Having a yeast infection is never fun or convenient. Yeast infections come with a lot of very uncomfortable symptoms that can make your life extremely frustrating. However, you may be tempted to ignore the symptoms, especially if the yeast infection hits at a very inopportune time. So what happens if you ignore a yeast infection? Does it have any negative effects on your health?
It’s understandable that you would hope your symptoms might go away if you just ignore a yeast infection. Especially since going on with life is pretty common for other minor illnesses like a cold. The problem is, a yeast infection isn’t the same kind of infection as a cold. Let’s talk about what happens if you ignore it, and how to treat a yeast infection quickly and effectively.
Can I Ignore A Yeast Infection?
The biggest issue with ignoring a yeast infection is that your symptoms will continue to get worse. You’ll be uncomfortable and itchy for a longer period of time than is really necessary when you have a yeast infection. Since the symptoms are already enough to make you miserable, it’s just best to get rid of them as soon as possible for your own general comfort.
Some other issues to keep in mind with ignoring a yeast infection include things like possibly getting a bacterial infection on your vulva from scratching too much. A bacterial infection can progress to bigger issues too, so you don’t want anything like that to happen. To prevent bacterial infections and other issues from arising just make sure you’re getting the right medication as soon as you can.
Related: Will Antibiotics Treat A Yeast Infection?
What If I Can’t Treat My Yeast Infection Right Away?
If you can’t treat your yeast infection right away you’ll want to at least try to treat the symptoms. It’s likely you’ll be pretty uncomfortable if you can’t manage the itching and burning. The best option is always to treat the entire infection, but managing symptoms until you can do that is possible.
To deal with the itching and burning you can use things like witch hazel cleansing pads. You can wipe your labia with those or let them rest gently over the itchiest areas for a few minutes while lying down. You could also do the same thing with a cool damp washcloth. Both options will give you some relief from the burning and itching which could help make sure you don’t wind up scratching yourself into a bacterial infection.
What’s The Quickest Way To Treat A Yeast Infection?
There are several options for quickly treating a yeast infection. Depending on your preference you may not even need to call or see your doctor at all. You can get treatment options like Monistat from the store without a prescription. Monistat (and the comparable generic options) come in a variety of treatment lengths, including a one-day option.
If you don’t want to use a cream you can also give your doctor a call. There are oral medication options as well. Your doctor can help you figure out what the right choice is for you. Just be aware that the oral options won’t manage your symptoms right away. You might still have to use a cream to treat the itchiness or burning until the oral medication works.
Final Thoughts
Treating a yeast infection quickly is the only way to make sure you don’t develop further complications. It’s also the best way to make sure you stay as comfortable as possible. Your symptoms are going to continue to get worse until you fully treat the infection, so make sure you don’t delay treatment any longer than you have to. You’ll be back to yourself in no time that way.
Sarah Nelson is a nurse with 15 years of experience working with a variety of patients. She has a Masters of Science in Nursing and has spent a large portion of her career working exclusively with women in an OB/GYN setting.
Nursing is a passion for Sarah but she also enjoys writing and sharing her expertise online with people who need helpful information. Treating patients well and helping them learn more about their own bodies is a key essential to a healthy lifestyle that Sarah truly believes in.