Thrush

Vaginal thrush (normally known as thrush) is a very common yeast infection that will affect most women in their lifetime. It is more common amongst women in their twenties and thirties. It is less common in women who have gone through the menopause or for girls who have yet to start having periods.

Thrush is caused by the yeast-like fungus called Candida Albicans. Normally, vaginal secretions and ‘friendly’ vaginal bacteria keep this fungus at bay. However, if the natural balance within the vagina is upset then the Candida can multiply and cause vaginal thrush. The resulting infection is usually quite harmless, though it can prove to be irritating and uncomfortable.

Normal symptoms of vaginal thrush include swelling and itching of the vagina and the surrounding area. They may also include with a white, cottage cheese-like discharge. Thrush is easy to treat with a wide array of prescription and non-prescription medicines.

Penile thrush (normally known as male thrush) is caused by the same fungus, Candida Albicans, as vaginal thrush. Thrush is less common in men than women, however it can still be easily treated. Similarly to vaginal thrush, the Candida yeast lives normally on the genitals and only causes penile thrush when the normal balance of microbes is upset. This can be due to taking antibiotics, not drying your penis properly, using perfumed soaps or shower gels, or having a weakened immune system.

The condition known as thrush is a form of yeast infection caused by a fungus that is naturally occurring in the vagina and on the penis. In around 80% to 90% cases of thrush, the cause is the fungus known as Candida Albicans, while in other cases it is other types of Candida fungi.

Interestingly, around half of the women who have naturally occurring Candida in the vagina do not suffer from any of the symptoms associated with vaginal thrush. Therefore, it is a widely held opinion that the growth of Candida and symptoms of thrush are caused by a change in the natural balance within the vagina. This change can either be a hormonal change, such as occurs during pregnancy; or a chemical change as a result of taking antibiotics.

What is likely to increase the chances of you suffering from male or female thrush?

Increased risk of vaginal or penile thrush may occur if you:

• Have a weakened immune system
• Have diabetes
• Are pregnant
• Take antibiotics

A Weakened Immune System

You have a higher risk of developing vaginal or penile thrush if you have a weakened immune system, which you might experience as a result of having chemotherapy or suffering from an immunosuppressive condition like AIDS or HIV. The reason for this is that your immune system, which in normal circumstances fights off any infections that enter your body, is not as strong as it should be and cannot effectively control and prevent the spread of Candida fungi.

Diabetes

Diabetes is a condition that is caused by having unnaturally high levels of glucose in your bloodstream. It is a long-term condition that is managed rather than cured and is normally kept under control by maintaining a balanced and healthy diet, as well as having regular injections of insulin.

However, problems can occur if your diabetes is not properly controlled. If the levels of glucose in your blood go up and down a lot instead of staying at a more consistent level, you will be much more likely to develop vaginal or penile thrush.

Pregnancy

During pregnancy, the levels of female hormones in your body like oestrogen change, which increase the risk of you developing vaginal thrush. In this situation it is also more likely to become a recurring problem, even if you try to treat it.

Antibiotics

As antibiotics not only kill off the bad bacteria, but also the good bacteria; a third of women (it is less frequent in males) who have been prescribed antibiotics are likely to suffer from vaginal thrush.
Though your chances of developing a yeast infection are greatly increased when you are taking any form of antibiotic; in order for your body to develop the actual yeast infection, the Candida fungus needs to already be present inside your vagina or on your penis.

For the above reasons men & women should only self-treat thrush if they are aged between 18 and 60 and have had it previously diagnosed by a GP. Recurrent episodes of thrush should be investigated by a doctor for an underlying cause.

The main symptoms of thrush in women (vaginal thrush) include:

• Soreness and itching of the vagina and the area that surrounds it.
• Vaginal discharge, which is usually odourless. The consistency can vary from a thick creamy discharge to a thin, watery one.
• The sufferer can experience pain during sex.
• There may also be a stinging sensation when they urinate.
• The entrance to the vagina may become red and swollen with the surrounding skin becoming cracked.
• In rare cases, sores may develop on the skin around the vagina.

The main symptoms of thrush in men (penile thrush) include:

• Red, inflamed or swollen skin around the head of the penis.
• Itching, irritation or soreness around the head of the penis.
• Thick, lumpy discharge under the foreskin.
• An unpleasant odour.
• Difficulty pulling back the foreskin.
• Pain when passing urine or during sex.

Symptoms of thrush can overlap or be confused with many conditions such as cystitis, bacterial vaginosis (BV), chlamydia, gonorrhoea and other sexually transmitted infections. If you have not been diagnosed with thrush previously or you are unsure about your symptoms, you should always check with your doctor.

Thrush (male & female) in many cases can be self-diagnosed and treated. Thrush, like cystitis, should always be diagnosed by a GP for the first time, subsequent cases can then be self-diagnosed if the symptoms are the same and none of the following points apply:

• This is your very first occurrence of thrush
• You’re under the age of sixteen or over the age of sixty
• You are or think you may be pregnant
• You are breast feeding
• You have had two or more cases of thrush within a six month period
• You have used antifungal treatments in the past that have either caused a reaction or have been ineffective
• You are suffering pain in the lower abdomen
• Your symptoms do not improve after 7-14 days
• You are suffering with vaginal or penile sores
• You or your partner have had a sexually transmitted disease in the past and suspect that it may have returned
• You are experiencing blood-stained discharge or abnormal menstrual bleeding
• You symptoms appear different from previous cases of thrush

If you have self-diagnosed/treated thrush it may still be necessary to visit your GP if the medication used didn’t work, or if the thrush is ‘recurrent’ (it keeps returning – this can be common in a number of conditions, such as diabetes). If the doctor is unable able to diagnose based on a verbal or visual inspection, then he or she will usually rely on three methods to conclude a diagnosis;

• Vaginal or penile swabbing
• Blood test
• pH level test

The vaginal swab resembles a cotton bud and is used to obtain a secretion sample from inside the vagina. A penile swab is similar and used to collect a sample of discharge from the penis or under the foreskin. These swabs will then be sent to a laboratory for analysis. A blood test will usually be performed if the doctor suspects an underlying condition, which may make you more prone to developing thrush. The pH test is similar to the swab test, in that the inside of the vagina is swabbed. However, the swab is not sent to a laboratory for analysis, instead it is wiped over a piece of specially treated paper. This paper is designed to detect and measure the pH level of the sample.

When presenting with a mild case of thrush (yeast infection) then a short course of anti-fungal thrush treatment is usually the best option. These can be purchased over-the-counter without the need of a doctor’s prescription. These anti-fungal medications come in a variety of forms, including; capsules, creams and pessaries.

Suitable for men & women

• Fluconazole capsule: Preparations available over-the-counter include the Fluconazole 150mg Capsule, Canesten Oral Capsule and Canesten Oral & Cream Duo. The capsule is swallowed whole and can be used instead of, or in conjunction with the creams and pessaries. It is a single dose treatment that normally clears up cases of thrush completely in around 5 days.
• Clotrimazole cream: Creams preparations available over-the-counter include; Clotrimazole Anti-Fungal Cream (Generic), Canesten Cream (which contains Clotrimazole 1%), Canesten Thrush Cream (containing Clotrimazole 2%), Canesten Cream Combi (containing an internal 500mg Clotrimazole Cream & an external 2% Clotrimazole Cream - internal cream should not be used by men). All preparations, other than the Internal Cream, are designed to deal with the Candida on the skin around the vagina’s entrance.

Suitable for women only

• Clotrimazole pessary: The over-the-counter treatments contain clotrimazole in varying strengths (100mg, 200mg, and 500mg) these are designed to deal with the Candida that is inside the vagina. Examples of available treatments include; Canesten Pessary, (available in 100mg, 200mg & 500mg) and Canesten Soft Gel 500mg Pessary.

When deciding upon which of these treatments is the best for you, there are few factors that need to be considered. The oral thrush capsule is the most convenient treatment, however it is not suitable if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.

The pessaries and creams are understandably less convenient than a simple single dose capsule but they have the advantage of acting directly in the area of infection. External creams are suitable during pregnancy.

If your symptoms do not improve after five days of treatment, you should see your doctor.

To reduce the chances of developing thrush there are a number of simple techniques that you can use. These include:

• Ensure the genitals are washed using water. It’s important to try and avoid using perfumed soaps, shower gels and vaginal deodorants.
• Use an emollient moisturiser such as E45 cream as a soap substitute. Then apply a greasier moisturiser to help soften and protect the skin.
• Try and avoid wearing tight-fitting underwear (or tights for women).
• Try to avoid underwear made from synthetic materials like nylon.
• Antibiotics will affect the natural balance of bacteria in the vagina and on the penis, making you more prone to developing vaginal or penile thrush. If you have had thrush before and you are about to start a course of antibiotics, it is recommended to purchase thrush treatment too.
• Avoid using anything that is known to irritate your genital area, such as latex condoms, lubricants and spermicidal creams.
• If you are experiencing any sexual issues with your partner, for example you don’t feel sufficiently lubricated during sex, then you should consider using a sensitive lubricant.