Vaginal thrush is a common yeast infection in women. It’s also known as genital thrush or vulvovaginal thrush.
It’s usually harmless but it can be uncomfortable and keep coming back. Thrush is not a sexually transmitted infection (STI).
If you are pregnant, you have a higher risk of getting thrush.
Symptoms
Symptoms of vaginal thrush in women include:
- thick, white vaginal discharge (often like cottage cheese), which does not usually smell
- red, cracked and inflamed skin on your vagina and vulva
- pain when you pee
- pain during sex
Thrush in other areas
Thrush can affect other areas of your skin, such as your armpits, groin and between your fingers.
This usually causes a red, itchy or painful rash that scales over with white or yellow discharge. The rash may not be so obvious on brown or black skin.
Sometimes thrush causes no symptoms at all.
How a pharmacist can help with thrush
You can buy some antifungal creams and pessaries from a pharmacist without a prescription.
Ask your pharmacist to recommend the best treatment for you. It's OK to ask to speak with them in a private area if you prefer.
A pharmacist can also prescribe antifungal capsules and tablets, through the Common Conditions Service. There is a charge for this consultation and treatment service.
Do not use antifungal medicine more than twice in 6 months without speaking to a pharmacist or GP.
If thrush keeps coming back your pharmacist may advise you to see your GP.
Non-urgent advice: Contact a GP if you have:
- abnormal or irregular bleeding from your vagina, or bloody or smelly discharge
- sores, ulcers or blisters on or around your vagina
- symptoms of thrush for the first time
- thrush and are under age 16 or over age 61
- symptoms after using a pessary or vaginal capsule for 7 days or cream for 14 days
- thrush and are pregnant
- thrush and a weakened immune system – for example, because of diabetes, HIV or chemotherapy
You may also be able to get help from a sexual health clinic if you think you have thrush.
Find a sexual health clinic - sexualwellbeing.ie
How a GP can help with thrush
The GP will want to confirm it's thrush and rule out other infections.
They will ask you about your symptoms.
If it's not clear it's thrush or if you have thrush that keeps coming back:
- a GP or nurse may look at your vagina or skin and take a sample
- they might use a speculum - a device that is put into your vagina to open your cervix
- the sample will be sent to a lab to be tested
This test does not usually hurt. But it can be uncomfortable.
Treatment
You'll usually need antifungal medicine to get rid of thrush.
This can be a:
- capsule or tablet you take
- tablet or soft vaginal capsule you insert into your vagina (pessary)
- cream to relieve the irritation
Thrush should clear up within 7 to 14 days of starting treatment.
You do not need to treat partners unless they have symptoms.
Thrush that comes back
You might need to take treatment for longer (up to 6 months) if you keep getting thrush. For example, if you get it more than 4 times in 12 months.
Before you begin treatment, a GP can help identify if something is causing your thrush, for example your period or sex.
They'll recommend how often you should use treatment.
Things you can do
There are things you can do to ease thrush and stop it coming back.
Do
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use water and an emollient instead of soap to wash the affected area
-
change out of damp swimwear or sweaty sports gear as soon as possible
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pat your vagina and vulva dry with a clean towel after washing
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use condoms during sex to stop the thrush spreading to your partner
-
wear cotton underwear
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avoid sex until thrush has cleared up (if sex is uncomfortable)
Don't
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do not use perfumed soaps, shower gels, panty liners or sanitary pads
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do not use douches or deodorants on your vagina
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do not wear tight underwear or tights
Important
Antifungal creams, pessaries and soft vaginal capsules can damage condoms and diaphragms. If you have sex during treatment, this means your contraception might not work.
What causes thrush
Thrush is not classed as a sexually transmitted infection (STI). But it can be triggered by sex or passed on during sex.
Thrush is caused by a fungus called candida that is normally harmless.
Thrush tends to grow in warm, moist conditions and develops if the balance of bacteria changes.
This can happen if:
- your skin is irritated or damaged
- you're taking antibiotics
- you have poorly controlled diabetes
- you have a weakened immune system (for example, because of HIV or chemotherapy)
- you're having hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
- you're pregnant
Thrush in pregnancy
You have a higher risk of getting thrush during pregnancy. But it will not harm your baby.
If you are pregnant, go to your GP if you think you have thrush. Your GP may need to examine you. You may need a test to see if you have thrush.