At least
three out of four women have experienced vaginal
thrush at some time or the other. Most have
recurring infections. Though not life threatening, it
can be an extremely unpleasant and distressing
disease.
Vaginal
thrush, also known as vaginal Candidiasis
or vaginitis, is caused by yeast called Candida
albicans. This yeast is a part of the normal flora of
the skin, mouth, digestive system, vagina and other
parts of the body. Its numbers are kept in check by
friendly bacteria. When certain conditions alter the
balance of the friendly bacteria, the Candida multiplies
exponentially and the overgrowth causes
symptoms.
Read more about cause
of yeast infection (thrush)
There are various precipitating
factors which lead to vaginal thrush. Vaginal thrush
normally follows a course of antibiotics, which kills
off the friendly bacteria, allowing the Candida to
flourish. Hormonal imbalances during pregnancy, before
periods, high doses of oral contraceptive pills have
known to cause vaginal thrush. Debilitating disorders
like diabetes and diseases like cancer or AIDS cause
Candidiasis. A compromised immune system is most
certainly an invitation for the Candida to cause
infection like vaginal thrush.
Though
it is not normally considered a sexually-transmitted
disease, sexual transference is known to occur. Lack of
personal hygiene, tight synthetic clothes, allergies
etc. is also an important cause of vaginal thrush.
Recurring vaginal thrush infections which do not respond
to treatment may be an early sign of diabetes or HIV
infection.
Early
symptoms of vaginal thrush include vaginal irritation,
itching, bright red rash affecting inner and outer parts
of the vulva, pain during urination, thick curd-like
discharge from the vagina, and painful intercourse.
Symptoms of vaginal thrush often mimic those of other
sexually-transmitted diseases, so it is recommended that
a medical practitioner make the diagnosis and draw up a
treatment plan.
Anti-fungal medications may be used
to manage vaginal thrush. Over-the-counter treatments
are available is the form of cream, tablets, and
pessaries. Single dose oral tablets are also available.
However, yeast infection medications and OTCs
may have side effects, most common of which are
nausea, allergies and rashes. Moreover, most
vaginal thrush medications are only work in the short
run. The reason is that vaginal yeast medications are
aimed at tackling the immediate causes of Candida,
whereas vaginal thrush is a complex condition,
triggered by an overall internal imbalance (or a set of
internal factors)
As there are many internal as well as external factors involved in the etiology of vaginal thrush, just the use of anti-fungal medications does not prevent recurrence. To ensure complete and permanent relief a holistic approach is recommended, which looks far beyond just curing the symptoms. A Candida cleanse diet, use of probiotics, life-style changes all go into making the treatment of vaginal thrush successful.
