Boric acid suppositories are widely available at most major pharmacies, grocery stores with pharmacy sections, and online retailers. You don’t need a prescription to buy them in the United States, and a standard box typically costs between $10 and $20 for a two-week supply.
In-Store Retail Locations
The fastest way to get boric acid suppositories is to walk into a pharmacy or drugstore. CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid all carry them, usually in the feminine care aisle near yeast infection treatments rather than behind the pharmacy counter. Target and Walmart stock them as well, both in-store and through their websites. Grocery chains with pharmacy departments, like Kroger, also tend to carry at least one brand.
If you don’t see them on the shelf, check near the pH test kits and vaginal moisturizers rather than with menstrual products. Some stores place them in a smaller “vaginal health” subsection that’s easy to walk past.
Online Retailers
Amazon carries the widest selection of brands and quantities, often at lower prices than brick-and-mortar stores. You can also order directly from brand websites. pH-D Feminine Health, one of the most recognizable names in this category, sells through its own site and through major retailers online. Other brands available online include The Honey Pot, NutraBlast, and BoriCap.
Ordering online gives you more options for quantity. While most in-store boxes contain 14 to 30 suppositories, online listings often include 28-count or bulk options that bring down the per-capsule cost. If you’re using them for a recurring issue, buying in larger quantities can be more economical.
What to Look For on the Label
The standard dosage across nearly all commercial products is 600 mg of boric acid per suppository, delivered in a dissolvable gelatin capsule. This is the amount supported by clinical guidelines for vaginal use. If a product lists a significantly different amount, that’s a reason to look elsewhere.
Boric acid has never been approved by the FDA as an active pharmaceutical ingredient in any prescription or over-the-counter drug. Many products on the market are technically classified as cosmetics (marketed for odor reduction) rather than drugs, which means they haven’t gone through the same regulatory review as, say, an antifungal cream. This doesn’t mean they’re unsafe, but it does mean the quality control standards vary by manufacturer. Sticking with well-known brands that have been on the market for several years is a reasonable approach.
Making Your Own Suppositories
Some people make their own suppositories at home using pharmaceutical-grade boric acid powder and empty gelatin capsules. Kaiser Permanente’s health encyclopedia describes the process: fill size 0 gelatin capsules with approximately 600 mg of boric acid powder. You can find both the powder and the empty capsules at pharmacies or online. A digital kitchen scale that measures in milligrams helps ensure accuracy.
This route is cheaper per suppository but requires more effort. If you go this direction, make sure you’re buying boric acid labeled as pharmaceutical grade or NF (National Formulary) grade, not the industrial-grade powder sold for pest control.
What They’re Used For
Boric acid suppositories help restore the natural acid balance inside the vagina. They’re most commonly used for recurrent yeast infections, particularly when standard antifungal treatments haven’t fully resolved symptoms like itching, burning, and unusual odor. They’re also used for recurrent bacterial vaginosis. A typical course is one suppository inserted vaginally at bedtime for 7 to 14 days, depending on the condition being treated.
These are not a first-line treatment. They’re generally used after conventional antifungal or antibiotic treatments have been tried, or when infections keep coming back.
Critical Safety Information
Boric acid is toxic if swallowed. This is not a minor warning. Ingesting boric acid can cause severe damage to the esophagus and stomach, with complications that can be fatal even weeks or months later. Suppositories must be stored well out of reach of children and pets, and they should never be taken orally under any circumstances.
Several major medical guidelines, including those from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Canadian STI guidelines, and British guidelines, state that boric acid suppositories should be avoided during pregnancy. Research on safety during pregnancy remains limited, and the concern centers on potential harm to fetal development. If there’s any chance you could be pregnant, this is not the right product for you.
Boric acid should also not be used on broken or severely irritated skin, as absorption increases through damaged tissue. If you’re experiencing open sores, significant irritation, or bleeding, hold off and address those issues first. Common side effects during normal use are mild and can include watery discharge and a gritty sensation, both of which typically resolve after treatment ends.