Pregnancy creates a climate favorable to the growth of Candida albicans, and this yeast often is difficult to eradicate in pregnant women. Miconazole nitrate administered intravaginally has been found to achieve comparable therapeutic and mycological cure rates in both pregnant and nonpregnant women. A number of clinical studies, using rigid definitions of cure, have demonstrated that miconazole nitrate is significantly better than nystatin, clotrimazole, and butoconazole, a new imidazole derivative, in treating vaginal candidiasis during gestation.