Thrush
What is vaginal thrush?
Thrush is a very common infection that can affect a number of areas in the body. These include the mouth, the skin under the breasts, the napkin area and the genital area, particularly the vagina.
Vaginal thrush is caused by an overgrowth of a yeast called Candida albicans. This yeast occurs naturally and may live harmlessly in your skin, vagina, rectum and bowel without you ever noticing it. However, several factors may cause an overgrowth of the yeast and lead to an infection in the vagina and the surrounding area (see box opposite).
What are the common symptoms of vaginal thrush?
The common symptoms of vaginal thrush include:
- itching of the vagina and the surrounding area (vulva)
- redness and swelling of the vagina and vulva
- soreness of the vagina and discomfort during sexual intercourse
- a thick, white, non-smelly discharge.
However, not all women who have vaginal thrush will have all these symptoms. You may have only one of them. (A yellow or green, smelly discharge is not thrush but may be caused by another type of infection. You should see your doctor to have tests and get the right treatment Men can get thrush, but they often do not get any symptoms, or they may just notice a dryness or irritation of the penis.
How is vaginal thrush treated?
Vaginal thrush can be treated by using cream, pessaries or by taking tablets or capsules by mouth. The cream or pessaries are inserted into the vagina using special applicators. The cream can also be applied to the outside of the vulva to ease any external itching.
Tablets or capsules can also be used to treat vaginal thrush, or thrush affecting other parts of the body, particularly if it keeps coming back after you have tried other treatments. Only one or two doses of treatment are necessary to clear the thrush.
These treatments are available on prescription or over the counter in your pharmacy. It is important that both you and your partner are treated, because you may reinfect each other during sexual intercourse.
Some people are more prone to getting vaginal thrush than others. However, there are some steps that you can take to prevent thrush or to stop recurrent infections (see box opposite). If you are still worried or have any other questions about your symptoms or the appropriate treatment, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
Causes of vaginal thrush
- Antibiotics kill the bacteria that cause infection, but they also kill the 'friendly' bacteria in our gut. This upsets the balance of organisms in our body encouraging the thrush to multiply.
- Steroids, chemotherapy and some other drugs weaken the body's defence mechanisms against infections. This can allow overgrowth of infections including thrush.
- People with diabetes or immune disorders such as HIV infection are more likely to get thrush.
- The Pill causes changes in hormone levels that affect the lining of the vagina. These changes favour the growth of thrush over the 'friendly' bacteria.
- Vaginal thrush can be spread by having sexual intercourse without condoms, with a partner who is infected.
HELP YOURSELF
- If you usually get thrush after a course of antibiotics, ask your doctor to recommend or prescribe a thrush treatment at the same time.
- Try to keep your genital area cool. Wear loose fitting clothes rather than tights and trousers. Cotton underwear is best as it is cooler than other fabrics.
- After a bowel movement, wipe from the front to the back. This will avoid carrying infection from the bowel to the vagina.
- Avoid reinfection. If you have thrush and are having sexual intercourse without condoms, you must make sure that your partner receives treatment as well. Men can unknowingly carry Candida and your partner may reinfect you during intercourse.
- Use your medication exactly as recommended by your doctor or pharmacist.