What is thrush and which treatment may be best for you?
What is thrush?
Commonly caused by the fungi Candida albicans, thrush is an infection that can occur in both men and women most commonly on the skin, inside the mouth and around the genitals – anywhere that is warm and moist. However, thrush is an easily treatable condition.
What causes it?
Usually harmless, the Candida albicans fungi go unnoticed; kept under control by the body’s immune system and ‘good bacteria’.
With more than half of all women experiencing vaginal thrush at least once in their lifetime, often developing ‘out of the blue’, certain factors can cause the Candida albicans fungi to multiply, resulting in the thrush infection.
What are the triggers?
Whilst the following are ‘triggers’ which can cause thrush, it is important to remember that the best way to help prevent thrush is to maintain a healthy immune system; eat well, get regular exercise and keep stress levels down.
So, if you think you may have thrush, have you considered if the following are ‘triggers’?
- Are you pregnant?
- Do you wear tight clothing – such as skinny jeans or nylon underwear?This prevents natural ventilation to those areas.
- Have you been taking certain antibiotics? They can kill off the ‘friendly’ bacteria that keep us in check!
- Are you, or have you had chemotherapy, diabetes or HIV – or any other illness which weakens the body’s immune system?
- Do you use products that can irritate the vagina, such as vaginal deodorant, bubble bath or other perfumed products?
Many women believe that thrush is caused because they are ‘dirty’. This is not true; if anything, women who clean themselves too much are more at risk as they are washing away the friendly bacteria that keep our natural balance just right.
How will I know if I have it?
The most common symptoms of vaginal thrush are:
• Vulval itching
• Vulval soreness and irritation
• Pain, or discomfort, during sexual intercourse
• Pain, or discomfort, during urination
• Vaginal discharge, although this is not always present. (The discharge is usually odourless. It can be thin and watery, or thick and white, like cottage cheese.)
Conclusion
If you are experiencing the one, or all of the above symptoms and believe you are experiencing thrush, speak with your pharmacist or GP about the best thrush treatment for you.
About the Author: Maria Bantellis is a health writer with a growing interest in Thrush Treatment
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