Health Conditions : Thrush

Most women experience occasional bouts of a common yeast infection known as vaginal thrush.

It causes itching, irritation and swelling of the vagina and surrounding area, sometimes with a creamy white cottage cheese-like discharge.

Vaginal thrush is fairly harmless, but it can be uncomfortable. It can also keep returning – this is known as recurrent (or complicated) thrush.

In men, it usually affects the head of the penis – causing irritation, discharge and redness.

Preventing Vaginal thrush

• wash your vaginal area with water and avoid using perfumed soaps, shower gels, vaginal deodorants or douches

• use a regular moisturiser (emollient), such as E45 cream, as a soap substitute, then apply a greasier moisturiser to protect the skin. However, be aware that moisturisers can weaken condoms

• avoid using latex condoms, spermicidal creams or lubricants if they irritate your genital area

• avoid wearing tight-fitting underwear or tights

Often clients with recurrent thrush have tried various anti-fungal cream, tablets or pessaries. However, thrush just seems to re occur.

We encourage a stool test to establish whether the thrush is systemic, and also to identify the type of candida we are treating. There are many different types of candida and a stool test will indicate how effective natural treatments will be in the process of elimination.

Food intolerance testing is useful and avoiding trigger foods important to allow the immune system an opportunity to recover.