The progression of fungal microflora in the vaginal area leads to the development of a disease such as thrush. The vaginal form of candidiasis causes severe discomfort to a woman, as it is accompanied by the appearance of white discharge, burning and itching. Many manufacturers medicines or dietary supplements claim that this or that remedy will help get rid of this disease in just a day! Should we believe such marketing ploys? How long does it take for thrush to actually go away, and what effective ways are there treatments?

Chronic illnesses can cause thrush

The goal of any therapy is to eliminate the cause of the disease. In the case of thrush, the main measures should be aimed at suppressing opportunistic fungal microflora and restoring the natural pH of the vagina.

In order to quickly cope with vaginal candidiasis, it is necessary to take into account and neutralize the following factors that provoke the progression of the disease:

1. Weakening of the body's protective functions.
2. Presence of chronic diseases.
3. Unbalanced diet and consumption of harmful foods.
4. Presence of bad habits: alcoholism and smoking.
5. Unprotected sexual intercourse.
6. Lack of proper hygiene rules.
7. Wearing tight clothing and synthetic underwear.
8. Long-term antibacterial therapy.

You can correct such reasons yourself. But only a doctor can accurately determine the stage of the disease and the type of pathogen. Without such data, it is impossible to prescribe effective drug therapy.

What affects the duration of treatment

To avoid relapses, treatment must be carried out on both partners.

How long does it take to actually treat thrush? This depends, first of all, on the stage of the disease. In the acute form of candidiasis, competently prescribed therapy can give a positive and lasting result within 5-7 days. Please note that the impact on the disease must be carried out comprehensively:

• Taking an effective medication.
• Eliminating sweet, spicy and yeasty foods from the diet.
• Including fruits, vegetables and dairy products in the daily menu.
• Maintain personal hygiene, avoid bad habits and synthetic underwear.

In order to eliminate the possibility of re-infection, it is necessary for both sexual partners to undergo treatment at the same time. During the course of drug therapy, it is recommended to refrain from sexual intercourse.

If thrush becomes chronic, then quick treatment in this case is impossible. Even an experienced specialist will not be able to answer the question of how long treatment will take. In this case, everything is purely individual. Treatment is carried out using potent systemic drugs, which, as a rule, can cause the development of undesirable consequences. That is why the chronic form of thrush must be treated under the supervision of a specialist.

Treatment of acute thrush

How long does it take to treat thrush in the acute course of the disease? It all depends on the stage of progression of candidiasis. How formerly a woman If you consult a doctor, the more likely it is that complications will not arise, and treatment will take no more than 5-7 days.

If relief occurs 2-3 days after starting to use medications, then therapy should not be interrupted. Treatment must be completed to completion. Otherwise, there is a high probability of relapse.

Systemic therapy for the acute form of the disease includes the use of the following drugs:

1. "Flucostat". An antifungal agent that relieves the symptoms of thrush after consuming just 1 capsule. But this does not mean that the woman is healthy. Therapy with this drug should be carried out for 5-7 days, which eliminates the possibility of relapse of thrush.
2. "Clotrimazole". The drug is developed on the basis of imidazole. The active ingredient effectively fights the cause of candidiasis and quickly relieves the symptoms of the disease. The course of treatment is 4-6 days. It is recommended to take vaginal tablets at night, which increases the effectiveness of the treatment.
3. "Livarol." The drug has a pronounced antifungal effect. It is prescribed to relieve symptoms and suppress fungal microflora in acute cases of thrush. The medicine should be used for 5-7 days, which eliminates the possibility of disease progression and complications.
4. "Nystatin" The drug is intended for oral use. It is prescribed, as a rule, for advanced forms of fungal disease, when local drugs are no longer effective. "Nystatin" quickly relieves the symptoms of the disease and effectively fights the causes of its development, suppressing the activity of pathogenic microorganisms.
5. "Betadine." The systemic drug has a pronounced antifungal and antibacterial effect. Suppositories are prescribed when gentle medications do not give the desired result. It is not recommended to use in combination with medications that contain alkali, mercury and enzymes.

Treatment of chronic thrush

Immunomodulator "Likopid"

If thrush becomes chronic, then there is a need for long-term drug therapy. The course of treatment in this case can last up to several months.

For local therapy, Clotrimazole suppositories are prescribed. They are recommended to be used for 3-4 months, 1 suppository per week. The systemic drug Fluconazole at a dosage of 100 mg is also mandatory. It should also be used once every 7 days for 2-3 months.

To increase the body's protective functions, immunomodulators are prescribed, such as Apilak, Lykopid, echinacea or ginseng tincture. An integrated approach to drug therapy makes it possible to cope with chronic thrush, eliminating the likelihood of developing vaginal candidiasis in the future.

Prevention measures

After completing a course of drug therapy, it is recommended to undergo a control test for candidiasis. This approach eliminates the possibility of re-progression of the fungal disease.

In order to eliminate the possibility of recurrence of thrush, it is recommended to observe the following preventive measures:

Eat more dairy products

• Do not include in diet a large number of sugar and spicy foods.
• Use daily dairy products: natural yogurt, kefir, yogurt.
• Wash with antibacterial agents that have a neutral pH level.
• When using daily sanitary pads, do not wear them for more than 3-4 hours.
• Wear only cotton underwear and avoid wearing tight clothing.

You can find out how many days it will take for improvement to occur after drug therapy only from your attending physician. Thrush should be treated comprehensively, using medications prescribed by the doctor. If drug therapy lasts a long time and the result does not occur, then the specialist, as a rule, changes the medication to a more effective one.

The duration of drug therapy depends on how accurately you follow the doctor’s recommendations. If you want to get rid of thrush quickly, then approach treatment comprehensively. In order for a complete cure to occur from vaginal candidiasis, it is necessary to take measures to eliminate the cause of its development: give up bad habits, normalize your diet and daily routine.

Remember that it is possible to cure thrush in 3-5 days only if you consult a doctor in a timely manner. Only in this case, drug therapy will take a little time. If the fungus was not completely cured and you stopped treatment, then the likelihood of relapse is very high. Repeated treatment will take much longer. The full course of treatment should be completed immediately after the onset of primary symptoms. This approach to combating candidiasis is most effective.

In order for thrush to go away, you should not experiment using traditional treatment, or purchasing the first drug available at the pharmacy. Drug therapy should be prescribed by an experienced specialist, based on the results of the diagnosis. Only competent treatment will help get rid of thrush quickly, eliminating the likelihood of relapse of the disease.

How long does it take to treat thrush in women worries many patients who have had to deal with this disease. Thrush is a disease from which no woman is immune. The fungus, especially with reduced immunity, can quickly develop in an environment favorable to it. To quickly eliminate the problem, an integrated approach to treatment is required. Almost every patient is concerned about the question of how long this uncomfortable condition will last and what measures need to be taken to ensure a full recovery occurs as quickly as possible.

What determines the duration of treatment for thrush?

Before starting any treatment, including thrush, it is necessary to establish the cause of the disease and eliminate it. If this is not done, then after a short period of time the disease will return as soon as immunity decreases. To prevent this from happening, vitamin complexes and drugs that enhance immunity are prescribed against the background of specific treatment. The treatment of thrush itself comes down to the destruction of the fungus and the normalization of the microflora.

Effective treatment is impossible if the type of fungus that caused the disease is unknown. To find out the type of fungus, a smear is taken and cultured on a nutrient medium. The more time the fungus has to grow and develop, the more accurately its type will be identified. After this, it will be possible to select a drug that will destroy this particular type of fungus. In this case, the attending physician will not have to prescribe potent drugs to the patient.

The effectiveness of therapy may be influenced by the individual characteristics of the body. And a drug that gives excellent results in the treatment of thrush in one patient may be ineffective for another.

In any case, select what is necessary for treatment medicine should the attending physician. If therapy for thrush is delayed, then it is possible to treat the pathology in a day hospital, where the woman undergoes special procedures.

The main complication of thrush is the penetration of the fungus into the blood during a prolonged course of the disease. This outcome of the disease can occur if they tried to treat thrush on their own. If all drugs are selected based on recommendations in various sources information, the effectiveness of their effect on a specific type of fungus is unknown. The same result can be obtained if you take medications prescribed by your doctor occasionally.

How long does it take to treat thrush in women?

How long can treatment for thrush last? If the course of therapy is not completed completely, then the acute form of thrush can become chronic. In general, with the right treatment, the main symptoms of the disease disappear within a few days. But this does not mean that complete recovery has occurred. If the therapy does not produce results after a short time, then it is corrected and other drugs are prescribed.

Treatment can be significantly complicated and delayed by the presence of diabetes mellitus or HIV infection. No one can indicate the exact timing of therapy, since it completely depends on the form of thrush. So, the duration of treatment for thrush will depend on:

1. The type of fungus that caused the disease.
2. Individual characteristics of the body.
3. The correctness of the chosen means and timely correction in case of their ineffectiveness.
4. The presence of serious illnesses in the patient.
5. Timely elimination of the cause of the disease.

The patient's age affects the duration of therapy due to the activity of hormones and the immune system. Thus, in adolescence, the body undergoes a complete restructuring, which cannot but affect the treatment.

Typically, thrush is treated for about 5 days. The maximum duration of therapy is up to 10 days. These figures are approximate, and the duration of treatment for acute thrush will be very different from treatment for a protracted form.

Treatment of complicated forms of thrush can take up to two weeks. In very rare cases, when correction has to be carried out repeatedly due to the fact that the fungus is insensitive to the effects of most of the drugs traditionally used to treat thrush, the course may take 2 months. Moreover, therapy does not last all the time, but short breaks are taken.

Only a negative culture result for fungal flora can indicate completion of treatment. In other cases, the absence of external symptoms of the disease cannot give complete confidence in a cure.

There is a misconception that there is a drug that can get rid of thrush in one go. Even if we assume that such a medicine exists and the effect of its use should be exactly like this, then its effect on the liver and kidneys should be very strong. The stronger the drug, the more toxic it turns out to be.

How to speed up treatment?

You can speed up the treatment process not only by selecting the appropriate medications. The course will take less time if you follow some rules. First of all, you need to reconsider your diet. Some products can influence the growth process of the fungus.

It is best to include a large amount of:

• vegetables;
• fruit;

You will have to give up fatty and smoked foods. During illness, it is best not to wear synthetic underwear.

Compliance with personal hygiene rules is mandatory. This should extend to the use of sanitary pads. It is advisable to refuse them.

At this time, you need to limit physical activity, avoid stress and depression. Active movements are welcome, especially if a woman’s job is sedentary, but they should consist of walking and exercises of equal intensity. It is necessary to treat thrush in both partners at once. Moreover, the dosage must be determined by the doctor for each individual. A gynecologist treats thrush in women and a urologist in men. After completing therapy, it is necessary to take repeated tests and repeat them after some time to be sure that there will be no relapse of the disease.

Thrush is one of the most common infectious diseases. The disease most often affects women, so one of the main questions of interest to patients with this diagnosis is: “How long does it take to treat thrush in women?” Even the most experienced and qualified specialist will not be able to answer it, since the duration of treatment depends on many factors: the woman’s age, the state of the immune system, lifestyle, form of the disease, existing symptoms and concomitant chronic pathologies.

How long thrush lasts also depends on how quickly you see a doctor. If a woman asks for help at early stage When symptoms have just begun to appear, it will be possible to cope with the disease faster. Treatment of acute candidiasis usually takes 5 to 7 days(less often – 10 days). In the chronic form of the disease, therapy can last several months, but it is important not to stop treatment when the main symptoms disappear, since candidiasis is prone to relapse, and in the absence of proper therapy, thrush may return again.

What will the article tell you?

How to understand that it is candidiasis?

Candida infection has characteristic signs that allow you to quickly determine the type of disease and suspect infection with the fungus Candida albicans. The main clinical symptom is discharge with the smell of sour milk. They may have the consistency of cottage cheese or thick cream; inclusions in the form of curdled lumps are allowed. Color can vary from milky white to cream. If the vaginal environment has a mixed flora, the color of the discharge may become yellowish (especially if chlamydia or trichomonas are added to the fungal infection).

Patients suffering from candidiasis experience intense itching, burning and tingling. The skin at the site of the lesion becomes red and inflamed. With severe itching and constant contact with the skin of the hands (when scratching), closed ulcers may appear on the skin and mucous membranes.

In advanced cases, if the infection has spread higher up the urogenital tract, a woman may complain of the following symptoms:

• sharp and nagging pain in the lower abdomen during sexual intercourse or within 2-3 hours after intimacy;
• increased vaginal dryness, insufficient secretion of natural lubrication;
• pain when emptying the bladder;
• cloudy urine;
• painful defecation (rarely, mainly with chronic candidiasis of the intestines).

It is impossible to say how long thrush lasts in women with such a clinical picture. First, you need to pass the necessary tests to identify the type of pathogen, its quantity and eliminate the possibility of mixed pathological flora in order to prescribe the correct treatment regimen.

Note! In men, candidiasis may not have pronounced symptoms, so they often experience chronic forms of infection. It is impossible to say exactly how long it takes to treat thrush in men, but usually the treatment period is more than 10-14 days.

How long does the disease last without treatment?

Very often you can observe a picture when a woman does not take any measures to treat candidiasis, and after a few days all the symptoms of the disease go away on their own. This usually occurs 7-10 days after the appearance of the first clinical signs. The woman believes that she has recovered and does not go to the hospital for examination.

This is a very serious mistake, since the activity of the fungal flora does not go away on its own, and the pathology simply becomes chronic with constant periods of exacerbation. It is possible to say how long it will take to treat advanced thrush only after examination. You need to immediately prepare for the fact that the therapy will be long and, most likely, will take several months. The period of active treatment ranges from 1 week to 30 days, the rest of the time the patient will be prescribed maintenance therapy, which includes several areas:

• destruction of the main infectious agent(fungus Candida albicans);
• fight against associated infections if they are discovered during the study of biological material;
• restoration of immune system functions by taking multivitamin complexes, mineral supplements and immunomodulators;
• normalization of intestinal microflora and bacterial environment of the vagina;
• symptomatic therapy using antipruritic drugs.

How much to treat thrush in women and men is determined by the attending physician after examining the patient and studying the test results. If the disease has become chronic, treatment will be longer compared to the treatment of acute candidiasis.

How long is the incubation period?

How long it takes to treat thrush in women largely depends on how quickly the patient sees a doctor. Women who have had intimate intimacy with a man who exhibits symptoms of candidal infection need to be especially careful. Even if signs of the disease do not appear immediately, this does not mean that the woman is healthy, since the incubation period of the pathology can reach up to 2 months.

Incubation period of Candida albicans consists of four stages, each of which has its own characteristics and duration.

Stage	What's happening?	How long does it last?
First stage	The fungus attaches to the walls of the vagina, urogenital tract, oral cavity or mucous membranes internal organs.	1-3 days
Second stage	The fungus begins to spread throughout the organs of the genitourinary system and rises up the urinary tract, affecting the bladder, urethra and other organs of the genitourinary system.	Up to 7 days.
Third stage	Pathogenic microorganisms penetrate into the deep layers of the epithelial layer (at least 4-6 ml) and cause the appearance of the first symptoms.	From 1 week to 1.5-2 months.
Fourth stage	Microorganisms enter the bloodstream and systemic circulation. The infection spreads throughout the body and can affect internal organs.	From 1 to 5-7 days.

Clinical signs of thrush appear during the third stage of the incubation period. It is at this stage that a woman should consult a doctor and undergo an examination. If the infection is detected in a timely manner, it will be easier to answer the question of how many days it takes for thrush to go away, since the prognosis for recovery will be more favorable. If therapy is started during the acute course of the pathology, candidiasis can be cured in 5-10 days.

How to treat candidiasis?

Patients who are concerned about how long it takes for thrush to go away should contact their attending physician who knows the clinical picture of the disease and has information about the individual characteristics of the patient and possible complications during treatment. The standard treatment regimen for acute candidiasis is as follows:

• Use of broad spectrum drugs to destroy fungal and bacterial flora. For this purpose, systemic or local agents can be used. In most cases, vaginal tablets and suppositories “Pimafucin” and “Terzhinan” become the drugs of choice. Flucostat capsules have a good therapeutic effect. In the absence of allergies and contraindications for use, the doctor may prescribe the broad-spectrum drug Fluconazole.
• Restoration of vaginal microflora. To normalize the acidic environment and vaginal flora, topical agents are used in the form of vaginal suppositories or creams (“Acilact”, “Bifidumbacterin”).
• Normalization of intestinal microflora(“Normobakt”, “Yogulakt”, powder and capsules “Bifidumbacterin”).
• Elimination of nutritional deficiencies and strengthening the immune system with the help of vitamin and mineral complexes (“Pikovit”, “Alphabet”, “Vitrum”).

In severe cases, as well as with frequently recurrent candidiasis, the doctor may recommend a course of immunomodulatory therapy with interferon drugs or agents with the addition of antioxidants. A good therapeutic effect is achieved by using Polyoxidonium, a licensed Russian drug with a pronounced immunomodulatory effect and high detoxification properties. The product is part of the Grippol vaccine, used to prevent various forms of influenza.

It is difficult to say how many days it takes for a candidiasis infection to go away with this treatment, but usually the duration of therapy, provided all recommendations are followed, does not exceed 10 days. To increase the effectiveness of therapy and eliminate the possibility of infection of a partner, it is necessary to maintain sexual rest until the end of therapy and for another two weeks after recovery.

How long does it take for thrush to go away in men?

Treatment for men usually takes a little longer. This is due to the fact that their clinical symptoms are less pronounced (and sometimes completely absent), so the disease can be detected in an advanced form, when the pathology takes a chronic course. If you contact a specialist in a timely manner, treatment will take no more than 7-14 days, but if the process has become chronic, treatment may take up to 2-3 months.

If thrush in men does not go away even after prescribed treatment, there may be several reasons:

• improper preparation for the study, which affected the reliability of the results;
• erroneous identification of the pathogen and incorrect selection of the drug;
• addition of a secondary infection;
• persistent decrease in immunity as a result of constant exposure to a negative factor (for example, chronic alcohol intoxication);
• hidden candidal infection in a sexual partner.

Important! If the signs of the disease do not disappear after completing the course of treatment, you must inform your doctor about this and undergo another examination. To increase the effectiveness of therapy, you should give up bad habits for the entire period of treatment, follow a low-carbohydrate diet and avoid any factors that may negatively affect the state of the immune system.

How to understand that candidiasis has been cured?

The disappearance of signs of pathology does not mean that the patient is completely healthy. If the prescriptions and recommendations of the attending physician are not followed, a decrease in the sensitivity of microorganisms to the drugs used may occur, which will contribute to the subsidence of the pathological process and its chronic course. To make sure that the thrush has gone away, you need to take a second smear for flora, followed by a microscopic examination and culture on nutrient media. If the test results are negative, we can talk about recovery.

Candidiasis is not the most dangerous, but quite an unpleasant disease that is difficult to treat with medication. It is impossible to talk about how quickly the disease passes, since this indicator is individual and depends on the characteristics of a particular organism. If you consult a doctor early and start treatment in a timely manner, it is possible to cope with the infection in 7-10 days. If the disease has become latent, therapy will take at least 1-2 months, and it is important that both partners undergo treatment, since the absence of clinical symptoms does not mean that the person is healthy.

In men, the treatment period lasts slightly longer: up to two weeks for acute cases and up to several months for indolent thrush with periods of relapse. If the prescribed therapy does not bring positive results, you should notify the attending physician - a re-examination and correction of the treatment regimen may be required. Recovery can be diagnosed only after repeated analysis, which should show the absence of pathogenic flora in the biological material being studied.

These factors are:

• taking antibacterial drugs. They disrupt the balance of microflora, allowing the proliferation of fungal infections to accelerate;
• weakening of the immune system. Leads to a decrease in the body's resistance to infection;
• pregnancy period;
• taking hormonal oral contraceptives;
• sexually transmitted diseases. Including Candida fungus, since not only women are susceptible to the disease;
• chronic infections. Weaken the immune system;
• bad habits;
• diabetes;
• thyroid diseases;
• chemotherapy;
• hypothermia of the genitals. Leads to accelerated development of infection.

Thrush most often appears after a change in hormonal balance, which occurs during pregnancy, taking hormonal birth control, or before menstruation and during ovulation.

Almost every girl has encountered this disease. It is worth noting that despite the fact that most often the disease manifests itself in the female half of the population, children and men are also susceptible to it.

The disease Candidiasis is also called thrush, because one of the signs of the disease is curdled discharge.

What are the symptoms of thrush?

The photo shows discharge from thrush.

You can tell that you have thrush by the following signs:

• itching, irritation in the genital area. The itching worsens in the late afternoon or after using a hot shower or bath. This is due to the release of waste products of the fungus.
• swelling of the labia, redness of the genitals.
• with candidiasis, you may notice a cheesy, odorless discharge, sometimes greenish in color. But they may not be noticed immediately, because the itching forces you to wash yourself more often.
• painful urination. This occurs because urine affects the surface of the inflamed mucous membrane. It also causes problems with urination.
• pain during sexual intercourse, which is due to the fact that contact with the mucous membrane inflames it.

How long is the incubation period for thrush in women?

In women, symptoms of candidiasis do not appear immediately after infection. The manifestation of the disease can be noticed after a few weeks, and sometimes this occurs 2 months after direct infection. How long it takes for thrush to appear depends on the individual characteristics of the person: his health, lifestyle, compliance with hygiene rules.

With some types of candidiasis, symptoms begin to appear 2-5 days after sexual intercourse with an infected person.

Stages of development of thrush

Before candidiasis begins to spread to internal organs, it must go through several stages. The rate of reproduction depends on personal characteristics person, including age. To quickly start the treatment process, you need to know at what stage the disease is.

• Fixation of the fungus on the surface of the mucosa. What could cause this is described above. At this stage, the infection is fixed in a certain place, favorable for further reproduction.
• Fungus proliferation. If the immune system is strong enough, the infection stops at this stage. Despite this, under the influence of aggressive factors, the disease continues to develop.
• The infection takes root deep in the tissues. The infection can reach the connective tissue. However, it can be prevented by: immunoglobulins A, macrophages and lymphocytes, female microflora and own bacteria.
• Infection in the blood. Infection of internal organs. At this stage, the disease is difficult to cure completely. There is a risk of developing into a chronic form. Neglecting treatment can result in death.

How to recognize thrush

It has already been said how candidiasis manifests itself. To know for sure your diagnosis, you need to contact a gynecologist. Only a doctor's examination and test results will accurately determine the disease. After examination, the gynecologist will make a diagnosis based on the following signs: redness of the genital organs, curdled discharge, swelling of the labia. It is impossible to make a diagnosis based on the patient’s complaints, because some diseases may be accompanied by similar symptoms.

Test for thrush in women

• Smear microscopy. Before taking the test, you must follow the following tips:
  - do not douche during the day before the procedure;
  - abstain from sexual intercourse;
  - it is prohibited to use vaginal tablets or suppositories;
  - do not visit the toilet before the test.
• Sowing of vaginal discharge. The analysis is taken from the external os of the uterus and from the walls of the vagina. Determining the result of this analysis takes quite a lot of time. Also, the result may be inaccurate if during the test the fungal pathogen was not active enough, so it was not detected.
• Frautest or Vinalite. These tests are sold at pharmacies. Simple instructions will help you carry out the analysis right at home. Thus, the disease can be detected without visiting a doctor. But do not forget that only a specialist can make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe treatment. Do not self-medicate.

What does treatment include?

The treatment of candidiasis requires an integrated approach. All medications should be prescribed after consultation with a doctor.

• Taking antifungal drugs. The active ingredients are miconazole, clotrimazole, and iconazole.
• Taking antimicrobial drugs. Active ingredients: nystati, levorin.
• Taking probiotics.
• Use of topical ointments and sprays.
• Dieting. Reducing consumption of sugary foods.
• Elimination of stress. With any illness, you should not panic, but create calmer conditions.

How many days does it take for thrush to go away?

There are very rare cases when thrush goes away on its own, without treatment. However, the disease may return again before the onset of menstruation or during ovulation. Therefore, if you notice symptoms of candidiasis, you should immediately consult a doctor. The disease can be cured in one day - with a one-time dose of special tablets. But most often the disease goes away after 3 days of using tablets and topical application of antifungal ointments. With chronic candidiasis, remission occurs after a maximum of a couple of weeks of treatment.

Why thrush symptoms do not go away:

• Incorrect treatment. You should inform your doctor about this so that he can prescribe you a different therapy. Do not self-medicate.
• Weak immunity. Weakening of the vaginal protection factor. Continue treatment and use additional medications.
• Another pathogen. You may not have thrush at all. Or the candida fungus is quite resistant to treatment.
• Allergic reaction. Intolerance to certain components of the drug or allergy to the ointment. Therefore, consult your doctor about changing your treatment.

How to know if thrush has gone away

Do not self-medicate. Treatment should be prescribed by a specialist. Eliminating symptoms does not cure the disease completely; it will eliminate the discomfort, but not the inflammation itself. Only an integrated approach to treatment will give the desired result.

Improper treatment leads to a worsening of the situation and the appearance of a chronic form of the disease. But proper treatment does not guarantee complete recovery. In order to monitor the process of reducing the activity of the pathogen, it is necessary to re-analyze in a timely manner. This is repeated a number of times until complete recovery. A re-examination by a gynecologist is also recommended.

Prevention of thrush

To prevent the disease from returning, you must follow some rules:

• maintain intimate hygiene. This is especially true during menstruation. Use special hygiene products. Do not use bar soap, this leads to infection. Panty liners must be changed at least 2-3 times a day;
• eat a balanced diet. Eliminate junk food. Reduce consumption of sweets, fried foods, and spicy foods. Drink the required amount of fluid per day;
• wear underwear made of cotton or other natural fabric;
• If you are prescribed antibacterial drugs, take antifungal drugs and probiotics along with them. This will maintain the balance of your microflora;
• Don't get stressed. Don't worry about trifles. Reconsider your outlook on life. The manifestation of many diseases causes accumulated negativity.

Following these simple rules will help you forget about thrush.

12.04.2017

No one knows exactly how long treatment for thrush in a woman lasts. It all depends on the individual characteristics of each organism, the type of Candida fungus that is the causative agent of the disease.

Often women suspect they have thrush when in fact they do not have it.

They see vaginal discharge and mistakenly believe that they have thrush and not some other disease, so it often drags on and can become chronic.

If the disease is diagnosed immediately, treatment will occur within 7 days. Protracted thrush takes much longer to treat, but this is not a guarantee that a relapse will not occur.

The main reasons why thrush appears in a woman’s body are:

• hormonal changes;
• reduced immunity;
• past infectious diseases;
• chronic diseases;
• premenstrual syndrome;
• bad habits;
• HIV;
• diabetes;
• prolonged stress state;
• pregnancy (hormonal changes due to bearing a child);
• change in climatic conditions;
• improper diet (abuse of sweets, marinades, spicy foods, etc.);
• long-term treatment with antibiotics, which kill not only harmful microorganisms, but also beneficial microflora;
• hypothermia;
• intestinal dysbiosis;
• wearing tight, synthetic underwear;
• poor hygiene, frequent use of scented pads and washing with antibacterial gels;
• use of certain types of local contraceptives.

Under the influence of several factors, the growth of colonies of the Candida fungus accelerates sharply, which contributes to the appearance of thrush in a woman’s body. In 5% of cases, thrush can occur 4-5 times a year.

Features of the development of thrush

In the body of a healthy woman, there are up to 30 types of Candida fungi on the mucous membranes of the vaginal walls, but they develop only under the influence of the above factors.

At this point, the fungus attaches and grows in the deeper layers of the vaginal mucosa and disrupts the natural microflora, and also contributes to the development of a suitable acidic environment for Candida to multiply.

Stages of the incubation period of thrush

Like any other disease, thrush has an incubation period. It lasts from the moment of infection until the first signs of the disease appear. During this period, the fungus attaches to the mucous membrane to a depth of 5 millimeters, but this causes a lot of trouble for the woman.

There are 4 stages of the incubation period of thrush:

1. The first stage is called adhesion. At this time, the process of attachment of the pathogenic fungus occurs. This is facilitated by the obviously incorrect behavior and way of life of a woman.
2. The second stage is the moment the fungus begins to colonize the mucous membrane. And if a woman has a weakened immune system, then the fungus multiplies quickly and the superficial form of the disease begins. This will not happen if the immune system is in order, because then it will be able to control the reproduction of the pathogen.
3. The third stage is the penetration of the fungus inside. It occurs if there is no treatment for the second stage.
4. The fourth stage is serious and difficult to treat. During this stage, harmful microorganisms enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body, thereby affecting other organs.

Symptoms that characterize the appearance of thrush:

• severe itching and burning in the genital area;
• painful urination;
• discomfort during sexual intercourse;
• abundant cheesy vaginal discharge with a characteristic sour odor;
• redness and swelling of the genitals;
• the presence of painful sensations in the lower abdomen;
• state of general malaise.

If symptoms occur, the woman should visit a doctor so that he can determine what disease she is developing, because there may be other diseases.

Diagnosis and treatment of candidiasis

When a woman notices symptoms of thrush, she should rush to the gynecologist. He will conduct an examination in a chair and take a smear, which will determine the presence of one or another microflora in the body.

After receiving a microbiological test, the doctor prescribes treatment. To begin with, he will prescribe local antifungal medications, such as suppositories, ointments, and creams.

If a positive result is not observed, the doctor prescribes tablets and products that restore the natural microflora, multivitamin complexes, and complete abstinence from sexual intercourse for the period of treatment.

Treatment time for thrush

The period during which candidiasis can be cured depends on several factors:

• severity of the disease;
• form of the disease (acute, chronic);
• patient's age;
• degree of susceptibility to medications.

Suppositories and topical preparations are characterized by the absence of side effects, therefore, after their use, itching, burning and redness disappear after 3-4 days, but you should remember that in no case should you interrupt the treatment. Normally it should last about 7-10 days. There are cases when the prescribed treatment does not provide any improvement. This situation may arise if:

1. The disease has entered a chronic stage, characterized by relapses, and there is a risk of fungus entering the blood.
2. Self-medication that the patient did long time before I went to the gynecologist.
3. Stopping taking medications after the symptoms of thrush have disappeared, which can aggravate the course of the disease and, as a result, be difficult to respond to therapy.
4. Failure to follow the doctor’s recommendations regarding abstinence from sexual intercourse during the period of treatment.
5. Incorrectly selected main drug used for treatment.
6. The presence of an additional disease that prevents the treatment of thrush.

Treatment of severe forms of thrush can last 10-14 days, and possibly up to six months, with the need to take antifungal drugs with a break of 1.5-2 months.

If the treatment has a positive result, the patient must undergo an immune restoration procedure to avoid a recurrence of the situation in the future. Many clinics, among other things, offer a number of procedures such as vaginal mud thermal applications, vacuum sanitation of the cervical canal, thermal irrigation with a sanitizing solution, ultrasonic sanitation of the vagina, which will contribute to complex treatment.

If candidiasis appears during pregnancy, it is worth considering the fact that during this period a woman cannot take all medications, but it would be better to limit herself to taking topical medications (suppositories, ointments, creams, etc.).

Prevention of thrush

To avoid the unpleasant sensations associated with thrush, you need to follow the following rules:

• eat more dairy products;
• reduce consumption of sweet, spicy and yeast baked goods;
• observe basic rules of personal hygiene (use only your own towel, washcloth, etc.);
• wear cotton underwear;
• stop using panty liners;
• refrain from casual sexual contact, during which you can become infected with thrush.

By following the rules, you can avoid such an unpleasant problem as thrush.