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?
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
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 1
Monistat 1 is sold at a variety of online retailers, including Amazon, Walmart, Target, CVS and more. Here’s the price breakdown at the time of publishing this article:
Amazon: $14.42 (link to Amazon listing)
Walmart: $16.97
Target: $16.99
CVS: $23.99
It’s surprising that 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.
Monistat 1 has a “B” grade on Fakespot, which is a software tool that detects potentially fake Amazon reviews. Fakespot’s “Adjusted Rating” for this product is 3.5 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.”
