Vaginal thrush is pretty unpleasant & uncomfortable, if left untreated you'll continue to experience itching, burning & general discomfort and pain in the vagina and surrounding areas. Not clearing the infection properly (or at all) can cause vaginal thrush to flare up frequently, making it more difficult to treat.
Untreated oral thrush can lead to more-serious systemic candida infections. If you have a weakened immune system, thrush may spread to your esophagus or other parts of your body.
How Long Does Oral Thrush Last Without Treatment? A mild case of oral thrush can clear up on its own without treatment. With the right treatment, symptoms should improve within a few days. Without any treatment, it can take between three to eight weeks to resolve itself.
Persistent thrush or recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis is defined as at least four episodes of symptomatic thrush within the last year. It can be a frustrating condition for patients, with significant morbidity and impact on psychological well-being.
Although thrush does not cause serious long-term health problems, it can be upsetting if you keep getting it. Some people find it can cause anxiety around sex, and can affect their sexual relationships. If you experience thrush regularly, we recommend speaking to someone at a sexual health clinic or your GP.
What if I keep getting thrush? If you have thrush four times in one year, you may have chronic thrush. This is not as common as regular thrush and requires a different treatment. Your doctor will usually recommend taking an anti-thrush tablet for up to six months.
Can you pass on oral thrush through kissing? Oral thrush is not contagious however when you kiss somebody the bacteria from their mouth is transferred to yours.
If thrush isn't treated it eventually goes away on its own. There's no need for your partner(s) to have treatment unless they have signs and symptoms of thrush.
What causes thrush? Most people have small amounts of the Candida fungus in their mouth, digestive tract and skin. When illnesses, stress or medications disturb this balance, the fungus grows out of control and causes thrush.
Living with thrush
For most people, oral thrush goes away with treatment. However, it is possible to get chronic, or recurring, thrush. This is more common if you have a weak immune system or related health issue. Talk to your doctor about how to manage thrush.
you have unusual symptoms, such as coloured or smelly discharge, or sores on the skin around your vagina. you have abnormal vaginal bleeding or pain in your lower tummy. you've had two episodes of thrush within the last six months. you've reacted badly to antifungal treatment in the past, or it didn't work.
Thrush is caused by an overgrowth of yeast known as Candida albicans. Vaginal creams and pessaries help reduce overgrowth of candida and ease thrush symptoms. Thrush outbreaks, while uncomfortable, do not cause any long-term health issues. Consult your doctor if you have recurrent thrush.
Thrush occurs when the natural balance of your vagina changes, causing an overgrowth of bacteria. This can cause changes to the smell of your vagina. Thrush can smell like yeast, or it may smell sweet. If you have thrush, you will need antifungal medication to restore the natural balance of bacteria in your vagina.
The symptoms will usually clear up within a week or two. However, for some women, vaginal thrush can be difficult to treat and keeps coming back.
However, while you wait for a doctor's appointment, here are some remedies you can try at home to stop the thrush from getting worse. Rinse your mouth with saltwater. Salt kills yeast, so rinsing your mouth with salt water is a good way to fight the yeast infection.
The infected skin tends to be bright red and almost looks and feels completely raw. Since the thrush residue can be wiped off with a washcloth or toothbrush, it's easy to see this surface infection inside of your mouth. Some people with oral thrush also complain of lingering bad breath.
Good oral hygiene, however, is an essential part of treating oral thrush. Healthy adults and children can recover fairly easily from the infection, especially if they follow a complete oral care routine of twice-daily tooth brushing and daily proper flossing.
Thrush usually clears up in 4 to 5 days. It is important to use all of the medicine for the length of time that is recommended. An antifungal cream is usually recommended for yeast infections in the diaper area, in the vagina, or other places on the skin. You can buy some of these medicines without a prescription.
Left untreated, oral thrush can last for months or even years.
Capric acid, otherwise known as caprylic acid, is fast and effective at eliminating Candida overgrowth, making it one of the strongest candida killers.
In most cases, the reason why this occurs is not known. Some women just seem more prone than usual to develop thrush. However women with high blood sugar (due to poorly controlled diabetes) and women with weakened immune systems may be more likely to develop recurrent thrush.
Oral thrush is usually harmless. It's common in babies and older people with dentures. It can be easily treated with medicines bought from a pharmacy.
Recurring thrush
You might need to take treatment for longer (for up to 6 months) if you keep getting thrush (you get it more than 4 times in 12 months). A GP can help identify if something is causing your thrush, such as your period or sex. They'll recommend how often you should use treatment.