Thick yellow or white vaginal discharge is the first sign of thrush in women. They are accompanied by itching, which intensifies in water and heat.
During the illness, a rash and redness appears. The genitals become swollen, urination and intimacy with a partner are accompanied by painful sensations.
Thrush appears with weakened immunity or a disturbed hormonal background. Infection can affect the internal organs of a person. This causes changes in their functions.
Symptoms are different for everyone. It is known that there is an asymptomatic course of the disease.
Causes of the disease
In some cases, the disease develops due to a disturbed anatomical structure of the genital organs. In other cases, the appearance of thrush depends on the physiological characteristics of the woman. Hormonal changes, metabolic acidosis, glycemia can provoke the disease.
Factors that provoke thrush:
- Dysbacteriosis. With vaginal thrush, microbial balance in the intestines and external genital organs is disturbed. The quality of lactobacilli decreases and yeast-like fungi develop;
- Imbalance of hormonal balance leads to a decrease in immunity. The mechanism of stimulation of the fungus becomes complex and diverse;
- An allergic reaction. If the disease does not go away for a long time, allergies can become the main cause of the disease. Women who are allergic to pollen are prone to candidiasis. In this case, you need to contact not only the gynecologist, but also the allergist;
- Violation of the barrier functions of the body. The appearance of yeast-like fungi can be affected by pregnancy, menstruation, endocrine diseases, metabolic disorders, chronic infections, taking contraceptives, antibiotics or steroids. During these periods, the acid balance of the vagina changes. Bacteria still grow with increased moisture in the vagina and irritation inside it.
The danger and consequences of candidiasis
Fear of chronic thrush is necessary for women prone to dysbiosis, impaired immune or hormonal systems. An inadequate reaction of the body can be with increased sensitivity to fungi. Being a concomitant disease, candida can complicate the clinical picture of the underlying.
How can I get thrush
Candidiasis can be triggered by the ingestion of a large number of fungi from a sick man. Unprotected intercourse increases the risk of contracting thrush. This is proved by the statistics of visits to doctors.
Laboratory research data showed that when a non-specific candida enters the woman’s vagina, the development of the disease is also provoked.
The cause of thrush in women can be the self-transmission of the pathogen from the intestine. This is the cause of candidiasis even in young girls and mature women who are not sexually active.
Thrush is considered a simple disease, but requires treatment. Running a disease will lead to complications. A medical course of treatment under the supervision of a doctor lasts about two weeks, and arrogance and inaction will lead to long-term treatment in the future.
Forms and varieties of candidiasis
Candidatehood. With this form of manifestation, treatment is not required. Carriage is determined by taking a smear during a gynecological examination. At this time, the body is dominated by sticks that produce lactic acid – lactobacilli, and candida appear in small quantities.
Acute candidiasis. This form is manifested by characteristic features. Genital mucous membranes turn red (hyperemic). Swelling, friability, thin vesicles around the clitoris, labia and vestibule appear. Grayish-white films form in the folds, which are easily removed with a swab. Mandatory presence of thick cheesy discharge.
Chronic candidiasis is characterized by recurrent manifestations of the disease. Sometimes it is difficult to cure the disease and the struggle for health lasts several years. In some women, the disease affects the inguinal folds and perineum. The mucous membranes of the genitals turn red, white films appear. The labia thickens. Cracks may appear. The manifestation of itching and burning depends on the menstrual cycle.
Does thrush prevent pregnancy
In the absence of complications, thrush does not affect the reproductive organs. You can get pregnant in this case. If there is a thrush during pregnancy and there are any difficulties, a woman should come to a consultation with a treating gynecologist.
Expectant mothers should beware of candidiasis. In these women, the disease manifests itself 2-3 times more often. A high level of hormones of the future mother changes the microflora of the vagina. She’s getting more acidic. Also, the immunity and activity of leukocytes is reduced, which serves as a favorable soil for the development of the fungus.
The causative agent in most cases affects only the umbilical cord. But there is a risk of penetration into the mucous membrane of the mouth, bronchopulmonary system and on the skin. With severe infection, severe complications and death of the child will occur.
The insidiousness of the disease is that many drugs only mask the symptoms of the disease. The infection continues to harm the body, adhesions occur, pain appears. Adhesions can harm the process of bearing a child and the health of a woman.
If the thrush during pregnancy has not caused much harm, there remains a risk of infection of the baby during childbirth. It’s easy to find out. In the tongue of the newborn, bubbles or plaque on the gums appear. In this case, the doctor should prescribe a course of treatment for the child. But it is better to avoid this by treating candidiasis before pregnancy.
What are the ways to treat candidiasis
Candidiasis is treated by various methods. Systemic therapy involves taking the tablets inside. They act directly in the intestine, then are absorbed into the bloodstream and penetrate into all organs and tissues of the body.
Antifungal drugs are widely used:
- polyenes – nystatin, levorin, pimafucin;
- imidazoles – clotrimazole, nizoral, gyno-pevaryl;
- triazoles – fluconazole, orungal.
Also in medical practice, combined drugs are used. They contain active substances from different groups.
Local therapy consists in the use of creams, suppositories, vaginal tablets. It is acceptable in the early stages, provided there are no relapses. When the first symptom appears, local therapy can easily cope with the disease. It will help to avoid long-term treatment.
During treatment, it is necessary to observe sexual rest for 2-3 weeks. Oral contraceptives should also be excluded. Ideally, a partner is treated. If necessary, treatment for dysbiosis is prescribed. After the full course, you need to wait for the menstruation and immediately after its completion pass a new smear.
Features of local treatment
Suppositories and ointments have a quick effect on the affected area. New generation drugs can eradicate symptoms in the first day. Of the shortcomings, it should be noted that the procedure is duplicated over time, a negative effect on the liver, greasy stains on linen.
The introduction of drugs should be deep. After the procedure, you need to lie down for at least 30 minutes, and it is best to use candles before bedtime. It will be useful to refuse flour and sweets, following an easy diet. Intimate hygiene for the period of treatment should be carried out with ordinary soap. Lingerie should choose a loose, soft, natural fabric.
In addition to drugs, treatment of thrush in women can be carried out with alternative medicines.
Help traditional medicine in the fight against candidiasis
Traditional medicine offers various douching solutions, homemade candles and ointments. Prepare medicines from herbs, roots and leaves of plants.
Onion and garlic
Treatment of thrush at home can be done with volatile onions and garlic. They are able to stop the growth of fungi. To prepare the medicine, grate 3 onions until gruel forms.
Separate the juice and mix it with freshly squeezed lemon or orange juice in equal proportions. Put there 5 tbsp. honey and mix everything thoroughly. Take a mixture of 1 tbsp. 4 times a day.
Another potion can be made from garlic. Take 10 tbsp. chopped black currants. Place it in a small saucepan and pour 6 tbsp. boiling water. Let it brew for 15 minutes. Next, put a pot of leaves on the fire.
At this time, prepare 10 cloves of garlic. Pass them through the press. Keep the mixture on fire for another 5 minutes. Turn off the stove, cool the mixture. When the broth reaches room temperature, add the juice of squeezed lemon into it. All strain, take 100 g several times a day.
Wormwood root
An excellent remedy for thrush is a decoction of wormwood roots. For cooking, you need to add 20 g of wormwood roots to 200 ml of boiling water. Drink a decoction of 1 tbsp. thrice a day.
Calendula tincture
Tincture is used to rinse, douching, enema. It is prepared from 25 g of inflorescences, which are filled with 100 g of alcohol. The solution for the procedure is made from 1 tsp. tinctures for 1 tbsp of water.
A good collection of herbs can be prepared for douching. Harvest herbs yourself if you know you are prone to candidiasis. Or purchase them individually at the pharmacy and collect.
To do this, you will need herbs in equal parts:
- St. John’s wort
- Oak bark;
- yarrow;
- sage leaf;
- rosemary leaf.
Mix herbs, fill them with 3 liters of water. Boil for half an hour. Douching with such a decoction should be done twice a day until complete recovery.
Carrots are an effective medicine for thrush. Fresh carrot juice is needed for daily douching. If you regularly drink carrot juice, this will help avoid the occurrence of such an unpleasant disease.
What preventative measures exist
In order to avoid the appearance of candidiasis, you should monitor the state of women’s health from a young age. Every young girl needs to temper her body, perform physical exercises, and cultivate cleanliness in herself.
Adult women should be more attentive to their own health. Timely visit the gynecologist, monitor the condition and quality of clothing, underwear.
Limiting oral forms of sex will be helpful. All the fair sex need to limit themselves from sweets and flour products.
Remember that no matter what you buy funds for thrush, without personal hygiene, all efforts will be in vain. Refuse synthetic underwear, scented pads and intimate sprays, less often wear leggings, tights. After hygiene procedures, change into dry clothes. Do not buy colored toilet paper. All this can cause a fungal infection.
This material is for informational purposes only, before using the information provided it is necessary to consult with a specialist.
