Can I use boric acid for yeast infection while pregnant? Side effects of boric acid while pregnant.
A pregnant woman wants to know if it is safe to use boric acid:
Good evening doc, my name is Betina and I am writing from Lagos Nigeria. I am 4 months pregnant now and I have been having this recurrent vaginal yeast infection that has defied all medications I have tried….I have this curdlike milkish vaginal discharge, itching, redness, discomfort and name it. I recently read about the efficacy of boric acid in getting rid of vaginal yeast infection and I have made up my mind to try it…
My worry now is whether boric acid is safe in pregnancy? Please reply.
My reply:
Thanks for reaching out to me. Vaginal yeast infection is a common problem in pregnancy. Yeast infections are especially common during pregnancy because hormonal changes can disrupt the pH balance of the vagina. According to a research, about 20 percent of women have Candida yeast in their vagina normally. That number goes up to 30 percent during pregnancy. Yeast is more likely to cause infection during pregnancy due to hormone fluctuations.
Now, boric acid suppositories is not safe in pregnancy:
Inserting boric acid suppositories for treatment of yeast infection during pregnancy can lead to:
1. Congenital birth defects like hole in the heart, achondroplasia (short bones), oesophageal and tracheal fistulae, microtia, polycystic kidney disease etc
2. Pregnancy loss,
3. Low birth weight babies
4. Premature delivery
5. Bleeding in pregnancy
6. Boric acid can cause miscarriage when used during pregnancy.
You can see for yourself now that boric acid is poison to pregnancy, I will advice you to avoid using it.
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Even if you have had yeast infections before and are now a professional at self-diagnosing it, it’s best to call your doctor or obstetrician before using an over-the-counter medication.
Why? Some women who think they have a yeast infection actually have a bacterial infection like bacterial vaginosis or trichomoniasis, and a yeast infection medication will only prolong the issue and make it worse.
If you have a yeast infection, your doctor may recommend an over-the-counter or prescription antifungal cream or vaginal suppository.
The following over-the-counter and prescription yeast infection treatments are generally considered safe during pregnancy, but be sure to check with your practitioner before starting treatment, don’t self diagnose or self medicate
Clotrimazole (Mycelex, Lotrimin AF)
Miconazole (Monistat 3)
Terconazole
Some prescription antifungals, such as fluconazole (Diflucan), may be prescribed if necessary, but some doctors recommend avoiding them, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy.
