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Candida - female genital - Management
What general advice can I give about self-management of the current infection?
- Avoid local irritants (such as soaps and shower gels) and tight-fitting synthetic clothes.
- Probiotics (e.g. live yoghurts) may be used orally or topically. Although there is no evidence that they are effective, there is no evidence of (or concern about) adverse effects.
- Return for review if symptoms have not resolved within 7–14 days.
Basis for recommendation
- This advice is generally based on expert opinion [Watson and Bond, 2003; CDC, 2006; Sobel, 2007].
- Local irritants (soaps and shower gels) and tight-fitting synthetic clothes:
- There is limited evidence that tight-fitting clothes are a risk factor for vulvovaginal candidiasis and CKS found no evidence that local irritants such as soaps and shower gels increase the risk of vulvovaginal candidiasis. However, avoiding local irritants and tight-fitting synthetic clothes are widely recommended practices [BASHH, 2002; FFPRHC and BASHH, 2006].
- Probiotics:
- Although there is no good evidence of effectiveness in treating or preventing acute or recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis, there is no evidence of (or concern about) harm.
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