Many have thrush at a particular time of the month, specifically before menstruation. Single capsule oral treatments for vaginal thrush, are available over-the-counter in pharmacies.When symptoms of thrush occur, women may experience itching and burning in the genital area. These are available in one-day through to seven-day treatment programmes. The traditional treatment is a course of antifungal vaginal pessaries or cream. They are unnecessary and may well add to irritation and itching. Stay away from feminine hygiene products such as douches and deodorant sprays. During sexual intercourse use a personal lubricant if necessary to ensure that there is no dryness or friction which can exacerbate thrush. This will prevent candida spores living in the gut from being transfered forward to the vagina. Ensure that every time you have a bowel motion you wipe from the front to the back (towards the anus). Is vital for overcoming or preventing thrush. During summer months try to avoid sitting around for long periods of time in wet or damp swimming costume. Wear skirts or dresses with cotton pants and avoid pantyhose as much as possible. Wearing tight jeans or nylon panties or pantyhose which restrict the air flow around the vagina creates just such an environment. Cranberry juice and yoghurt are two foods that taken regularly may help prevent thrush occurring.Ĭandida loves a damp warm environment. Other foods that feed yeast include yeasted bread, mushrooms, vinegar, sauces and pickles containing vinegar, nuts and seeds, melons, and the biggest “no-no” of all…. This includes all obvious sugars such as cakes, biscuits, lollies, chocolate, snack bars and commercially processed foods with added sugar (breakfast cereals, sweetened yoghurts, baked beans etc).Įven supposedly “healthy” sugars such as fruit juice, honey and dried fruits can give candida the energy source it needs to flourish. Stay well away from sugars and refined carbohydrates if you are fighting a thrush infection, or if you are prone to developing thrush. If you are especially prone to thrush it may be worth using a short course of antifungal vaginal pessaries at the same time as your antibiotics to prevent thrush problems. It may also help to take high-potency probiotics throughout the course of antibiotics, and for another 2–3 weeks after. If you have to take antibiotics, include plenty of “live” foods in your diet such as lactobacillus acidophilus yoghurt, or any of the cultured health drinks now available. Sometimes antifungal lozenges, tablets or mouthwash may be needed. Treatment for babies and children may be as simple as a probiotic powder, or for older children the addition of natural acidophilus yoghurt to the diet. If your baby is a fussy unhappy suckler, check the possibility of oral thrush. They may infect their mother’s nipples causing nipple redness and soreness. The use of corticosteroid asthma inhalers or oral corticosteroids also increases the risk of oral thrush.īreast-feeding babies may have thrush with few symptoms. It is most likely to occur in babies, toddlers, the elderly and people with compromised immunity such as HIV or cancer patients. Occasionally oral thrush can go on to infect the roof of the mouth, tonsils, gums or the back of the throat. Oral thrush causes thick white plaques to grow on the inside of the cheeks or tongue. Once the friendly bacteria have been killed in sufficient numbers, the candida yeast gets a chance to grow unchecked. Antibiotics kill the gut and oral bacteria, indiscriminately, wiping out friendly and unfriendly bacteria alike. Around ovulation and during menstruation the vaginal pH becomes naturally more alkaline, and so many thrush sufferers find they are especially prone to an outbreak at these times. Pregnancy also increases vaginal alkalinity, as does use of the oral contraceptive pill.Ĭandida infection can follow a course of antibiotics and is common in people with diabetes or low immunity, such as HIV infection. If the acidity and bacterial balance in the vagina or mouth is upset then thrush may develop. The vagina, gut and mouth are also home to “friendly” bacteria, in particular Lactobacilli, which help to balance the pH. Pain with intercourse and passing urine commonly occurs.Ī healthy vagina has an efficient self-regulating system that maintains a slightly acidic pH, which effectively prevents the proliferation of troublesome yeast or bacteria. Symptoms include vaginal itching, burning, redness, and sometimes a thick cottage-cheese-like vaginal discharge. Thrush is common, and can be infuriatingly difficult-to-treat. It occurs when an imbalance between the normal microorganisms in the vagina occurs, Candida overgrows and causes symptoms. Around 75% of women will experience the discomfort of vaginal thrush at least once in their lives.