infection cream. It simply has a different anti-yeast medication than Monistat. It just as effective as Monistat.
Products for Vaginal Itching:
These products are not intended to treat infections. If you symptoms aren't going away in a couple of days, it is recommended to go and see a doctor. The following are some products you can buy over the counter for vaginal itching:
- Vagisil and the associated generic products are very common and popular. They shouldn't be over $10 at a local drug store or food market. Vagisil has many different brand name extensions with it including various washes and pH refreshers. The original Vagisil is what you would be looking for. It contains an anesthetic and some disinfectants to help sooth the area and get rid of the itch. It also helps to block odors.
- Balneol is also a very common medication over the counter for vaginal itching. Balneol does NOT contain an anesthetic as does Vagisil. Think of it more as a moisturizing product. It is a good recommendation for those with sensitive skin. It also helps with odor control.
- Hydrocortisone is available in many different vaginal itching products and is considered a low strength steroid. It is commonly used on rashes and the such. It should not be used for more than a few days in the vaginal area. Also, if you itching is due to a yeast infection, it's possible it may make it worse.
That about does it for the over the counter medications. My personal recommendation is that if you are thinking it may be a yeast infection, use a generic Monistat product (Miconazole) that is either the 3 or 7 day therapy. If you do not think the irritation is from a yeast infection, I recommend Balneol. It usually is better tolerated than Vagisil for those with sensitive skin.
