What Happens If You Leave a Yeast Infection Untreated? Untreated yeast infections can sometimes progress into more serious infections, leading to redness, swelling, and cracks or sores around your vagina. These severe infections are still treatable, but they are much more uncomfortable and take longer to clear up.
— Most yeast infections go away within a few days of starting treatment. However, you may continue to feel itchy and irritated, even after the infection is gone. If you do not get better within a few days after finishing treatment, call your doctor or nurse for advice.
The infection may be incompletely treated, or not treated long enough. If you don't feel better after your first treatment, you may need a longer course or you may have a less common species of yeast that doesn't respond to standard medication.
Mild yeast infections may clear up in as few as three days. Sometimes, they don't even require treatment. However, moderate to severe infections may take one to two weeks to clear.
So if your yeast infection isn't going away on its own or with over-the-counter treatment, see a gynecologist or other healthcare provider. You might need further testing and a secondary course of prescription antifungal medication.
Douching. Your vagina is self-cleaning. "When a woman douches, she is negatively altering the delicate balance of yeast and bacteria in the vagina. This is a set-up for either the development of a yeast infection or worsening of an existing infection," says Millheiser.
When there is an imbalance and yeast overgrows, it can cause a yeast infection. The stages of yeast infections may be classified as mild, moderate, or severe.
You might have a complicated yeast infection if: You have severe signs and symptoms, such as extensive redness, swelling and itching that leads to tears, cracks or sores. You have four or more yeast infections in a year. Your infection is caused by a less typical type of fungus.
Relieve itching with a cold pack or a cool bath. Don't wash your vulva more than once a day. Use plain water or a mild, unscented soap.
Even though yeast infections can be really itchy, try not to scratch, because it can make your infection worse. There are over-the-counter creams that you can use on your vulva to help calm the irritation.
Redness and swelling of the vulva. Vaginal pain and soreness. Vaginal rash. Thick, white, odor-free vaginal discharge with a cottage cheese appearance.
Yeast infections can be uncomfortable, but they're usually not serious. You may have itching or irritation in or around your vagina, as well as a thick, white discharge. In many cases, an antifungal treatment will clear up your symptoms.
Untreated yeast infections do not have long-term consequences, such as infertility or scarring. They tend to be uncomfortable, and can cause discharge and burning, but they do not cause permanent damage.
Salt water to treat vaginal infections
The expert explains that warm water with salt will generally increase blood supply to the vaginal area. It can reduce the vaginal infection as part of the natural healing process. But using salt directly is unlikely to heal the vaginal infection.
Getting your period won't “flush out” a yeast infection. A mild yeast infection might clear up on its own, but often, you'll need to treat the fungus to get the infection to go away. Antifungal medications treat yeast infections.
While most superficial skin or vaginal infections do well with creams and ointments, they often come back. In particular, vaginal infections can be hard to cure, like if they are due to a resistant strain of yeast.
I wouldn't recommend scratching. Your body is reacting to the infection and it might be inflamed and irritated; scratching might just make things feel worse. Instead, try using an external itch relief cream designed for feminine use.
“Warmth, moisture, and friction can all lead to irritation and the potential changes in pH that increase favorability for yeast to overgrow and become a clinical infection.”