Treatment for vaginal thrush

Vaginal thrushis treated with medications you can buy over the counter from a pharmacy, orget on prescription from your GP.

If you've had thrush before and think you have it again, you can normally treat it with medication bought from a local pharmacy. Otherwise, you should see your GP for advice.

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Thrush medications

Thrush is treated with antifungal medicines that are available as pessaries, intravaginal creams or capsules.

All these medications are equally effective, but you may find that oneis more convenient to use than another.

Pessaries and intravaginal creams

Apessary is apill that you insert intoyour vagina using a special applicator. Intravaginal creams are applied insideyour vagina.

The main types used to treat thrush are:

• clotrimazole available over the counter from pharmacies
• econazole, miconazole and fenticonazole available on prescription

Over-the-counter pessaries are usually used daily forone tosix days. Intravaginal cream isnormally used once. Possible side effects includea mild burning sensation, slight redness or itching .

Thesetreatmentscan also damage latex condoms and diaphragms , so you may want to avoid having sex, or use another form of contraception during treatment and for up to five days afterwards.

Capsules

If you would prefer not to use pessaries or intravaginal cream, antifungal capsules are available.

The main types used to treat thrush are:

• fluconazole available over the counter from pharmacies
• itraconazole available on prescription

Over-the-counter thrush capsules usually come as a single dose.

Possible sideeffects can include feeling sick,an upset stomach, diarrhoea and headaches .

Skin creams

If the skin around the entrance to your vagina is also sore or itchy, you may find it helpful to use anantifungal skin cream in addition to one of the treatments above.

• Creams containing clotrimazole can be bought over the counter from pharmacies.
• They're available in packsthat alsoincludeantifungal pessaries, intravaginal cream or capsules.
• They'renormally applied to the skin two or three timesa dayfor at least two weeks.
• Possible side effects include irritation, a stinging sensation or itching.

Alternatively, you could try usingan ordinary emollient (moisturiser) near your vagina. This can help relieve your symptoms and causes fewer side effects than antifungal cream.

Emollients and antifungal skin cream can weaken latex condoms and diaphragms, so you may want to avoid having sex, or use another form of contraception during treatment and for up to five days afterwards.

Sex and sexual partners

Vaginal thrush isn't classed as a sexually transmitted infection (STI) , so sexual partners don't need to be informed, tested or treated if they don't have any symptoms.

However, there's a very small risk of passing the condition on during sex, so you may want to avoid having sex until it's cleared up.

Some treatments can also weaken latex condoms and diaphragms (see above), so you may want to avoid having sex or use another form of contraception during treatment and for a few days afterwards.

If thrush keeps coming back

Speak to your GP ifyou experience frequent bouts of thrush.

Theymight run some tests to confirm the diagnosis and check for any possible underlying cause, such as diabetes .

They may also give you a prescription you can use whenever the symptoms return, or suggest trying a longer course of treatment lasting up to six months.

If you're pregnant or breastfeeding

Visit your GP if you have thrush and you're pregnant or breastfeeding.

Your GP will probably suggest using pessaries or an intravaginal cream. Capsules aren't recommended because they could harm your baby.

If you're pregnant, take care when using an applicator to insert a pessary or intravaginal cream,as there's a small risk of injuring your cervix (neck of the womb).

Antifungal skin cream or moisturisers can normally be used safely if you're pregnant or breastfeeding and the area around the entrance to your vagina is sore or itchy.