Thrush is very easily treated with topical creams or internal pessaries. It is also possible to treat Thrush with an oral medication called Fluconazole and this is the easiest form of treatment. It is only necessary to take one capsule and the thrush symptoms will normally disappear within 10 days.

We can also prescribe pessaries like Gyno-Daktarin which contains a medicine called miconazole nitrate and is used for infections of the vagina and the skin around the vagina.

In about 5% of cases, thrush is caused by trichomonas (for which the treatment is Flagly).

The symptoms of vaginal thrush normally include an itching around the entrance to the vagina. Sometimes thrush will cause sexual intercourse to be painful and it may cause a stinging or burning sensation when urine is passed. Sometimes Thrush will cause discharge that is normally odourless. The discharge is usually thick and creamy (a bit like cottage cheese in texture) but it can be thin and watery in some cases.

More severe cases of vaginal thrush can include cracked skin around the entrance to the vagina. Severe cases can also include a red or swollen vagina. Ulceration of the vagina is unusual but it has been observed in cases of thrush. Where there is ulceration present, you should always get checked out by a doctor in a face to face environment as these ulcers can be caused by something other than thrush.

Thrush is caused by candida albicans. This is usually present in small amounts in the body but it is kept under control by the immune system. Occasionally there will be an overgrowth of the candida albicans and it will cause the symptoms outlined above.

Thrush can develop if you are feeling run down after an illness or if your immune system is impaired in some way. The use of antibiotics can also lead to thrush episodes as antibiotics can kill off the good bacteria that keep the levels of candida albicans under control.

An increased incidence of thrush during pregnancy has been observed. Thrush will not harm the baby but it should be treated with any of the cream or pessaries after consultation with your doctor or obstetrician. You cannot take the oral treatment (Fluconazole) while pregnant or breastfeeding.