From the Guidelines
Coconut oil is not recommended as a primary treatment for yeast infections due to insufficient clinical evidence supporting its effectiveness. While some people use coconut oil for vaginal yeast infections due to its natural antifungal properties from medium-chain fatty acids like lauric acid, the most recent and highest quality study 1 suggests that azole antifungals continue to be the backbone of VVC treatment and are adequate to completely resolve Candida infections in most cases of uncomplicated VVC.
For treating yeast infections, proven over-the-counter antifungal medications like clotrimazole (Canesten), miconazole (Monistat), or fluconazole (Diflucan) oral tablets are more reliable options, as stated in the 2022 review of the evidence for the 2021 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines 1. These medications typically require 1-7 days of treatment depending on the formulation.
If you choose to try coconut oil as a complementary approach, use only pure, organic, unrefined coconut oil and discontinue if irritation occurs. Yeast infections often require targeted antifungal treatment to effectively eliminate the Candida fungus. If symptoms persist after self-treatment or recur frequently, consult a healthcare provider as this could indicate a different condition or a need for prescription-strength medication. The previous guidelines from 2009 1 and 2016 1 also support the use of azole antifungals as the primary treatment for yeast infections, but the most recent study 1 takes precedence in guiding treatment decisions.
Some key points to consider when treating yeast infections include:
- Confirmation of diagnosis through a wet mount preparation with use of saline and 10% potassium hydroxide to demonstrate the presence of yeast or hyphae
- Classification of VVC as either uncomplicated or complicated based on clinical presentation, microbiological findings, host factors, and response to therapy
- Treatment of uncomplicated VVC with either single-dose or short-course therapy, achieving >90% response
- Treatment of complicated VVC with topical therapy administered intravaginally daily for ~7 days or multiple doses of fluconazole (150 mg every 72 h for 3 doses) 1
From the Research
Coconut Oil and Yeast Infection
- Coconut oil has been studied as a potential treatment for yeast infections, with some evidence suggesting it may be effective against certain species of Candida [ 2 ].
- A study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food found that virgin coconut oil was active against species of Candida at 100% concentration, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 25% [ 2 ].
- Another study published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology found that essential oils, including tea tree oil and lavender oil, inhibited the growth and activity of Candida albicans more efficiently than clotrimazole [ 3 ].
- However, there is limited research on the use of coconut oil specifically for yeast infections, and more studies are needed to confirm its effectiveness [ 4 ].
Comparison to Other Treatments
- Coconut oil has been compared to other antifungal agents, such as fluconazole, and has been found to have similar or greater efficacy against certain species of Candida [ 2 ].
- A review of complementary and alternative therapies for yeast vaginitis and bacterial vaginosis found that lactobacillus recolonization and boric acid may be effective treatments, but that more research is needed to confirm the efficacy of other therapies, including coconut oil [ 4 ].
- Traditional antifungal agents, such as clotrimazole and fluconazole, are still widely used and recommended for the treatment of yeast infections [ 5 ].
- A review of one-day therapy for vaginal candidiasis found that shorter courses of therapy may be effective, but that the choice of therapy should be based on individual clinician preference [ 6 ].