Thrush, also known as a ‘yeast infection’, is a common infection of the vulva and vagina. It’s caused by an overgrowth of yeast that lives normally in the vagina. Learn more about thrush, including symptoms, causes and how to manage the condition.
What is vulval and vaginal thrush?
Symptoms of vulval and vaginal thrush
What causes vulval and vaginal thrush?
How is vulval and vaginal thrush diagnosed?
Treatments for vulval and vaginal thrush
Thrush and sex
What you can do
Risks of vulval and vaginal thrush
When to see your doctor
Related resources
Thrush is a common infection of the vulva and vagina, and sometimes the mouth. It affects 75% of women at least once in their lifetime. Thrush treatments are usually effective, so see your doctor if you notice any symptoms.
Typical symptoms of thrush include:
Thrush is often caused by an overgrowth of candida in your vagina. Candida is a type of yeast.
It’s also thought that higher oestrogen levels can make women more likely to get thrush. Oestrogen increases the amount of sugar (glycogen) in your vagina, which creates a perfect environment for candida to grow and thrive.
Thrush is more likely to affect women who have periods, as they have higher levels of oestrogen. The condition is rare in girls who haven’t gone through puberty and in postmenopausal women (unless they are on oestrogen therapy).
You may also get thrush if you:
Many women think an itchy vulva might be thrush and treat it with an over-the-counter medicine from the pharmacy. But it’s important to see your doctor for an accurate diagnosis, especially if over-the-counter medicine doesn’t work.
When you see your doctor, they will ask about your symptoms and medical history. They should examine your vulva. They may also take a swab from your vagina (and vulva if it’s sore) and send it to a laboratory to see if candida is present.
Most cases of thrush are treated with an antifungal cream or a vaginal pessary (a tablet placed into your vagina) that contains clotrimazole, miconazole or nystatin. The cream or pessary is inserted into your vagina using a special applicator.
Treatment time can range from one to 6 days, depending on the product and severity of symptoms. Many women who have mild symptoms only need one to 3 days of treatment. Sometimes a second course of treatment is needed if symptoms return. It’s important to finish the full treatment – don’t stop when symptoms get better.
About 5% of women experience recurrent thrush. Recurrent thrush is when you have 4 or more episodes of thrush over 12 months. This is usually due to persistent infection rather than a new infection. But it may also be due to other health conditions, such as:
If you think you have recurrent thrush, it’s important to see your doctor. They should investigate if your thrush is caused by other underlying conditions. Depending on your situation, they might recommend:
When you have thrush, sex can cause a burning feeling or pain. If this happens, you might want to avoid sex until your treatment has finished.
If you use condoms during sex, apply the thrush treatment cream after sex, as it can weaken condoms.
Thrush is not a sexually transmitted infection (STI). But sexual activity can make symptoms worse, and it may cause a male sexual partner to have a red or sore penis.
It’s important to take extra care of your vulva and other affected areas when managing this condition. For example, wipe from front to back after going to the toilet, avoid using soap or talcum powder on your vulva, avoid tight-fitting clothes and wear cotton underpants.
Learn more about vulval care.
Untreated or recurring thrush can lead to ongoing vulval discomfort or pain during sex. It might also lead to cracks or splits (fissures) in your vulva, which may get infected.
Thrush symptoms can be like those of other vaginal or vulval conditions. You should see your doctor if:
Also see your doctor if:
This content has been reviewed by a group of medical subject matter experts, in accordance with Jean Hailes policy.
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