The amount of time it takes to treat a yeast infection can vary depending on the cause of the infection and the individual's lifestyle behaviors. In addition, the methods used to treat the yeast infection can also cause variations in the amount of time before symptoms disappear. In general, a yeast infection will be treated with a pill, taken orally; a cream applied to the affected area; or a suppository inserted vaginally. Though vaginal yeast infections are the most common, the overgrowth of yeast can occur elsewhere on the body, including the mouth. This is why various treatments are available to treat yeast infections. Most are able to reduce or clear up symptoms within three to seven days.
The pills taken to treat a yeast infection often require only a single dose and start to work quickly. Some people notice improvements in as little as one to three days, even if the infection is not completely gone. These require a prescription from a doctor, however, and may be more expensive than some over-the-counter treatments, such as creams and suppositories. These products are typically in one-, three-, or seven-day treatment packages, depending on the severity of the yeast infection. It is important to keep using the products until they are gone even if symptoms begin to disappear.
While attempting to treat a yeast infection, there are ways to speed up the process and to try to prevent the infection from recurring. The first is to make some changes to the diet; sugary foods, or things that contain yeast such as bread or beer, for example, can make the infection worse. Tight-fitting clothing can also worsen the infection and make it much more difficult to get rid of. If the yeast infection is caused by being on antibiotic medication for something else, and the individual is still taking the medication, it might require a much longer course of treatment to cure the yeast infection, but it is important not to stop taking the antibiotics.
It is generally perfectly fine to treat a yeast infection with over-the-counter products or even certain home remedies, particularly if an individual has had a yeast infection before and visited a doctor. If the symptoms do not begin to improve within a week, however, it is a good idea to visit a doctor for further examination and treatment. Frequent or persistent yeast infections can indicate other potential health issues.