It's Saturday night, there's no doctor in sight and you need relief now! Here are a few home remedies to deal with itching, burning and mild pain until Monday morning rolls around.
YEAST INFECTION
THE SYMPTOMS: Itching, burning and thick white discharge what to try from the kitchen: "Apply a cold compress for some relief," says Dr. Iris Greenwald, a family doctor in Toronto. Wrap a bag of frozen peas or an ice pack in a shirt or towel before applying. Apply plain yogurt containing live acidophilus to your vulva. If you don't want to deal with the mess, you can also insert acidophilus capsules, she says.
WHAT TO TRY FROM THE DRUGSTORE: If you have had a yeast infection before and are pretty sure that's what's going on, go ahead and treat it with an over-the-counter cure.
WHAT TO AVOID: Sugar and alcohol (both will just feed the yeast and help them grow) and non-cotton underwear (your vagina has to breathe!)
WHEN TO GET HELP: See your doctor if the symptoms don't resolve with treatment.IRRITANT DERMATITIS
THE SYMPTOMS: Itching, burning and swelling of the vulvar skin what to try from the kitchen: Crisco, an emollient lubricant, may give your sore skin some relief (be sure to pair it with a non-scented panty liner).
WHAT TO TRY FROM THE DRUGSTORE: "If the skin appears chafed, try an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream," says Greenwald. what to avoid: Hot baths. "They'll just make you itchier," she says.
URINARY TRACT INFECTION (UTI)
THE SYMPTOMS: A frequent and urgent need to pee (but little urine actually comes out) and burning. "If it's early on and a mild case, you can actually flush a UTI out of your system without using an antibiotic," says Greenwald. what to try from the kitchen: Drink a ton of water. "Nobody with a UTI wants to go to the bathroom because it hurts so much," says Greenwald, "but drinking water dilutes the urine so that you can actually go and have a decent void." Cranberry can help, too. "It acidifies the urinary tract, which can help moderate the amount of bacteria there," says Greenwald. Just be sure you're drinking 100-percent cranberry juice, not a sugary cranberry cocktail.
WHAT TO TRY FROM THE DRUGSTORE:
You can find cranberry tablets that are just as effective as juice - just be sure to keep drinking tons of water. what to avoid: "Stay away from caffeine," says Greenwald. when to get help: Any fever, flank pain or blood in the urine means you should seek help right away. A UTI can turn into a kidney infection if left untreated. "If the discomfort lasts longer than 24 hours, see your doctor," says Greenwald.