Vaginal thrush

[Netgreen]

What causes vaginal thrush and how can it be cured

[Pilates123]

Hi

There are so many causes !

I have eliminated every single possible cause and I still have it ! I am seeking help from my doctor now as I don’t know what else to do

Eliminating sugar and yeast from your diet is a good start and take a good probiotic daily. Diet and stress play a large part in thrush as well as hormones I think !

[Galen70]

there are many misconceptions and false truths about candida ( thrush ) . There is little or no scientific data about eliminating sugar from diet, : diabetics with poor sugar control are more at risk of having fungal infections , but the average person no. probiotics are often yeasts themselves - again little evidence.

nhs.uk/conditions/thrush-in...

[Blue-sky-10 in reply to Galen70]

The info on thrush on the nhs web site is ok but not great. When I read so many women having persistent thrush with no improvement with the prescribed nhs pessary tablet or cream makes me feel very sad. I have been suffering with this for 2 months now and still with symptoms despite taking the pessary as my GP has told me to do so once a week for 8 weeks. I was active , healthy this came out of nowhere and now I can’t do any exercise as it is uncomfortable and scared of sweating or chaffing etc. Feel demoralised.

[Galen70 in reply to Blue-sky-10]

You need to attend a sexual health clinic as they are the experts on vaginal symptoms and candida. The main issue for women is that a lot of other problems get mislabeled as "thrush " when in fact its another problem. Before treating for candida , a positive test result is important ( although 1 in 5 women carry candida naturally with no symptoms ) . If this fails to improve following standard therapy ( pill or pessary ) then a repeat test plus resistance testing is indicated - only 5% of yeasts however have any resistance . There is a difference between persistent candida and recurrent candida. And I would always question a diagnosis of "thrush " that doesn't respond to therapy.

[Blue-sky-10 in reply to Galen70]

Thank you. GP did see me but no testing. Just ocular inspection. What is the protocol to go to sexual clinic? Do I need to ask my GP for a referral ?

[Galen70 in reply to Blue-sky-10]

No sexual health clinics do not require a referral, it is self referral. Services may be altered due to COVID at present but clinics are open and running. Check what your local service is, and give them a call. They will then outline their booking procedure. Don't use any thrush therapies just prior to attending as this would interfere with the tests.

[Blue-sky-10 in reply to Galen70]

Just an update- my GP has referred me to sexual clinic - Sexual clinic have restricted services due to COVID so I haven't heard from them yet(referral was done end of november). In the meantime, I got a prescription from my GP for estriol cream to apply in the vulva and vaginal area and this is making a big difference in my symptoms. I am feeling much better after the 2 weeks load and now that I am in 2 dosis a week, I hope I can get better and better . There are weeks before my period is due that symptom start appearing so I feel I need 3 times a week. Shock to the system I am peri-menopausal and I am suffering the symptoms of lack of hormones. Cant think of how horrible this will be when I am actually post menopausal.

[Galen70 in reply to Blue-sky-10]

Its great that you have perhaps found the cause of your symptoms, which are nothing to do with infections, and now on the right path. There are many choices for control of perimenopausal symptoms if this is indeed the case. Glad you are feeling better and thank you for letting us know.