Thrush
It’s very common, but you rarely hear it in conversations between women. So let’s talk about thrush, a common yeast infection caused by a simple imbalance of natural vaginal fungus, predominantly Candida albicans.
Normally, the things that keep candida in check are: good immune system, good bacteria (called lactobacilli) and healthy pH level. However, when the conditions in your vagina change to less acidic, bacteria start to overgrow. This in turn could lead to a yeast infection.
It’s so common that every 3 out of 4 women get thrush at least once in their lives. Many women also suffer from recurring thrush. However, there are some circumstances that can make you more prone to getting this yeast infection. You are more at risk of getting thrush if:
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You are pregnant
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You have recently finished a course of antibiotics
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You have diabetes
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You are on your period
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You take birth control pills
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You have been diagnosed with HIV
Don’t worry! Thrush is not a sexually transmitted infection.
Thrush symptoms
Thrush treatment
In most cases, it is easy to treat vaginal thrush. For complete relief, you should use both internal products which will treat the infection and external cream which can help relieve your symptoms. Canesten® offers a range of products like internal vaginal tablet and external creams so you can decide which treatment option is more comfortable for you to use. Thrush should clear up within a week after one dose of medicine and/ or using the cream daily. Do not be tempted to use external cream only. It will help soothe your symptoms of yeast infection but it won’t get rid of the cause of vaginal thrush.
You don’t need a prescription to buy Canesten® thrush treatments and you can use Duopak product to treat both the internal infection and calm the external symptoms.
Thrush prevention
Some people suffer from recurring thrush which may be caused by their lifestyle choices. If thrush symptoms are a problem, you can change some habits to stop yeast infection from coming back. First of all, you should remember that your intimate area has different pH than the rest of the body so using regular, perfumed soaps and shower gels can disturb the pH balance in your vagina.
Wearing very tight and synthetic underwear and clothes such as tight leggings can encourage the growth of candida because of the trapped moisture. It is also recommended to change wet clothes like swimming costume or workout outfit straight away. Other tips for avoiding thrush include:
Thrush, also known as a yeast infection can happen to anyone. It is easy to spot the symptoms and treatment can be very straightforward. However, if you suffer from recurring thrush, taking probiotics can help you maintain the natural levels of good bacteria in your vagina.
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Thrush Trivia Quiz
Thrush is quite common, but how much do you know about it? Take our quiz and find out what’s fact and what’s myth. Test your knowledge and share your results if you wish!