SHOP TALK : Easing Yeast Infections

Women can soon treat their own vaginal yeast infections without a trip to the doctor’s office. By next month, an anti-fungal cream called clotrimazole is expected to be available over-the-counter rather than by prescription.

Gynecologists say most women who have had one yeast infection--marked by itching and a white, odorless discharge--can easily recognize subsequent ones. The label on the cream, called Gyne-Lotrimin, will advise users to consult a doctor if it is the first time they have suffered from vaginal itch and discomfort.

“A lot of women know their own bodies,” says Dr. Donna Shoupe, USC associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology. But she offers a caveat about clotrimazole use: “If there is pain, or if no relief occurs after several days of treatment, see a doctor.”