Everyone has small amounts of yeast in their body. But if things get out of control and the yeast begins to multiply, then you may suffer a yeast infection. There are multiple ways to treat a yeast infection, including by taking boric acid.
Using boric acid for yeast infection is usually a secondary option behind other treatments, such as using prescribed antifungal medications. Still, boric acid has been shown to be effective in minimizing symptoms and eliminating yeast infections.
Table of Contents
- What Is a Yeast Infection?
- What Is Boric Acid?
- Does Boric Acid Cure Yeast Infections?
- How to Use Boric Acid for a Yeast Infection?
- How Long Does It Take Boric Acid to Work?
- Risks and Side Effects of Using Boric Acid to Treat a Yeast Infection
- How Can DrHouse Help You?
- Key Takeaways
What Is a Yeast Infection?
A yeast infection is a fungal infection. It can affect many parts of the body, including the mouth, but it most commonly affects the vagina. According to one study, 75% of women will develop a yeast infection at least once throughout their lives.
While vaginal yeast infections are rarely anything to worry about, they can impact a person’s quality of life, due to the annoying symptoms that they provoke. Typical symptoms include irritation, intense itching, and discharge. Most people experience acute yeast infections, but some develop chronic yeast infections, meaning they occur four or more times within a year.
What Is Boric Acid?
Boric acid is a naturally occurring compound of oxygen, boron, and hydrogen. It has a wide range of applications, including in the manufacturing industry and to combat insect infestations. In the medical sphere, the antifungal and antibacterial properties of diluted boric acid make it an appropriate treatment for a variety of conditions, including athlete’s foot, diaper rash, insect bites, and yeast infections.
Does Boric Acid Cure Yeast Infections?
Boric acid is not commonly prescribed as the first line of treatment for yeast infections. However, when other antifungal medications are ineffective, doctors will often recommend boric acid, which has been shown in studies to sometimes be an effective treatment method.
In one study, yeast infection patients who were given boric acid reported a significant improvement in their symptoms and, in many cases, the yeast infection was eliminated with no recurrence. The study also found that only a small number of patients experienced side effects, which were only mild. It’s thought that boric acid is effective in 40 – 100% of cases.
How to Use Boric Acid for a Yeast Infection?
When used to treat a vaginal yeast infection, boric acid is inserted into the vagina in capsule form at least once a day, but sometimes twice a day for acute infections.
The length of the treatment will depend on the severity of the case and the effectiveness of the boric acid, but typically women will take the treatment for around two weeks. It’s recommended to insert the boric acid capsule into the vagina at the same time each day, for example, before going to bed.
If you experience chronic yeast infections, then you may take boric acid once a day for up to a year as a preventative measure.
How Long Does It Take Boric Acid to Work?
The length of time it takes for boric acid to work will depend on a variety of factors, most critically the severity of the case. The boric acid capsule will dissolve in your vagina within a matter of minutes, and it’s possible that you’ll begin to see an improvement in your symptoms in as little as a day.
However, it’s important that you complete the course of treatment to reduce the probability of recurrence. In one study, it was found that boric acid cured 92% of yeast infections within 7 – 10 days of the start of treatment. If you’re still experiencing symptoms following two weeks of use, then it’s important to speak to a healthcare professional.
Risks and Side Effects of Using Boric Acid to Treat a Yeast Infection
Boric acid has been shown to be an extremely safe treatment option for yeast infections. Short courses of use are well-tolerated by the vast majority of patients. Any symptoms that occur are often mild; for example, mild water discharge from the vagina.
However, there is a lack of data surrounding the long-term use of boric acid, so caution is advised. Healthcare professionals recommend ceasing intake following three to four months of daily use if it’s taken as a preventative measure.
Mild symptoms may include:
- Watery vaginal discharge
- Vaginal redness
- Burning sensations in the vagina
The patient’s partner may also feel pain or burning during intercourse.
The above symptoms may be experienced by patients to whom the use of boric acid is recommended. However, boric acid isn’t safe for everyone. You should not take boric acid if you:
- Have a fever
- Have vaginal bleeding
- Are pregnant
- Have any sexually transmitted disease
- Have heart disease
- Have a blood vessel disorder.
Also, note that boric acid capsules should only be inserted into the vagina. Taking the capsules orally can result in severe complications, including death.
How Can DrHouse Help You?
DrHouse offers on-demand telehealth services to help you treat your yeast infection. Our team of experienced healthcare providers can diagnose your condition, determine the best course of treatment, provide you with medication if needed, and answer any questions you may have about boric acid or other treatments for yeast infections.
Skip the waiting room and get the care you need when you need it! With us, you can see an online doctor within minutes and from the comfort and privacy of your own home.
FAQ
What Are Boric Acid Suppositories?
Boric acid suppositories are a form of medication used in the treatment of vaginal yeast infections as well as other conditions. It’s mostly used as a secondary treatment when initial antifungal treatments are unsuccessful. They’re used to treat specific types of yeast infections that have been caused by atypical yeast species, such as Candida tropicalis. In addition to the treatment of acute yeast infection cases, you may also use boric acid suppositories on an ongoing basis, since they can help to keep your vagina’s Ph balance in check and reduce the likelihood of future yeast infections.
Can Boric Acid Help With Yeast Infection?
Boric acid has been shown in clinical trials to be effective in the treatment of yeast infections. Boric acid has both antiviral and antifungal properties and has been used as a treatment for more than one hundred years. Available over the counter or with prescription, boric acid treatment offers quick relief from the annoying symptoms of a yeast infection, with many patients experiencing an improvement in their condition in as little as a day. Acute yeast infections treated with boric acid will typically clear up within a couple of weeks.
In addition to the treatment of acute yeast infections, you can also use boric acid capsules as a preventative tool to keep future yeast infections at bay.
Are Boric Acid Suppositories Safe?
Boric acid suppositories have been shown to be extremely safe, providing they’re taken correctly and they’re appropriate for you. You only should place a boric acid suppository in your vagina, never in your mouth. Taking boric acid orally can result in severe complications, including, in rare cases, death by poisoning. Do not use boric acid suppositories if you are pregnant, since some studies indicate that it may impact the fetus.
To safely use boric acid vaginal suppositories, first, wash your hands thoroughly. From there, insert the capsule into your vagina as far as it will go. You may experience some slight discharge, so wearing a panty liner is recommended. Once you’ve finished, wash your hands again. The capsule will dissolve in a matter of minutes.
How Often Can I Use Boric Acid for Yeast Infection?
If you’re dealing with an acute yeast infection, then you should take boric acid once a day for seven to fourteen days, depending on what your healthcare provider recommends. You should notice that your symptoms begin to improve after one or two days following the start of treatment, but it’s important that you complete the treatment course, even if you feel better.
Given that boric acid is low risk when inserted vaginally, it’s generally safe to use the treatment whenever you have a yeast infection. However, if you’re getting multiple yeast infections each year (four or more), then you may take boric acid to keep your Ph balance in check as a preventative measure. In this case, you should take the capsules twice a week for six months to a year.
Can Boric Acid Make a Yeast Infection Worse?
Though it’s unlikely, in certain circumstances boric acid can make a yeast infection worse and make your symptoms more severe. This occurs when the boric acid irritates the inner lining of the vagina, which can make infections more likely. If you don’t notice an improvement in your condition following a week, or you suspect that your yeast infection may be getting worse, then speak to your healthcare providers.
When Should You Not Use Boric Acid Suppositories?
Boric acid suppositories are safe for the vast majority of people. However, there are some people who should use boric acid to treat their yeast infections. Do not take boric acid if you are allergic to it, or if:
You are pregnant or breastfeeding
You have a sexually transmitted disease
You have a fever or nausea
You have a weakened immune system
You have heart disease.
Key takeaways
While boric acid is rarely the first treatment recommended for yeast infections, it is proven to be a safe and effective treatment method when primary antifungal medications have not been effective.
They can help to reduce the symptoms of yeast infections in as little as a day and eliminate the infection within one to two weeks, and may also be taken as a preventative measure to reduce the likelihood of recurrence.
Sources:
- Vaginal Candidiasis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/candidiasis/genital/index.html
- Iavazzo C, Gkegkes ID, Zarkada IM, Falagas ME. Boric acid for recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis: the clinical evidence. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2011 Aug;20(8):1245-55. doi: 10.1089/jwh.2010.2708. Epub 2011 Jul 20. PMID: 21774671.
- Boric Acid for Recurrent Vaginal Yeast Infections. University of Washington Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Available from: https://www.uwmedicine.org/sites/stevie/files/2018-11/Boric-Acid-for-Recurrent-Vaginal-Yeast-Infections.pdf
- K. Keller Van Slyke, Virginia Pender Michel, Michael F. Rein. Treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis with boric acid powder. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Volume 141, Issue 2, 1981, Pages 145-148, ISSN 0002-9378. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0002-9378(16)32581-9
- S.M. Prutting, J.D. Cerveny. Boric Acid Vaginal Suppositories: A Brief Review. Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology 6:191-194 (1998). Available from: https://downloads.hindawi.com/journals/idog/1998/704527.pdf
- Mittelstaedt, Rachel MD∗; Kretz, Alyssa BA†; Levine, Michael MD‡; Handa, Victoria L. MD, MHS§; Ghanem, Khalil G. MD, PhD¶; Sobel, Jack D. MD∥; Powell, Anna MD§; Tuddenham, Susan MD, MPH¶. Data on Safety of Intravaginal Boric Acid Use in Pregnant and Nonpregnant Women: A Narrative Review. Sexually Transmitted Diseases 48(12):p e241-e247, December 2021. | DOI: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001562
- Brent M. Schillinger, Mindy Berstein, Lisa A. Goldberg, Alan R. Shalita. Boric acid poisoning. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Volume 7, Issue 5, 1982, Pages 667-673, ISSN 0190-9622. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0190-9622(82)70149-5.
DrHouse articles are written by MDs, NPs, nutritionists and other healthcare professionals. The contents of the DrHouse site are for informational purposes only and are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing high fever (>103F/39.4C), shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chest pain, heart palpitations, abnormal bruising, abnormal bleeding, extreme fatigue, dizziness, new weakness or paralysis, difficulty with speech, confusion, extreme pain in any body part, or inability to remain hydrated or keep down fluids or feel you may have any other life-threatening condition, please go to the emergency department or call 911 immediately.
