Intimate health - Thrush (Candida)

Average rating:

Thrush

Around 1 in 2 women will get thrush, which is sometimes known as Candida. The infection is caused by a yeast called Candida that lives in your vagina.
It is NOT a sexually transmitted infection - you can get thrush without ever having sex. But penetrative sex can sometimes play a part in you developing it. (Semen can change the acidity of the vagina and therefore lead to thrush). Other causes include antibiotics, pregnancy, perfumed bubble baths and not changing tampons or sanitary towels regularly enough.
Symptoms: a white discharge which smells 'yeasty'. The genital area may be swollen and red and you could have itching and burning sensations.
How do I know if I've got it? You can buy self-diagnosis thrush tests and treatments at a chemist, but they aren't as reliable as a test carried out at a clinic or by your GP. Thrush is diagnosed with a swab or sample of mucus taken from your vagina.
Treatment: You will be given anti-fungal drugs, either as pessaries, creams or capsules. Although you can buy these at the chemist, it could be cheaper to get them on prescription. If you keep getting thrush (four or more times a year is called 'recurrent thrush') your doctor may prescribe long-acting pessaries.

Next: Read on for info about Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

By Kate Corr