What is the best over the counter product (or natural) for a yeast infection?

I also have my period.. is there a treatment that will be as least messy as possible?

Simply having your period can actually cure a yeast infection because the changed Ph in the vagina due to the menstrual blood kills the yeast. Wait for your period to end, and if the symptoms are still there, you have a few options for treatment.

Over the counter creams and inserts can be pricey and a little harsh on your body (as well as messy), but always get the job done.

Eating probiotic yogurt can help prevent a yeast infection... and eating a lot of it can help cure one. Alternately, some women find that actually inserting unsweetened/unflavoured probiotic yogurt into the vagina is a much quicker cure. You can either squirt it up there somehow, or put some in an empty plastic tampon applicator and freeze it, then put the yogurt-sicle in like a tampon. It's messy though.

My personal preference for natural treatment is garlic. Garlic kills yeast, so you can kill the infection by putting garlic in your vagina. It sounds disgusting, but it works and is mess-free. Buy some fresh garlic, then unpeel a whole clove. Make sure to get all the papery skin off. Tie a cotton string around the clove, or even use a needle to 'sew' the string into the clove. Make a little cut or two on the side(s) of the clove to allow the oil to escape. Insert the clove like a tampon before bed, with the string hanging out for retrieval. Remove it in the morning and flush it. It may take 2 or 3 nights to completely relieve the symptoms. It's recommended to do it overnight, since having the garlic inside you makes you constantly smell/taste garlic... though chewing gum can help if you do it during the day.

If this is your first yeast infection you have had, I suggest that you see a doctor to make sure. There are many creams that you can use over the counter that have basically the same ingredient. If you are taking antibiotics they can upset the natural flora in your body. You could try eating yogurt that have live cultures in it to keep your natural flora in balance. I have actually used plain yogurt in an emergency before they had the OTC medication. Good Luck!