Learn about Fluconazole, an oral medication often used to treat vaginal yeast infections, how it works, study results on its effectiveness, and important considerations for managing recurrent infections.
Fluconazole is a single, oral dose medication used to treat vaginal yeast infections. It reduces the frequency of recurrent vaginal yeast infections, according to research published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Currently, there is no safe and effective cure for complete prevention of vaginal yeast infections and recurrent yeast infections in the vagina. Fluconazole, due to its broad impact and extended effectiveness, offers a good option for this condition.
Study on Fluconazole
Researchers in the United States conducted this study on women with vaginal yeast infections, where those suffering from this problem were experiencing it at least four times a year.
After treating vaginal yeast infections with 3 doses of 150 mg fluconazole, administered every 72 hours, they began preventive treatment on a group of 387 women. Women took 150 mg of fluconazole or a placebo once a week for 6 months. The study continued for six more months to examine the duration of treatment.
Study Results
The results showed that weekly treatment with fluconazole effectively prevented recurrent vaginal yeast infections.
The improvement rate for women receiving fluconazole and suffering from this problem was 90.8% after 6 months, 73.2% after nine months, and 42.9% after 12 months.
In comparison, the improvement rate for women receiving the placebo and suffering from this problem was: 35.9% after 6 months, 27.8% after nine months, and 21.9% after 12 months.
On average, the duration of recurrent vaginal yeast infections was 10.2 months for the group that received fluconazole, and 4 months for the group that received the placebo.
In Conclusion
The researchers concluded that weekly preventive treatment of vaginal yeast infections with fluconazole in the long term may reduce the rate of recurrent vaginal yeast infections, but it does not eliminate the need to find a cure to prevent recurrence of these infections in the long term.
yeast infection, fluconazole, vaginal health, women’s health, recurrent infections, antifungal treatment
