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Thrush — Getting a diagnosis

Now that treatments for thrush are available over the counter, it may seem easier to self-diagnose than to make an appointment and go to a clinic, particularly if you’ve had thrush before. However, many women may be misdiagnosing themselves. Research shows that only 28 to 35% of women who have had thrush before can accurately diagnose thrush at a later date.

Some symptoms of thrush are common to other vaginal infections so it is important to be sure that you have thrush, and not something else, before you start treatment. (See chart below) The wrong treatment can make an infection worse and using thrush treatments when you don’t need them can help the yeast build up a resistance to treatment.

You should see a doctor or nurse if you have symptoms and:

• you have never had thrush before
• you are pregnant
• you want to check you don't have another infection
• the treatment you are using isn't working

Your GP should be able to give you a diagnosis, but you can also go to a genito-urinary medicine (GUM), family planning or well-woman clinic. Specialist clinics are more likely to be better equipped for a full screening. (See Resources.)

At the clinic

Some health care providers may diagnose thrush based only on visual and reported symptoms, but to be absolutely sure, she or he will need to take a swab, or sample, of the mucus in your vagina. This involves inserting a speculum into your vagina and wiping a swab on the vaginal wall to get a sample for examination. Ask for a swab to be taken if your doctor doesn’t do it automatically.

A full bacteriological screen will rule out any other infections that may have similar symptoms to thrush. The test may also reveal if the thrush infection is caused by Candida albicans or Candida glabrata, and this can influence treatment.

If you have recurrent thrush, it may be a symptom of a larger health issue. Your doctor may want to test for diabetes, HIV, dermatitis, or other infections. It doesn't mean you will have one of these, but ruling out other causes will help determine what steps to take to stop thrush.

Infection	Symptoms
Thrush	White discharge,often thick but sometimes watery. Discharge may smell yeasty. Itching and burning around genital area. Can also be swollen and red.
Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)	Greyish-white discharge with a strong fishy smell. Burning, soreness and sometimes itching around the genital area, but no redness or swelling.
Trichomoniasis	Thin, frothy discharge (white or greenish yellow) with a very strong fishy smell. Vaginal itching and soreness.

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Written by Tamara Beus and published in printed format (2001) by Women's Health

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