Yeast infections caused by Jardiance are common, typically mild, and respond well to the same over-the-counter and prescription antifungal treatments used for any other yeast infection. In clinical trials, genital fungal infections affected roughly 4 to 6% of women and 1.5 to 3% of men taking Jardiance, compared to less than 1.5% of people on a placebo. The good news: you almost certainly don’t need to stop taking Jardiance to treat the infection.
Why Jardiance Causes Yeast Infections
Jardiance works by causing your kidneys to flush excess sugar out through your urine. That extra glucose creates a warm, moist, sugar-rich environment in and around the genital area, which is exactly what yeast (Candida) thrives on. The effect is a direct result of how the drug lowers blood sugar, so some degree of risk comes with the territory for this entire class of medications.
Women are affected more often than men. People with a history of chronic or recurrent yeast infections before starting Jardiance are also at higher risk. In men, the infection tends to develop on the head of the penis and under the foreskin, particularly in those who are uncircumcised.
Treatment for Women
Standard over-the-counter antifungal creams and suppositories (the same products you’d find at any pharmacy for vaginal yeast infections) are effective for Jardiance-related infections. These typically contain clotrimazole or miconazole and come in one-day, three-day, or seven-day courses. A single-dose prescription antifungal pill is another option your doctor can call in if you prefer not to use a topical treatment.
Most infections clear within a few days of starting treatment. If you’ve used an over-the-counter product and your symptoms haven’t improved, contact your doctor. In some cases, the infection may involve a less common strain of yeast that requires a different approach, and identifying the specific organism can help guide treatment.
Treatment for Men
In men, Jardiance-related yeast infections typically show up as redness, itching, swelling, or a rash on the penis, sometimes with foul-smelling discharge. This is called balanitis, and it’s especially common in uncircumcised men.
The recommended treatment is a topical antifungal cream (1% clotrimazole or 2% miconazole) applied twice a day for 10 days. Relief usually comes quickly, but it’s important to finish the full course. Frequent gentle washing with normal saline or clean water also helps, since balanitis is closely tied to hygiene. In cases with significant inflammation, a doctor may add a mild steroid cream alongside the antifungal. Topical treatment alone is sufficient for the vast majority of cases.
You Don’t Need to Stop Jardiance
One of the most common concerns is whether you should pause or discontinue Jardiance during a yeast infection. Multiple clinical trials and expert consensus guidelines agree: stopping the medication during an infection does not lead to a better outcome. These infections are mild to moderate and respond to standard treatment while you continue taking Jardiance. Given the drug’s significant benefits for blood sugar, heart health, and kidney protection, routine discontinuation is not recommended unless you’re dealing with a severe or persistent infection that isn’t responding to treatment.
Preventing Recurrent Infections
Because Jardiance will continue to push sugar into your urine for as long as you take it, prevention matters more than it would for a one-off yeast infection. The single most important thing you can do is keep your blood sugar well controlled. The less excess glucose available, the less fuel yeast has to grow.
Beyond blood sugar management, practical hygiene habits make a real difference:
- Wash the genital area with clean water or a mild soap after urinating. Women should always wipe front to back. Uncircumcised men should retract the foreskin and clean underneath.
- Wear breathable, cotton underwear. Natural fibers absorb moisture and keep skin drier. Tight synthetic clothing traps warmth and moisture, creating the exact conditions yeast loves.
- Avoid harsh feminine hygiene products, douches, and alcohol-based cleansers. These disrupt the natural pH balance and can actually increase infection risk.
- Consider probiotic foods or supplements. Yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut, and kombucha contain beneficial bacteria that help maintain healthy microbial balance. Some doctors recommend taking a probiotic alongside antifungal treatment to help restore your body’s natural flora.
Staying well-hydrated can also help by diluting the concentration of sugar in your urine, though this hasn’t been studied as a standalone prevention strategy for this specific situation.
When a Yeast Infection Is Something More Serious
The vast majority of Jardiance-related yeast infections are straightforward and manageable. Rarely, however, a serious condition called Fournier’s gangrene can develop in the genital area. This is a rapidly progressing infection of the deeper tissue, and the FDA has issued a warning about it in connection with this class of medications.
The key differences from a typical yeast infection are speed and severity. Fournier’s gangrene causes sudden, significant pain in the genitals or the area between the genitals and anus. The skin may become discolored (turning red, purple, or dark), swollen, and extremely tender. Fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, and a foul smell are common. If you experience any combination of these symptoms, especially rapidly worsening pain with skin color changes, seek emergency medical care immediately. This condition requires urgent surgical treatment and cannot be managed at home.
A standard yeast infection, by contrast, develops gradually, causes itching and irritation rather than deep pain, and doesn’t produce fever or make you feel systemically unwell. If your symptoms match a typical yeast infection and respond to antifungal treatment within a few days, you’re on the right track.