dr frankie on thrush

So, what causes thrush? Our skin is covered in lots of friendly bacteria, yeasts and other organisms which usually live in harmony as part of our skin microbiome to keep our skin barrier healthy. Thrush is a yeast infection, caused by a fungus species called Candida Albicans which usually lives harmlessly in the vagina as part of our normal flora, and does not cause any symptoms, because its growth is kept under control by other commensal microorganisms. If you are not familiar with the amazing vaginal microbiome, read more about it here

There are many reasons the balance of bacteria can be knocked off and allow this species of yeast to grow, causing thrush. Sex, pregnancy, taking antibiotics, being run down or stressed, a change in diet, having a weakened immune system or diabetes are all common causes of thrush. It can also be caused by wearing tight fitting underwear or using perfumed body washes on the intimate area.

If you have developed thrush, it’s likely you’ll know about it. Thrush comes with some symptoms which can be experienced by both men and women, such as a white, cottage cheese like discharge, redness, itching and irritation around the vagina, vulva or on the penis in males, dryness of the vagina and also pain on urination or sex.

Thankfully, thrush is quite straightforward to treat with antifungals which come in both an oral and topical pessary form and it should clear up within 1-2 weeks. If you develop thrush, it’s important to speak to your doctor and make sure you don’t have an STI.

There are also a few things you can do to relieve symptoms and prevent thrush recurring:

• Avoid potential irritants in perfumed soaps, shower gels, vaginal deodorants, wipes and instead opt for something that is pH balanced and won’t disrupt the microbiome, such as the Femfresh 0% Sensitive Wash and wipes which are pH balanced and 100% soap and fragrance free!
• Avoid cleaning the inside of the vagina (douching) itself as this can disrupt the microbiome
• Avoid wearing tight-fitting underwear or tights and opt for looser fitting cotton underwear with a cotton gusset.
• If you have diabetes or another medical condition that can affect your immune system, ensure your blood sugar level is kept under control and you have regular check ups with your doctor.

I would strongly recommend you go to your doctor about your symptoms, particularly if you have the symptoms of thrush for the first time, have thrush which keeps coming back, you are pregnant or have a weakened immune system.

Remember, which people don’t tend to talk about these kinds of topics, they affect most women and are nothing to be embarrassed about!