Thrush Symptoms, Causes & Advice
Thrush can occur at any time, in many forms and with varying symptoms…. sounds complicated, huh?
Well it’s not – thrush is pretty straightforward. All you need to do is consider the thrush symptoms you’re experiencing, where you’re experiencing them and in some cases, why.
Thrush can occur in men and women, often in warm, moist areas of the body where the fungi can multiply – often areas such as the mouth and you guessed, the genitals.
Here we look at vaginal thrush, as an example – we’ll look at why you may get it, the symptoms – both the common and more severe ones, and yes, we’ll cover the technical bits (snooze) and finally, let’s talk about getting you back on track.
How do you get thrush?
You are more likely to suffer from vaginal thrush, if you:
- Are pregnant.
- Wear tight clothing – such as skinny jeans or nylon underwear, as this prevents natural ventilation to those areas.
- Take certain antibiotics (they can kill off the ‘friendly’ bacteria that keeps us in check)
- Are having chemotherapy (which weakens the body’s immune system, i.e. its natural defence)
- Have uncontrolled diabetes, HIV or other illnesses that affect your immune system.
- Use products that can irritate the vagina, such as vaginal deodorant, bubble bath and 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.
Symptoms
The more common symptoms of vaginal thrush can include:
- Itching and soreness around the entrance to your vagina.
- Pain during sex.
- A stinging sensation when you urinate.
- Vaginal discharge – Although vaginal discharge isn’t always present in every case of thrush, when it is, the discharge is usually odourless and can be thick and white, a bit like cottage cheese.
In more severe cases, or where you’ve tried to ignore it for too long, expect to experience one, or all of the below:
- Redness of the vagina and vulva
- Cracked skin around the entrance to the vagina
- Swelling of the vagina and vulva
Conclusion
If you are experiencing thrush symptoms why not pop into your local pharmacy or speak with your GP for more information about the options available to you to treat the condition.
About the Author: Maria Bantellis is a health writer on fungal conditions such as Thrush Symptoms
Processing your request, Please wait....
