Thrush & Your VaginaThrush & Your Vagina

Facts & MisconceptionsFacts & Misconceptions

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Your vaginaYour vagina

• Your vagina naturally contains Your vagina naturally contains several bacteria strains and one or several bacteria strains and one or more yeast (fungus) strains that more yeast (fungus) strains that live in harmonylive in harmony

• Sometimes women experience Sometimes women experience uncomfortable symptoms, which uncomfortable symptoms, which indicate that something is wrongindicate that something is wrong

Common symptomsCommon symptoms

• Itching (pruritus)Itching (pruritus)• DischargeDischarge• Burning sensation during urinationBurning sensation during urination• Discomfort during sexDiscomfort during sex• Rash on outer lips of the vaginaRash on outer lips of the vagina• SorenessSoreness• DrynessDryness

Why are there symptoms?Why are there symptoms?

• Symptoms are caused by infections Symptoms are caused by infections or other factors that affect the walls or other factors that affect the walls of the vagina leading to of the vagina leading to inflammation: a condition known as inflammation: a condition known as vaginitisvaginitis

• Inflammation is the body’s response Inflammation is the body’s response to deal with the infection and repair to deal with the infection and repair any damage that is causedany damage that is caused

Infections causing Infections causing vaginitisvaginitis

• ThrushThrush – Fungal (Vulvovaginal Candidiasis)Fungal (Vulvovaginal Candidiasis)– In Europe, this is the major cause of vaginitisIn Europe, this is the major cause of vaginitis

• BVBV – Bacterial (Bacterial Vaginosis)Bacterial (Bacterial Vaginosis)– In Europe, this is the second most common cause – it is the major In Europe, this is the second most common cause – it is the major

cause in the US cause in the US

• TrichomonasTrichomonas– Parasitic (Trichomoniasis)Parasitic (Trichomoniasis)– In Europe and the US, this causes symptoms the leastIn Europe and the US, this causes symptoms the least

• Sometimes vaginitis can be caused by more than one Sometimes vaginitis can be caused by more than one infectioninfection

Other causesOther causes

• Steroid creamsSteroid creams

• DouchingDouching

• Chemical irritationChemical irritation

• ContraceptivesContraceptives

• Increased humidity (e.g. during summer)Increased humidity (e.g. during summer)

Misconceptions & bad Misconceptions & bad habitshabits

• Women confuse thrush with: Women confuse thrush with: – other vaginal infections and causes of vaginitis other vaginal infections and causes of vaginitis

(vaginal inflammation)(vaginal inflammation)– other conditions such as bladder infections (Cystitis) other conditions such as bladder infections (Cystitis) – other problems, such as sexually transmitted other problems, such as sexually transmitted

infections, not relating to vaginitisinfections, not relating to vaginitis

• Most women: Most women: – assume they have thrush assume they have thrush – buy thrush treatment without knowing what is wrongbuy thrush treatment without knowing what is wrong– do not have thrush in the first placedo not have thrush in the first place

Misconceptions & bad Misconceptions & bad habitshabits

• Many women: Many women: – do not complete the full course of treatment, which can do not complete the full course of treatment, which can

increase resistance of the fungus to medicationincrease resistance of the fungus to medication

• A culture of treating before testing has emerged: A culture of treating before testing has emerged: – unfortunately, medical professionals promote this unfortunately, medical professionals promote this

behaviourbehaviour– patients and professionals don’t tacklepatients and professionals don’t tackle thrush properlythrush properly– women can take the incorrect treatment several times women can take the incorrect treatment several times

leading to recurrent infectionleading to recurrent infection– misuse of medication promotes resistancemisuse of medication promotes resistance

Key facts in womenKey facts in women

• 3/4 get thrush once in their lifetime3/4 get thrush once in their lifetime• 3/8 get thrush twice in their lifetime3/8 get thrush twice in their lifetime• 1/20 have at least 4 episodes of thrush 1/20 have at least 4 episodes of thrush

every yearevery year• 1/100 have it almost continuously1/100 have it almost continuously• Recurrence of thrush may indicate Recurrence of thrush may indicate

diabetesdiabetes• Thrush and other vaginal infections Thrush and other vaginal infections

increase during pregnancyincrease during pregnancy

Other factsOther facts

• Up to 2/3 women who buy treatment don’t have Up to 2/3 women who buy treatment don’t have thrushthrush

• Healthcare professionals and individuals cannot Healthcare professionals and individuals cannot diagnose this condition based on symptoms diagnose this condition based on symptoms alone alone

• The only way to know is to use a medical test The only way to know is to use a medical test (UK: available online or at a GUM/STI clinic)(UK: available online or at a GUM/STI clinic)

• Other causes require different treatment or Other causes require different treatment or action to be takenaction to be taken

• Misuse of thrush medication promotes the Misuse of thrush medication promotes the survival of treatment-resistant fungal species survival of treatment-resistant fungal species and other health complicationsand other health complications

What do youWhat do you do if you do if you have symptoms?have symptoms?

• Obtain an accurate diagnosis either by using Obtain an accurate diagnosis either by using a home self-test or visitinga home self-test or visiting a GUM/STI clinica GUM/STI clinic

• If you are thrush positive then proceed with If you are thrush positive then proceed with thrush treatmentthrush treatment

• Treatment can be bought online or from a Treatment can be bought online or from a pharmacy pharmacy

• A thrush negative result means avoid thrush A thrush negative result means avoid thrush treatment and seek proper medical advicetreatment and seek proper medical advice

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10-minute home self-tests 10-minute home self-tests are now available – click are now available – click

the link belowthe link below

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Yeast Infection Test (Home Self-Test Kit)