Thrush tends to grow in warm, moist conditions and develops if the balance of bacteria changes. Page last reviewed: 27 October Next review due: 27 October Thrush in men and women. Check if you have thrush Thrush symptoms in women white vaginal discharge often like cottage cheese , which does not usually smell itching and irritation around the vagina soreness and stinging during sex or when you pee Thrush symptoms in men irritation, burning and redness around the head of the penis and under the foreskin a white discharge like cottage cheese an unpleasant smell difficulty pulling back the foreskin Thrush in other areas Thrush can affect other areas of skin, such as the armpits, groin and between the fingers.
Sometimes thrush causes no symptoms at all. See what thrush looks like on the vagina, penis and skin Thrush on the penis Credit:. Non-urgent advice: See a GP or go to a sexual health clinic if:.
Information: Sexual health clinics can help with thrush Sexual health clinics treat problems with the genitals and urine system. They'll often get test results quicker than GP surgeries.
Find a pharmacy. Do use water and emollient like E45 cream instead of soap to wash the affected area dry properly after washing wear cotton underwear avoid sex until thrush has cleared up if sex is uncomfortable.
It can, however, be accompanied by a number of uncomfortable symptoms, and can be a recurring condition.
Keep reading to learn more about recurring thrush, including what can cause it, and how to treat it. Recurring thrush is not uncommon. According to Dr. Erika Ringdahl in an article published in the journal American Family Physician , a recurrent infection differs from a persistent infection due to the presence of a symptom-free period.
Recurrent refers to a situation in which the condition comes back. Persistent refers to a condition that never goes away. Ringdahl explained that more than 50 percent of women over the age of 25 years experience at least one thrush infection, specifically a vulvovaginal infection.
Fewer than 5 percent of those cases become recurrent. After proper diagnosis to determine the kind of infection and its location, your healthcare provider will provide you with an antifungal treatment in one of the following forms:. However, in more severe cases of recurrent or persistent thrush, your healthcare provider may recommend an extended treatment period, sometimes up to six months. You can also help to reduce the severity of thrush symptoms and lower the chances of recurrent thrush with home self-care, such as:.
Keeping your immune system strong can help your body to fight off infections. Thrush, though generally harmless, can become a bothersome, recurring condition. If you begin to experience irregular and uncomfortable symptoms, schedule a visit with your healthcare provider. The most common symptoms are itchiness, irritation , swelling and redness in and around the vagina.
You might also notice:. Most thrush is caused by the fungus candida albicans. This fungus exists naturally in the vagina, mouth, bowel and elsewhere. Normally, it causes no problems. But in some circumstances, the balance of normal bacteria and fungi in the body changes and the fungus starts to multiply and cause symptoms.
Thrush is not a sexually transmitted infection STI and many people already have a small amount of candida in their bodies before they have sexual contact with a partner.
In fact, the organism is more common in people who are not sexually active. If you have had thrush before and treated it successfully, but it was more than 6 months previously, then it is fine to treat it yourself without seeing a doctor.
However, if you are pregnant and have thrush or think you might have thrush , you should see your doctor before starting any treatment. Use the Question Builder for general tips on what to ask your GP or specialist. Thrush can be confused with other conditions that cause itching and redness with or without discharge. These other conditions include herpes infections and bacterial infections.
Your doctor will examine you and take a swab or do further tests to confirm the diagnosis. If you get thrush a lot, they may also want to rule out other medical conditions like diabetes or HIV. The treatment of thrush is usually very simple. The most effective treatment is pessaries dissolving tablets or cream inserted into the vagina.
You can buy this over the counter from a pharmacy. Other options are tablets that also do not require a prescription. These medications kill the fungus that causes thrush. You can also buy over the counter creams to relieve the soreness and itchiness around the vagina.
Ask your pharmacist for advice. During treatment, avoid irritants such as soaps, bath oils, bubble baths, spermicides, vaginal lubricants and vaginal hygiene products. Avoid taking oral thrush treatments if you're pregnant or breastfeeding , and use one of the other methods instead.
Babies can also develop thrush once they are born. Thrush in babies can be easily treated too. Parents are advised to visit their doctor or ask their health visitor for advice.
Treatment is not usually needed for a sexual partner of someone who has thrush, unless they have symptoms. If you have a sexual partner, be aware that vaginal creams can damage latex condoms, diaphragms and cervical caps.
In most cases, treatment will relieve the symptoms. However, some women may have thrush that keeps coming back, and others seem to get it almost continually. In these instances, doctors may prescribe longer courses of treatment. Some women find taking preventative measures to stop vaginal thrush doesn't seem to help much, but others find they do make a difference.
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