Getty Images | fizkes
Antibiotics are medications used to treat infections due to bacteria.
Although antibiotics are used to treat infections, a question often asked is whether antibiotics can cause yeast infections.
The short answer is yes, it’s possible.
Getty Images | fizkes
Without the healthy bacteria, yeasts can overgrow.
How Do Antibiotics Lead to Yeast Infections?
They usually exist in a balance that does not harm you.
Antibiotics are designed to attack harmful bacteria that may make you sick.
However, some antibiotics may also kill helpful bacteria and cause a microbe imbalance.
When this happens, yeast that naturally exists in your body can overgrow, resulting in a yeast infection.
Not all antibiotics cause yeast infections.
Those called broad-spectrum antibiotics are more likely than others to cause a yeast infection.
These are antibiotics that kill a broad range of bacteria.
Your mouth, throat, and vagina are common areas where yeast infections can happen.
Yeast infection symptoms will vary based on where the infection occurs.
If you have yeast infection symptoms, talk with your pharmacist or healthcare provider.
They can recommend ways to manage it.
Should You Stop Taking Your Antibiotics?
You should not stop taking your antibiotics even if you have a yeast infection.
Antibiotics that commonly cause yeast infections target a broad range of bacteria.
These antibiotics often kill both healthy and harmful bacteria.
What’s worse is that the newly growing bacteria can become resistant to the antibiotics designed to kill them.
Yeast infections sparked by antibiotics can be treated and even prevented.
If you think you have a yeast infection while taking an antibiotic, let your healthcare provider know.
And only stop taking your antibiotic if your prescriber recommends it.
Other types may require medical attention or prescription medications.
These treatments typically last one to seven days.
When to See a Medical Provider
Not all yeast infections can be treated at home.
They can prescribe oral medications or a different vaginal cream to treat your yeast infection.
Liquid forms of the medications can be swallowed or swished around your mouth, depending on the area affected.
With an IV injection, the medication is injected into your vein.
Some studies suggest that eating yogurt containing live cultures may help prevent yeast infections.
However, more research is needed to confirm these results.
Anyone can get a yeast infection while taking antibiotics.
However, some groups may be more at risk.
They can take preventative measures to lower your yeast infection risk during your antibiotic treatment.
This may include taking yeast infection medication, such as Diflucan, with your antibiotic.
Summary
Antibiotics treat bacterial infections by killing or preventing bacteria from growing and multiplying.
Some antibiotics target a broad range of bacteria and may kill harmful bacteria as well as healthy ones.
These types of antibiotics can also cause yeast infections.
They can talk with you about ways to help prevent a yeast infection.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Candidiasis basics.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Yeast infection.
doi.org/10.1038/s41392-022-00974-4
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of candidiasis.
Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).Overview: oral thrush.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About antibiotic resistance.
doi: doi.org/10.1093/cid/civ933
DailyMed.Label: Fluconazole injection.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment of candidiasis.
DailyMed.Label: Oravig- miconazole tablet.
2013;176(3-4):175-181. doi:10.1007/s11046-013-9678-4
Office on Womens Health.Vaginal yeast infections.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing candidiasis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Risk factors for candidiasis.
