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Thrush What is thrush? Vaginal thrush, also called yeast infection or candidiasis, is an overgrowth of yeast that leads to a range of unpleasant symptoms, such as itching and soreness around the vagina. Most women will have thrush at least once during their lives, and many will have more than one episode. But for some women, thrush keeps coming back. Recurrent thrush can affect a woman’s sex life and self-image, and may be a sign of a more serious health problem. Even if you only have thrush once, it can be extremely uncomfortable. And, if you don’t know what is happening or why, it can also be very stressful. This online leaflet explains what thrush is, what causes it, how to treat it and what you can do to help prevent it in the future. Thrush is caused by yeast, already present in the body, which grows out of control. This yeast is almost always Candida albicans, but another, more resistant yeast, Candida glabrata, can also lead to thrush. |
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The vagina is one of the areas most likely to be affected by thrush. Although the vagina is generally too acidic for yeast to grow out of control, it is sensitive to small changes and can easily become an ideal environment for yeast to flourish. Too much yeast irritates the vaginal tissues and this leads to the typical symptoms of thrush. Symptoms The telltale signs of thrush include itching, burning, soreness, swelling of the vagina and vulva (outer area of the vagina), and a yeasty-smelling discharge. You may have one symptom or several, and symptoms can range from mild to severe. Itching and burning These are the most common symptoms of thrush and often the most distressing. Burning and itching can be so intense it is difficult to resist scratching, but scratching will only make the problem worse. Soreness, swelling and pain Thrush irritates the delicate tissue of the vagina and genital area, making it sore, swollen and red. As a result, it may be painful to urinate (urine will sting the inflamed tissue). It may also be painful to have sex. In some cases, anything that touches or rubs the area, including sitting and walking, can be painful. Discharge Discharge caused by thrush is usually (but not always) white and thicker than a woman’s regular discharge. The ‘typical’ discharge linked to thrush is yoghurt-like in appearance and smells strongly of yeast. Some women, however, have a watery or mild-smelling discharge. The amount can also vary from a little to a lot. |
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Written by Tamara Beus and published in printed format (2001) by Women's Health
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Many women, (as well as men and children) carry yeast in and on their bodies without any problems. Yeast usually lives in the intestines, vagina, mouth and skin, where ‘friendly’ bacteria help keep yeast levels low. When this balance is disrupted, however, and the yeast is allowed to grow unchecked, it causes havoc in the body.