The Best Yeast Infection Treatments and How They Work

Let’s face it: yeast infections are the pits. Whether you’re experiencing your first fight with yeast or you’ve had recurring infections for years, you want that infection gone FAST. 

Recurrent yeast infections affect about 5% of people born with vaginas. If this sounds like you, you definitely are not alone. Let’s talk about what you can do to address chronic yeast issues.

What exactly is a yeast infection?

Your vagina naturally hosts a whole community of microorganisms, including a yeast called Candida albicans. Most of the time, this yeast lives harmlessly inside the vagina, minding its own business. 

However, small shifts in your vaginal environment can allow the yeast to grow too quickly: this is how a yeast infection begins. For example, taking antibiotics for a different infection (such as UTI or bacterial vaginosis) can throw off the balance of yeast in your vaginal microbiome. 

That said, not all yeast infections start after antibiotic use. Scientists still don't fully understand what triggers vaginal yeast to shift from harmless neighbor to problematic intruder in every situation. 

The usual medical approach: antifungal medications

When you see your healthcare provider for a yeast infection, they’ll likely recommend an antifungal from a class of medications called the azoles. Fluconazole (aka Diflucan®), clotrimazole (aka Lotrimin®), and ketoconazole are among the most common azoles.

Yeast cells need a stable outer membrane to survive. This membrane is largely built from a fat-like substance called ergosterol. Azole medications work by preventing the yeast from producing ergosterol. Without fresh ergosterol, the yeast cell membranes start to break down, causing the cells to die.

Azoles come in two main forms: oral pills and intravaginal treatments. Let’s consider the pros and cons of each.

Oral pills vs. intravaginal creams: Is one better?

A large study from 2020 reviewed data from over 5,000 people who used antifungal pills or creams to treat their yeast infections. This study found that both treatment types were equally good at relieving symptoms. 

Bear with us a moment as we get a bit nerdy. 

Note that this study found equivalence in how the two medication types affected people’s symptoms. There's an important difference between getting rid of the symptoms of a problem and getting rid of the underlying problem itself. 

When treatment makes the symptoms of a yeast infection go away, this is considered a "clinical cure". However, the absence of symptoms doesn’t always mean that the cause of those symptoms has been resolved. 

In some cases, you might feel better because your symptoms have resolved, but you still have some lingering yeast overgrowth. This situation may explain why some infections keep coming back: they never actually left!

Other research shows us that oral pills are likely slightly better than topicals at killing off overgrown yeast for good. A 2025 analysis of 50 research studies found that a single dose of oral fluconazole did a better job of fully eradicating yeast than a multi-day course of intravaginal treatment.

This helps explain why oral medication has become the preferred clinical approach to treating yeast infections. Unfortunately, some strains of Candida albicans are resistant to typical yeast infection medications such as the azoles.

As with any medication, yeast infection medications can cause side effects in some people. For example, vaginal treatments might irritate the vaginal tissue, while oral pills can cause GI upset and headaches. 

Concerns about medication resistance and side effects lead many people to search for alternative treatment options for yeast infections.

Natural and complementary treatment options for yeast infections: what does the research tell us?

Research on antifungal treatments from natural sources is still pretty sparse. This doesn't necessarily mean natural options don’t work against yeast infections; in some cases, it just means scientists haven’t researched them much. 

So, based on the data we currently have, which naturally-derived options are the most promising?

Certain essential oils 

A 2016 study compared 12 different essential oils to 3 common azoles, assessing how well each slowed down the growth of Candida albicans. Compared to Clotrimazole (the active ingredient in Lotrimin® products), the following oils all slowed yeast growth more effectively: 

• Tea tree

• Oregano

• Lavender

• Mint

• Basil

• Winter savory 

These essential oils work by damaging the yeast's cell walls and membranes. While these data are promising, this does NOT mean you run out to your nearest natural food store and buy up every bottle of essential oil! 

Essential oils are highly concentrated: please don’t pour them directly onto or into your body. Instead, consider a product like NeuEve’s Yeast Clear: these oil-based suppositories use carefully diluted tea tree oil to help your body safely clear out stubborn yeast.

Medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs)

MCFAs are compounds found naturally in common products such as coconut oil, and they show promise as antifungal agents. However, lathering yourself in coconut oil won’t do the trick: your body needs to metabolize oils to make MCFAs available to fight yeast. 

Caprylic and lauric acid, two MCFAs found in virgin coconut oil, may be effective anti-yeast agents. A 2021 study found that lab-made versions of these MCFAs were nearly as good at killing Candida as azole pharmaceuticals. 

The researchers also noted that the fatty acids came with added advantages over the pharmaceuticals: the MCFAs were cheaper and caused fewer side effects, and yeast are less likely to be resistant to them.

NeuEve’s Yeast Reset supplement contains caprylic acid to help you keep stubborn yeast at bay without encouraging medication resistance.

Other plant products

For centuries, traditional medicine practitioners across the world have used many other plant-based products to address yeast infections. These include preparations from various plants such as myrtle, olive leaf, sage, neem, plantain leaf, chamomile, silver birch, and calendula. 

Unfortunately, few of these have been studied in controlled trials or compared directly to pharmaceutical medications. Some of this is due to a lack of funding for this type of research into naturally occurring products. 

This is exactly why NeuEve is dedicated to advancing research and promotion of these ingredients: we believe they don’t get enough credit for their healing potential. You can find more info about the science behind our ingredients here.

The takeaways

Pharmaceutical azole medications are the most common treatment option for yeast infections, and they’re supported by the largest body of research. However, alternative approaches based on natural ingredients are promising: for some people struggling with yeast infections, these products can be a meaningful part of supporting vaginal health over time. 

Remember that your body, your symptoms, and your preferences are all unique: what works for your friends or your sister might not work as well for you, and vice versa.

If you're dealing with recurrent infections and standard treatments aren't working, reach out to NeuEve’s science team. Our team is here to help you find a treatment approach that fits your needs and resolves your symptoms.

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