{"id":604405858610,"title":"Monistat 1 Review: Can Yeast Infections Be Cured OTC?","created_at":"2022-11-19T21:09:49-05:00","body_html":"\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e\/\/ \u003c![CDATA[\n{\n \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n \"@type\": \"Article\",\n \"headline\": \"Monistat 1 Review: Can Yeast Infections Be Cured OTC?\",\n \"keywords\": \"monistat 1, monistat 1 review, monistat 1 reviews, how long does monistat 1 stay inside you, how long does monistat 1 stay in you, how long does it take for monistat 1 to work, monistat 1 side effects, how long does it take monistat 1 to work\",\n \"description\": \"Our research team reviews the active ingredient in Monistat 1 to give our take on whether it's likely to cure vaginal yeast infections or if it's a waste of money. We highlight a questionable additive ingredient and share real, unsponsored user reviews of the product including side effects.\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/monistat-1-review\",\n\"author\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Calloway Cook\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/calloway-cook\",\n \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/calloway-cook\/\",\n \"jobTitle\": \"President\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"entrepreneurship, dietary supplements, herbal supplements, eCommerce, medical research\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": \"S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University\"\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"creator\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Calloway Cook\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/calloway-cook\",\n \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/calloway-cook\/\",\n \"jobTitle\": \"President\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"entrepreneurship, dietary supplements, herbal supplements, eCommerce, medical research\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": \"S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University\"\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"editor\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Taylor Graber\",\n \"honorificSuffix\": \"M.D.\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/taylor-graber\",\n \"sameAs\": [\n \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/taylor-j-graber-md-81351642\/\",\n \"https:\/\/www.asapivs.com\/\"\n ],\n \"jobTitle\": \"Content Partner\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"medicine, health, anesthesiology, iv therapy, science, drugs, pharmaceutical, medical research, scientific research, medical journals, entrepreneurship, healthcare, orthopedic surgery, biomedical engineering\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": [\n \"University of California San Diego\",\n \"Arizona University\",\n \"University of Arizona College of Medicine\"\n ]\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"image\": {\n\"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Monistat_1_Thumbnail.png?v=1668910615\",\n\"width\": \"1759\",\n\"height\": \"1759\"\n},\n\"citation\": [\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/3510114\/\", \n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC180485\/\",\n\"https:\/\/ntp.niehs.nih.gov\/ntp\/roc\/content\/profiles\/butylatedhydroxyanisole.pdf\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/3485546\/\",\n\"https:\/\/www.fakespot.com\/product\/monistat-1-vaginal-antifungal-day-or-night-1-day-treatment-combination-pack\"\n],\n\"mentions\": [{\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"tioconazole\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"BHA\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"miconazole\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"Adrianna Shardey\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Amazon\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Walmart\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Target\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"CVS\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"All Day With The Alis\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"Fakespot\"\n }\n],\n\"datePublished\": \"2022-11-19\",\n\"copyrightHolder\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n},\n\"publisher\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/\",\n \"description\": \"Illuminate Labs is the most transparent supplement company in the U.S., and is a leading publisher of research-based health information.\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"supplements, science, nutrition, exercise, health, medication, pharmaceutical, wellness, diet, weight loss, medical research\",\n \"publishingPrinciples\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/editorial-guidelines\",\n \"memberOf\": [\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"U.S. Chamber of Commerce\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.uschamber.com\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Certified B Corp\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.bcorporation.net\/en-us\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Natural Products Association\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.npanational.org\/\"\n }\n ],\n \"logo\": {\n \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Illuminate_Labs_Favicon_48x48_7595c3cc-e27b-47b8-a4fe-edcc7ed9b29a.png?v=1666502785\", \n \"width\": 48,\n \"height\": 48\n},\n \"foundingDate\": \"2019-01-30\",\n \"sameAs\": [\n \"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/twitter.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/illuminate-labs-supplements\",\n \"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCpgSJAsIPb-fZ25djtTxBEA\"\n ]\n }\n}\n\/\/ ]]\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Monistat_1_Review_Article_Header_Image_Optimized.png?v=1668910213\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eDisclaimer: None of the information in this article constitutes medical advice, and is just the opinion of the writer(s). We recommend that patients follow their doctor’s guidance in regard to vaginal yeast infection treatment.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"dc\"\u003eM\u003c\/span\u003eonistat 1 is an over-the-counter (OTC) product used to treat vaginal yeast infections. The brand claims that it “relieves yeast infection symptoms 4x faster than the leading Rx pill.” Monistat 1 is the maximum strength treatment, and is used to treat yeast infection symptoms in one day. The brand also sells 3-day and 7-day versions which are less potent.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBut is Monistat 1 actually proven to treat yeast infections or are these just marketing claims? Does it contain research-backed ingredients? Does it have any ingredients that are unhealthy? And how do real users rate its effects?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIn this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we review the ingredients in Monistat 1 based on medical studies to give our take on whether the product is likely to be effective. We’ll also explain how long the treatment stays in you and share real, unsponsored user reviews.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eDoes Monistat 1 Contain Research-Backed Ingredients?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" alt=\"Monistat 1 ingredients\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Monistat_1_Ingredients_Optimized.png?v=1668910235\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe active ingredient in Monistat 1 is an antifungal called \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003etioconazole\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, at a dose of 300 milligrams (mg) and a concentration of 6.5%.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/3510114\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eDrugs\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e journal found that this ingredient is effective for treating vaginal yeast infections. The study authors documented that tioconazole was more effective as an anti-yeast measure than other popular antifungal drugs.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC180485\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e analyzed whether tioconazole at the same concentration as in Monistat 1 could successfully treat vaginal yeast infection. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e86% of patients using tioconazole were symptom-free after one single treatment.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe will consider the active ingredient in Monistat 1 to be likely effective for the treatment of vaginal yeast infection. Monistat 1 is likely to work within seven days, according both to the medical research cited above and to the product’s ingredient label.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eButylated hydroxyanisole\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e (BHA) is an inactive preservative ingredient that may be carcinogenic (cancer-causing) according to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/ntp.niehs.nih.gov\/ntp\/roc\/content\/profiles\/butylatedhydroxyanisole.pdf\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eresearch\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e published by the National Toxicology Program. Most of the research on BHA appears to be related to its ingestion and not topical application, but we still believe this information is important for consumers to be aware of.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eDifferent Ingredients on Instruction Manual and Website\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" alt=\"Monistat 1 product image\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Monistat_1_Product_Image_Optimized.png?v=1668910256\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe active ingredient in Monistat 1 according to the instruction manual is an OTC drug ingredient called tioconazole, as described in the previous section. However, at the time of writing this article,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e the product image on the brand’s website (shown above) lists an entirely different active ingredient and dose: miconazole at a 1,200 mg dose.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThis is entirely unacceptable for a brand as large as Monistat, and we urge the brand to update their ingredient descriptions to whichever is accurate.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIt is a consumer safety issue to have inaccurate or outdated ingredient information, because consumers may have allergies or sensitivities to certain ingredients. Consumers deserve to know exactly what is in a product they’re using topically, and are unable to make an informed purchase decision without this information.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe recommend avoiding all Monistat products until this ingredient discrepancy is clarified.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePharmacist Gives Product Demo\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA pharmacist named Adrianna Shardey published one of the most popular YouTube videos reviewing Monistat 1. The video has over 300,000 views and includes a product demo that shows consumers how to properly use the device:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/UHW4YJMnDlk\" height=\"315\" width=\"560\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" frameborder=\"0\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eHow Long Does Monistat 1 Stay Inside You?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eGiven that Monistat 1 comes with a pre-filled applicator, patients are often curious about how long the treatment actually stays in the body.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe applicator itself should be removed from the body immediately after use and is not meant to stay inside the vagina. The cream, or active treatment, also stays inside the body and is absorbed\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e. There is no reference on the product manual to Monistat 1 cream exiting the vagina or being discharged.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIt’s important that patients using Monistat do not use tampons or other vaginal products.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eDoes Monistat 1 Cause Side Effects?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMonistat 1 may cause side effects, which is unsurprising given that it’s a drug product applied to sensitive lining inside of the vagina, in an already-irritated area.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe product’s manual contains no reference to potential side effects, but a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/3485546\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e on the use of tioconazole cream for the use of vaginal infections noted a side effect rate of 5%. A sensation of burning was the documented side effect.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThis trial used a tioconazole concentration of only 2%, which is significantly less than the concentration in Monistat 1 of 6.5%.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e This suggests that the risk of side effects for users of Monistat 1 may be higher than 5%.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThere are a number of reports online from patients who experienced significant burning and irritation after using Monistat 1. Most of the negative reviews of the product that we’ve encountered were due to the burning side effect.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhere to Buy Monistat for the Best Price\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMonistat 1 is sold at a variety of online retailers, including Amazon, Walmart, Target, CVS and more. Here’s a price breakdown at the time of updating this article:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eCVS: $23.49 (\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.cvs.com\/shop\/monistat-1-day-yeast-infection-ovule-insert-treatment-prodid-314730\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/www.cvs.com\/shop\/monistat-1-day-yeast-infection-ovule-insert-treatment-prodid-314730\"\u003elink\u003c\/a\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eTarget: $16.99 (\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.target.com\/p\/monistat-1-dose-yeast-infection-treatment-ovule-insert-38-external-itch-cream-0-32oz\/-\/A-10879977\"\u003elink\u003c\/a\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWalmart: $16.97 (\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.walmart.com\/ip\/MONISTAT-1-Dose-Yeast-Infection-Treatment-1-Ovule-Insert-External-Itch-Cream\/23601909\"\u003elink\u003c\/a\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAmazon: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e$15.39 (free shipping\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3EMPLtG\"\u003elink to Amazon listing\u003c\/a\u003e)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe price on Amazon is currently almost 50% cheaper than the price at CVS.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eMonistat 1 Real, Unsponsored User Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOne of the most popular real user reviews of Monistat 1 comes from a channel called “All Day With The Alis.” The video has over 200,000 views and the creator explains how Monistat 1 caused her pain: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/WB7yNRPQeic\" height=\"315\" width=\"560\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" frameborder=\"0\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eMonistat Customer Reviews\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAs stated above, Monistat is sold on Amazon, which is a more objective resource for customer reviews than a brand’s website in our opinion. The product has been reviewed over 22,000 times on Amazon and has an average review rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe top positive review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named “Desi Owens” who claims that the cream is effective and caused no side effects:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e“\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eI had a moderate yeast infection that I wanted gone right away, so I decided to try this product..Roughly 6.5 hours to work magic.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e I can say I felt a tingle (maybe) only because it might have simply been the same itch I felt from the yeast infection itself. I put a thin pad on (not panty liner) and went to sleep…Took a shower and now writing this review because baby it’s gone gone. No itch , no burn.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe top negative review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named “Monika Yazbek” who claims the product caused irritation:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e“I am one of those idiots sitting here scrolling through the reviews wishing that I read them before using this demon. Everything everyone describes IS TRUE. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eIt’s HELL!!!!! I applied this demon at 12am before bed i was a little uncomfortable in my sleep with itch and kept sleeping up until 4am I couldn’t hold it anymore! I was dying\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, the first thing I did was grab my phone to read if it’s normal…. Now I sit here scrolling through reviews like most of us did hoping, praying, wishing I’ll find an answer to immediate relief.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eConclusion\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMonistat 1 is likely to relieve symptoms of vaginal yeast infection because its active ingredient is backed by significant medical research.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe do not currently recommend this product due to the inclusion of a questionable preservative ingredient, but mostly because there is an ingredient discrepancy between the product manual and the product images on the brand’s website. Without being certain of what the active ingredient is, it’s impossible for consumers to make a safe and informed purchase decision.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe hope that Monistat resolves this ingredient discrepancy.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eUntil then, we would recommend that patients experiencing a vaginal yeast infection speak with their doctor about treatment options.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","blog_id":49281925193,"author":"Calloway Cook","user_id":26601750601,"published_at":"2022-11-19T21:20:25-05:00","updated_at":"2023-09-15T19:13:07-04:00","summary_html":"We review the active ingredient in Monistat 1 to give our take on whether it's likely to cure vaginal yeast infections or if it's a waste of money. We highlight a questionable additive ingredient and share real, unsponsored user reviews of the product including side effects.","template_suffix":"","handle":"monistat-1-review","tags":"_related:women's-health"}

Monistat 1 Review: Can Yeast Infections Be Cured OTC?

Monistat 1 Review: Can Yeast Infections Be Cured OTC?


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Read our Editorial Guidelines to learn more about what makes our site the premier resource for online health information.

Disclaimer: None of the information in this article constitutes medical advice, and is just the opinion of the writer(s). We recommend that patients follow their doctor’s guidance in regard to vaginal yeast infection treatment.

Monistat 1 is an over-the-counter (OTC) product used to treat vaginal yeast infections. The brand claims that it “relieves yeast infection symptoms 4x faster than the leading Rx pill.” Monistat 1 is the maximum strength treatment, and is used to treat yeast infection symptoms in one day. The brand also sells 3-day and 7-day versions which are less potent.

But is Monistat 1 actually proven to treat yeast infections or are these just marketing claims? Does it contain research-backed ingredients? Does it have any ingredients that are unhealthy? And how do real users rate its effects?

In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we review the ingredients in Monistat 1 based on medical studies to give our take on whether the product is likely to be effective. We’ll also explain how long the treatment stays in you and share real, unsponsored user reviews.

Does Monistat 1 Contain Research-Backed Ingredients?

Monistat 1 ingredients

The active ingredient in Monistat 1 is an antifungal called tioconazole, at a dose of 300 milligrams (mg) and a concentration of 6.5%.

A medical review published in the Drugs journal found that this ingredient is effective for treating vaginal yeast infections. The study authors documented that tioconazole was more effective as an anti-yeast measure than other popular antifungal drugs.

A clinical trial analyzed whether tioconazole at the same concentration as in Monistat 1 could successfully treat vaginal yeast infection. 86% of patients using tioconazole were symptom-free after one single treatment.

We will consider the active ingredient in Monistat 1 to be likely effective for the treatment of vaginal yeast infection. Monistat 1 is likely to work within seven days, according both to the medical research cited above and to the product’s ingredient label.

Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) is an inactive preservative ingredient that may be carcinogenic (cancer-causing) according to research published by the National Toxicology Program. Most of the research on BHA appears to be related to its ingestion and not topical application, but we still believe this information is important for consumers to be aware of.

Different Ingredients on Instruction Manual and Website

Monistat 1 product image

The active ingredient in Monistat 1 according to the instruction manual is an OTC drug ingredient called tioconazole, as described in the previous section. However, at the time of writing this article, the product image on the brand’s website (shown above) lists an entirely different active ingredient and dose: miconazole at a 1,200 mg dose.

This is entirely unacceptable for a brand as large as Monistat, and we urge the brand to update their ingredient descriptions to whichever is accurate.

It is a consumer safety issue to have inaccurate or outdated ingredient information, because consumers may have allergies or sensitivities to certain ingredients. Consumers deserve to know exactly what is in a product they’re using topically, and are unable to make an informed purchase decision without this information.

We recommend avoiding all Monistat products until this ingredient discrepancy is clarified.

Pharmacist Gives Product Demo

A pharmacist named Adrianna Shardey published one of the most popular YouTube videos reviewing Monistat 1. The video has over 300,000 views and includes a product demo that shows consumers how to properly use the device:

How Long Does Monistat 1 Stay Inside You?

Given that Monistat 1 comes with a pre-filled applicator, patients are often curious about how long the treatment actually stays in the body.

The applicator itself should be removed from the body immediately after use and is not meant to stay inside the vagina. The cream, or active treatment, also stays inside the body and is absorbed. There is no reference on the product manual to Monistat 1 cream exiting the vagina or being discharged.

It’s important that patients using Monistat do not use tampons or other vaginal products.

Does Monistat 1 Cause Side Effects?

Monistat 1 may cause side effects, which is unsurprising given that it’s a drug product applied to sensitive lining inside of the vagina, in an already-irritated area.

The product’s manual contains no reference to potential side effects, but a clinical trial on the use of tioconazole cream for the use of vaginal infections noted a side effect rate of 5%. A sensation of burning was the documented side effect.

This trial used a tioconazole concentration of only 2%, which is significantly less than the concentration in Monistat 1 of 6.5%. This suggests that the risk of side effects for users of Monistat 1 may be higher than 5%.

There are a number of reports online from patients who experienced significant burning and irritation after using Monistat 1. Most of the negative reviews of the product that we’ve encountered were due to the burning side effect.

Where to Buy Monistat for the Best Price

Monistat 1 is sold at a variety of online retailers, including Amazon, Walmart, Target, CVS and more. Here’s a price breakdown at the time of updating this article:

CVS: $23.49 (link)

Target: $16.99 (link)

Walmart: $16.97 (link)

Amazon: $15.39 (free shipping, link to Amazon listing)

The price on Amazon is currently almost 50% cheaper than the price at CVS.

Monistat 1 Real, Unsponsored User Review

One of the most popular real user reviews of Monistat 1 comes from a channel called “All Day With The Alis.” The video has over 200,000 views and the creator explains how Monistat 1 caused her pain: 

Monistat Customer Reviews

As stated above, Monistat is sold on Amazon, which is a more objective resource for customer reviews than a brand’s website in our opinion. The product has been reviewed over 22,000 times on Amazon and has an average review rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars.

The top positive review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named “Desi Owens” who claims that the cream is effective and caused no side effects:

I had a moderate yeast infection that I wanted gone right away, so I decided to try this product..Roughly 6.5 hours to work magic. I can say I felt a tingle (maybe) only because it might have simply been the same itch I felt from the yeast infection itself. I put a thin pad on (not panty liner) and went to sleep…Took a shower and now writing this review because baby it’s gone gone. No itch , no burn.”

The top negative review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named “Monika Yazbek” who claims the product caused irritation:

“I am one of those idiots sitting here scrolling through the reviews wishing that I read them before using this demon. Everything everyone describes IS TRUE. It’s HELL!!!!! I applied this demon at 12am before bed i was a little uncomfortable in my sleep with itch and kept sleeping up until 4am I couldn’t hold it anymore! I was dying, the first thing I did was grab my phone to read if it’s normal…. Now I sit here scrolling through reviews like most of us did hoping, praying, wishing I’ll find an answer to immediate relief.”

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Conclusion

Monistat 1 is likely to relieve symptoms of vaginal yeast infection because its active ingredient is backed by significant medical research.

We do not currently recommend this product due to the inclusion of a questionable preservative ingredient, but mostly because there is an ingredient discrepancy between the product manual and the product images on the brand’s website. Without being certain of what the active ingredient is, it’s impossible for consumers to make a safe and informed purchase decision.

We hope that Monistat resolves this ingredient discrepancy.

Until then, we would recommend that patients experiencing a vaginal yeast infection speak with their doctor about treatment options.




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