How on earth do you get rid of thrush?

Question

This has been driving me mad for about a year.

I've been to the doctor's and sexual health clinics many times, but they never find anything serious, thank God, they just diagnose the same thing and send me away with Canesten everytime, but it always comes back.

I'm careful not to wear tight-fitting jeans or use perfumed soaps and follow all that advice but it always comes back.

I'm at my wit's end!

Answer 1

Research a condition called "candidiasis" - it can cause chronic yeast infections and alot of other problems as well. One other thing, if you have sexual relations where the man is ejaculating inside of you, that could cause it at well. You can be allergic to the guy's sperm.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

See a different doctor. Have they taken swabs and sent them for analysis? Blood tests? If a woman between the ages of 16 and 60 gets thrush more than twice in 3 months then this suggests that there may be an underlying problem. Have they tested you for diabetes as this can also cause thrush as can antibiotics and some other medications.

Answer 4

I too had thrush forever, and after miserable years of spending loads on canesten only for it to recurr and only washing downstairs with aqueous cream (which helps a little, admittedly), I only recently discovered the miracle worker cure that got rid of it for me.

It is (ta da!) simple Acidophilus! Holland and Barratt and most health food shops will sell chewable strawberry flavour tablets of acidophilus. It's bacteria, basically, a more concentrated version of what's in those expensive probiotic yoghurt drinks, and it fights the yeast infection for you. Plus, they taste yummy.

Honest to God, I was constantly plagued until I tried this, and I'd recommend it any day! Had to share it so others could get the benefit of the find. A total life-saver.

Answer 5

Some women get thrush at every period due to the vaginal pH changes. If this is the case try using a pessary just at the onset of the period each month.

A more natural alternative is LIVE natural yogurt. As you period arrives by a pot, it must be live. Pop it in the fridge, make sure everyone knows it is yours! Twice a day during your period, dip a fresh tampon in the yogurt and insert in the usual way.

Live yogurt contains lactobacilli, the same bug that should live in your vagina. This but should fill 'all the space' and prevent colonisation with other organisms. If your body is failing to hang on to its lactobacilli this technique may keep them thriving.

Answer 6

Have you just tried the canestan cream, or did you try the pessaries as well? The pessaries are usually OK. You can try using natural yogurt "down there", it's something to do with the balance of bacteria. Do you wear cotton undies, not nylon? Do you avoid tights? Those are the only things I can think of that generally trigger thrush. Just thought, have you tried having an allergy test? Maybe something in your diet or lifestyle could be triggering it.

Answer 7

Try wearing cotton underwear only so you can breathe down there. Also try using live yogurt down there. A pharmacist also told me to try using olive oil down there everytime after taking a bath, haven't tried it yet but it's worth a try. Let us know how you get on.

Answer 8

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Answer 9

You need to sot your bowel bacteria out. I know it seems unlikely that they are connected but they are. you probably have an overgrowth of Candida Albicans. Go to a good colon hydrotherapist who will be able to sort you out with a Candida diet, a course of colonics and supplements.

Answer 10

Oral thrush is an infection caused by a yeast fungus (Candida albicans). Sometimes this infection is brought on after antibiotic use, as this changes the environment of the mouth, making it easy for overgrowth of yeast to occur. In addition, if a nursing mother is experiencing a yeast infection, thrush can be passed on to her baby. In this case, both mother and child should be treated simultaneously.
Symptoms of thrush for babies include white or yellowish raised spots on the sides of the mouth and on the tongue. Initially, these spots are painless, but they can quickly become irritated and lead to sore throat and mouth pain. It can also spread to the diaper area, causing redness and soreness. Your baby may also cry or seem irritated during feedings.

In nursing mothers, symptoms can include vaginal yeast infection, red sore nipples and a burning sensation in the nipples or breast after breastfeeding.

Thrush is usually diagnosed by sight, and most practitioners can even make a diagnosis over the phone based on your accurate description of symptoms. Occassionally a specimen taken from a tongue scraping may be necessary to rule out other illnesses if symptoms unrelated to thrush are present.

Treatment usually includes application of an antifungal like Nystatin applied several times daily to the inside of the mouth. Diflucan is also an effective treatment which may be prescribed by your physician and should be given as directed. If the diaper area is affected, Nystatin or Lotrimin (which is available without a prescription) work well here, too. Care should be taken to avoid wipes that may contain high amounts of alcohol which can perpetuate the conditions necessary for the growth of yeast.

If you are breastfeeding, it is important that any yeast infection be treated and special attention should be given to cleaning the nipples after each feeding. You can apply Nystatin or other specially-formulated creams, or you can apply gentian violet1 to your nipples 2-3 times daily. In addition, you may want to talk to a lactation consultant or La Leche League leader about making changes to your diet in order to return your body to a state where yeast overgrowth is prohibited. This often includes the addition of yogurt, buttermilk and acidophilus and the avoidance of sugars wherever possible.

To help treatment speed along and to prevent reinfection, it is also important that you clean all cups, bottles, nipples, pacifiers and other objects that your child has placed in his or her mouth on a daily basis for at least two weeks during treatment and until symptoms have disappeared. You can boil, bleach or just use the regular cycle on your dishwasher if the temperature of your hot water is above 125 degrees Fahrenheit.

If symptoms persist for more than a week without improvement, become worse, or if you or your child are experiencing continued pain even after a week of treatment, contact your health care provider immediately.