• A yeast infection typically lasts about a week, but more severe infections can last longer.
• Mild yeast infections may go away on their own, but moderate to severe infections require over-the-counter antifungal creams or prescription medicine.
• To avoid yeast infections, use antibiotics only as needed, get out of wet bathing suits and workout clothes as soon as possible, and consume sugar and alcohol in moderation.

Vaginal yeast infections are common, as more than one million women get them each year in the US.

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

“Vaginal yeast infection is common but usually easily treated and preventable,” says Alyssa Dweck, MD, a gynecologist at Northern Westchester Hospital and assistant professor at New York Medical College.

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.

Treating a yeast infection can help cut your symptoms short – over the counter treatments generally have options for 1-day, 3-day, or 7-day long treatments, Dweck says. All options give you the same dose of medication spread over a different number of days. 1-day treatments are the quickest but give a strong dose all at once, which can cause vaginal irritation for sensitive people, while 7-day treatments are milder.

If you’ve finished an over the counter treatment, your symptoms should get better within a few days. “If discomfort persists, recurs or worsens, a visit to the gyno is recommended,” Dweck advises.

You can also see a doctor to get a prescription treatment. Prescription treatment can often stop your yeast infection after a single dose, but it may take longer if your infection is severe.

If you haven’t had a yeast infection before or aren’t sure about your symptoms, it’s safest to see a doctor, as some symptoms of sexually transmitted infections can be confused with yeast infections.

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. 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.

If your yeast infection keeps coming back, you may need to take oral medication for weeks or even months to fully clear it up. For infections that don’t respond to treatment at all, your doctor may need to do testing to see if your infection is caused by a rarer, harder to treat type of candida.

How to prevent yeast infections

The best treatment for yeast infection is to prevent them in the first place, Dweck says. She advises that to avoid yeast infections, you should:

• Use antibiotics only if needed.
• Get out of wet bathing suits and workout clothes as soon as possible.
• Consume sugar and alcohol in moderation – too much of these can promote yeast.
• Get checked for diabetes and HIV – both can lead to yeast if untreated.

Insider’s takeaway

Yeast infections usually don’t last more than a few days if they’re very mild, or if you use over the counter treatments. Infections that last longer than a week may be a sign of something more serious that should be seen by your doctor. “If you are unsure you have yeast or you’re not improving with typical OTC treatment, get checked,” Dweck says.

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