Vaginal Discharge, Infections, & Odors and Douching / Question
Published: July 2, 2008
Dear TeenHealthFX,
Hi, I am 13 years old and i think i have a yeast infection but i am not really sure. I am not really that close to my mom so i don't want to tell her. Is there any way i could treat this without having to go to the doctor first? I have heard about these home test that u can use to see if u have an infection, should i try using one of those before i take any medication of some sort?
Signed: I Think I Have A Yeast Infection
Dear I Think I Have A Yeast Infection,
TeenHealthFX can appreciate that you would like to take care of this yourself as it is obviously feeling uncomfortable to you to talk about something that feels so personal with your mother, who you state you are not feeling close to right now. Many teenage girls find that they feel embarrassed or worried about talking about these kinds of things to any adults, including parents and doctors. However, there are times – and this is one of them – when you do need to talk to a doctor.
The reason you need to talk to a doctor, especially if you’ve never had a yeast infection before, is so he/she can confirm that you do, in fact, have a yeast infection and then recommend a form of treatment that would be best for you (such as an over-the-counter cream or suppository, or a prescription pill).
The reasons to see a doctor include:
- The signs of a yeast infection can be similar to other medical issues and it is important to know what the real problem is so you can get the right treatment.
- There are different types of treatment (creams, suppositories, prescription pills) and based upon the severity of your symptoms and medical history your doctor may recommend one type of treatment over another.
- Treating yourself with over-the-counter medications without consulting with a doctor can be a problem because if you use an antifungal medication when you don’t really have a yeast infection, it can increase your risk of getting a hard-to-treat infection in the future.
- Treating yourself with over-the-counter medications without consulting with a doctor can be a problem because if you use an antifungal medication when you don’t really have a yeast infection it may worsen whatever condition you do have.
In general, a doctor should always be consulted with before you take over-the-counter medication for a yeast infection. But this is particularly the case if any of the following applies to you:
- You have never had a yeast infection before
- You are having repeat yeast infections
- You are pregnant
FX appreciates that you are feeling reluctant to talk to anybody about this. But keep in mind that 75% of women have had a yeast infection at least one time – so odds are your mother is probably familiar with how to deal with this and your doctor will be very understanding and helpful. If you feel really uncomfortable telling your mother, think about whether any other adult you know can speak to your mother for you and/or set up the appointment with your doctor, such as your father, an aunt, a close friend of the family, or neighbor.
If you don't have a doctor and live in northern
Signed: TeenHealthFX
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