If you are a woman with an intensely itchy vagina you might be wondering if you have Thrush. Thrush is a condition caused by the overproduction of yeast in the body. It is caused by a fungal infection called Candida and it mainly affects women, though men and children can also develop thrush. In addition to itching, thrush symptoms include pain, redness of the vulva and a creamy white discharge.

Thrush symptoms can vary from mild to severe and some or all symptoms might be present. If you have any of these symptoms and have never been diagnosed as having Thrush before you should consult your Doctor for a proper diagnosis and to rule out other conditions.

What is Candida?

Candida is the name given to a group of fungal infections that are thought to exist inside the body causing little to no harm. But when there is an overproduction of these fungi it can result in Thrush and other minor health conditions such as headaches, digestive problems, tiredness, loss of energy etc.

What causes Candida to overproduce?

Certain foods especially those with a high sugar content are believed to increase the production of Candida and so they are best avoided if you find you have Thrush outbreaks often. Other culprits are yeast, mushrooms, vinegar, cheese and other dairy products.

Candida thrives in moist, warm areas which is why the vagina, mouth and groin area are the places most affected. Usually the body’s friendly bacteria will deter and prevent Candida from overproducing but if the conditions are ripe for it to multiply it can become severe enough to warrant treatment.

How to prevent Thrush

Some women experience Vaginal Thrush recurrently. If this is the case there are a variety of changes to diet and lifestyle that can be made to prevent or minimize outbreaks of Thrush.

Once Thrush has been diagnosed, the Doctor might prescribe vaginal pessaries, oral tablets and/or a vaginal cream. Each item works fairly quickly to eradicate this frustrating and uncomfortable condition. You can also buy certain remedies over the counter but you should only do so if it’s not your first outbreak and you know from a previous diagnosis that you do have Thrush.

Wearing cotton underwear and loose clothing can help prevent Thrush by allowing air to circulate freely around the groin area. Nylon tights should be avoided as they hold in the heat and allow Candida to flourish.

Candida can also develop in the vagina when the host’s immune system is low. This might be for a variety of medical health reasons, eating certain foods or taking antibiotics. These things can alter the bodies natural defence mechanisms making way for bacteria to develop.

Douching is not recommended as it can disrupt the body’s natural bacteria.

Taking a vitamin C supplement daily can help keep your immune system healthy making it harder for infections to develop.

Some people suggest live yoghurt inserted into the vagina, while others recommend adding vinegar or bicarbonate of soda to a bath to alter the acidity of the vagina.

There is not much scientific evidence to show that these natural remedies for Thrush work. But if you watch what you eat, exercise regularly, drink plenty of water, wear loose clothing, avoid sugary foods you are likely to suffer less than if you ignore all these simple preventative measures.