Thrush (and I'm not talking about the bird!) (Thrush)

Member Name: Ophelia

Product:	Thrush
Date:	20/12/01 (321 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: None!

Disadvantages: Itching, soreness, discharge

THE INFECTION

Thrush is caused by a yeast (candida), which normally lives within the vagina. Sometimes the pH balanced of the vagina can be disturbed and the candida will increase resulting in a thrush infection.

This disturbance can be as a result of hormonal changes, poor health, antibiotics etc and action to take to avoid outbreaks will be examined below.

SYMPTOMS

The first think that will quickly become noticeable is the discomfort and itching. On closer examination redness and swelling of the vagina and vulva will be found and if you start wielding a mirror you will find a rather unsavoury white discharge.

AVOIDANCE

The following advice you are always given:

Wear cotton underwear and avoid tights, nylon knickers.

Wear loose clothing and avoid tight jeans etc.

Wash daily.

After going to the toilet wipe yourself from the front to back in order to avoid infection being spread from the bowel.

When menstruating ensure that you change your sanitary protection regularly.

No not use perfumed or coloured soaps, bath products etc (this is particularly important and gynaecologists state that 80% of gynaecological problems are caused by nice smelling bath products).

The following advice is not so easy to come across but if you are following all the above advice and still suffering, then the following drastic action should be taken:

Always, ALWAYS go to the loo after sexual intercourse – yes, even if it is the middle of the night! If you can manage it you should go to the loo both before and after – but quite frankly, who has the urine reserves for that?!

Avoid caffeine.

Drink cranberry juice every day (this is excellent for keeping the pH of your vagina correct). Concentrated cranberry pills can also be purchased from shops such as Holland and Barrett and I have found these highly effective in prevention.

>Wash your vaginal and rectal area after defecating.

When you urinate, ensure you have emptied your bladder. Then return to the loo two minutes later and try again to remove any last traces of urine. This is known as double micturation and is worth a try, although rather time consuming!

After you have had a bout of thrush ensure you wash your towel in order to avoid reinfection.

TREATMENTS

Cream. This is effective only in relieving the symptoms of the infection and will not cure it. This can be used in conjunction with one of the other treatments. It is also essential that your sexual partner uses the cream on the head of his penis. (Price £5).

Pessaries. Canesten produces pessary packs in either a one tablet or three tablet form. This contains the drug clotrimazole and is usually effective in treating the infection. This can be purchased over the counter. For further information on this product see my opinion (coming soon!) or one of the other dooyoo opinions in this category. (Price £5).

Oral tablet. Diflucan produces a single oral tablet, which is supposed to clear all fungus and yeasts from your system. Unfortunately this product is considerably more expensive than the others at £12 and in my experience is also not as effective.

Well, I hope this has been of help and remember….

Prevention is better than cure!

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