Thrush is one of the most commonly-treated conditions at The Fertility Support Company, with some women suffering from this problem for many years with little or no relief.
Thrush develops when the fungus candida albicans, which is often present in the vagina, grows and causes itching, irritation, discharge, redness, soreness and swelling of the vagina and vulva and a thick white vaginal discharge. The thrush fungus is found widely in nature and is frequently present in the mouth and the vagina but does not usually cause any symptoms as long as it is kept under control by the body’s immune system and the presence of bacteria that are normally found in the body which destroy the fungus.
These bacteria in the vagina can be destroyed killed as a result of changes in levels of female sex hormones which may occur during pregnancy, before periods or when taking the oral contraceptive pill, by taking antibiotics or using a spermicide. Without the bacteria to control its growth, the fungus can multiply very quickly leading to the symptoms of thrush. Vaginal thrush can also be caused by having sexual intercourse with a partner who has a candida infection.
A diagnosis of vaginal thrush is made initially from the vaginal discharge by your GP or an STD clinic. A GP may perform a pelvic examination and take a vaginal swab for examination. Diagnosis of oral thrush will involve the doctor examining the mouth and taking a swab to check for candida albicans. Drugs used to treat vaginal thrush are available from pharmacies without a prescription. The most commonly used drug is clotrimazole, which is inserted in the vagina either as a cream using an applicator or in the form of a pessary.
While many women will have a thrush infection at some point in their lives, some women can suffer from recurrent vaginal thrush. In these instances a doctor is likely to prescribe a drug to be taken orally, such as fluconazole. You can also buy a single dose tablet of fluconazole from the chemist, to treat vaginal candida and balanitis caused by candida.
There are also a number of self-help measures that a women suffering from recurrent thrush can take, such as:
- Washing the vaginal area with water only, avoiding the use of perfumed soaps, vaginal deodorants or douches.
- Avoiding using latex condoms, spermicidal creams and lubricants if they cause irritation.
- Changing tampons frequently or using sanitary towels.
- Wearing cotton underwear and loose-fitting clothes if possible.
Traditional Chinese Medicine and recurrent thrush
In Traditional Chinese Medicine terms, recurrent thrush indicates an underlying imbalance of Qi (energy) that needs to be addressed in order to break the cycle of continual “flare-ups”. Rather than just clearing the symptoms of thrush, Traditional Chinese Medicine treatments aim to rebalance the body in order that the problem does not recur.
Women with thrush commonly also have other symptoms of what Traditional Chinese Medicine terms “damp heat” and “spleen qi deficiency”. These are symptoms such as upset bowel or irregular bowel movements, bloating, excess flatulence, pale complexion, fatigue and aching limbs. Part of Traditional Chinese Medical diagnosis is examining a patient’s tongue and patients with these types of symptoms often have a thick white or yellow coating on their tongue which will disappear over the course of a treatment programme.
When offering Traditional Chinese Medicine treatments connected to recurrent thrush, Naava Carman may also refer patients for medical tests to identify sensitivities to certain foods and then to a nutritionist to assist in devising a balanced diet and food supplement programme aimed killing off candida and rebalancing the bacteria levels in the gut.
Traditional Chinese Medicine is a complementary therapy and the Fertility Support Company does not advocate it as an alternative to Western medicine. If you are in any doubt about your health or symptoms you are experiencing you should consult your doctor. The Fertility Support Company and its practitioners do not claim to “cure” thrush or any other ailment.
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