Yeast infections can be painful and uncomfortable, but there are treatments that can help clear up an infection after only a few days. Mild yeast infections may go away on their own, but in severe cases, it can take weeks of treatment to stop a yeast infection from coming back.
Here’s what you need to know about how long a yeast infection lasts and how to clear it up quickly.
What is a yeast infection?
Yeast infections are caused by a type of fungus called candida that naturally lives inside your vagina. Most of the time, candida doesn’t cause any issues, but if the balance of microbes inside your vagina gets thrown off, candida can overgrow and cause an infection.
For example, taking antibiotics or douching can get rid of the ‘good bacteria’ in your vagina that helps keep candida in check, leading to an infection.
Some of the most common yeast infection symptoms are:
- Thick white or yellow discharge with no smell
- Intense itching
- A painful, burning feeling
- Redness and swelling around your vulva
How long does a yeast infection last?
How long your yeast infection will last depends on how severe the infection is and which treatments you use. In most cases, yeast infections should clear up within a week if you get treatment.
There are several ways to treat a yeast infection, but if you have mild symptoms like low-grade itching and minor discharge, you might not need any treatment at all. “Occasionally, a yeast infection will resolve on its own since the vagina has self-cleansing mechanisms,” Dweck says. This often takes less than a week.
Bur if your yeast infection lasts more than a few days, it may be time to try an over the counter (OTC) treatment.
How to treat a yeast infection
How you decide to treat a yeast infection depends on how uncomfortable your symptoms are and whether standard treatments are working and for this most turn to over the counter yeast infection treatments. Here’s how to treat mild, moderate, and severe yeast infections.
Mild yeast infections can be left alone if your symptoms like itching and discharge aren’t too bothersome – just make sure to check in with your doctor if your symptoms go on for more than a week or don’t stop with over the counter treatment.
Moderate yeast infections are more uncomfortable and the pain and itching can interfere with your daily life. Moderate infections can often be treated at home using anti-fungal creams that are inserted into your vagina.
“Many women will treat themselves with OTC meds like Monistat for presumed yeast infection when they are familiar with symptoms,” Dweck says. The medications often follow 1-day, 3-day, or 7-day timelines and if your yeast infection lasts beyond this, you may need to contact your doctor.
Severe yeast infections can cause more intense pain and itching and your vulva may swell up, turn red, or develop tears or sores. Severe infections may require a prescription anti-fungal medication like fluconazole (Diflucan) from your doctor. These medications often come as an oral tablet and can work after one or two doses, Dweck says.
