Vaginal thrush
Vaginal thrush is a common yeast infection that affects most women at some point.
It may be unpleasant and uncomfortable, but can usually be treated withmedication available from pharmacies or on prescription from your GP.
However, for some women,vaginal thrushcanbe difficult to treat and keeps coming back.
Thispage covers:
What to do if you have vaginal thrush
How to treat vaginal thrush
What causes vaginal thrush?
Preventing vaginal thrush
Typicalsymptoms of vaginal thrush include:
Sometimes the skin around the vagina can be red, swollen or cracked. Occasionally there may also besores on the skin, although this is more often a sign of genital herpes .
You can use the vagina problemsvisual guide tohelpfind outwhat could be causing your symptoms.
If you've had thrush before and think you have it again, you can normally treat it with medicines bought from a local pharmacy . See How to treat vaginal thrush below for more information.
It's a good idea to get medical advice from your GP or a sexual health clinic if:
Thrush isn't usuallyanythingto worry about in these cases, but your doctor may want totake a swab from your vagina to confirm the diagnosis and/or carry out tests to check for any underlying cause.
Theycan also advise you about the most suitable treatment and give you a prescription, if necessary.
Mild thrush can usually be treated with a short course of antifungal medication . The symptoms will usually clear up within a week or two.
Treatment may need to be continued for longer if you have repeated bouts of thrush.
Severalthrush medicines can be bought over the counter from pharmacies, while others are only available onprescription from your GP.
The main types are:
These treatments areall equally effective. You can usually choosethe treatment you prefer,althoughpregnant or breastfeeding women shouldn't take thecapsules.
You can also get creams to apply to the skin surrounding the entrance of your vagina. These can help relieve itchiness and soreness, although you may find that anordinary emollient (moisturiser) works just as well.
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Vaginal thrush is caused by yeasts from a group of fungi called Candida.
Many women have Candida in their vagina without it causing any problems, but thrush can develop if the natural balance of micro-organisms in the vaginais disrupted and Candida multiplies.
You'remore likely to get thrushif you:
Vaginal thrush isn't classed as anSTI, but it canbe triggered by sexparticularly if you have trouble relaxing and your vagina is dry and can occasionally be passed on to sexual partners.
If you get thrush frequently, you can:
Some women eat probiotic yoghurt or supplements to prevent vaginal thrush, but there's little evidence to suggest this works.
Vaginal thrush is a common yeast infection that affects most women at some point. Find out about the symptoms, causes and treatments.
Vaginal thrush is treated with medications you can buy over the counter from a pharmacy, or get on prescription from your GP.