Think about Thrush: Are You at Risk of a Yeast Infection?

Thrush is a yeast infection that can affect the wellness of both men and women. Even though it’s not a sexually transmitted infection (STI), you still need to guard your sexual health against thrush, as it can still sometimes develop after you have sex. To do this, you need to know the causes, recognise the symptoms and make sure you get prompt treatment.

A fungus called Candida albicans is responsible for causing thrush. It usually lives inoffensively on your skin or in your mouth, gut and vagina, and harmless bacteria normally keep it under control. However, if conditions change and the yeast increases rapidly, this can cause the infection of thrush to occur. You are more likely to develop thrush if you are pregnant, wear tight clothing, such as jeans or nylon underwear (as this prevents natural ventilation), take certain antibiotics, are having chemotherapy, have uncontrolled diabetes, HIV or other illnesses that affect your immune system or use products that irritate the vagina, such as vaginal deodorant or bubble bath.

You might be worried that hormonal contraception could affect your wellbeing with thrush, but there is no evidence to support this. However, the infection can occasionally be passed on after vaginal, anal or any kind of oral sex, because intercourse can irritate the genital area, and partners can transfer the yeast to one another. Symptoms include irritation, soreness and redness around the genital area or anus, pain or discomfort when passing urine or having sex, and a thick or thin discharge, like cottage cheese, under the foreskin or from the vagina.

A test for thrush is free on the NHS from your GP, genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics or sexual health clinics, and a pharmacist can also give you one. This is the only way to be certain that you have the infection, and simply involves a painless swab of the genitals as well as an examination. If you’re sure you have thrush, treatment involves antifungal cream, pessaries, pills or a combination.

If left untreated, your body may fight it off naturally, but if you don’t have treatment, vaginal thrush may trigger inflammation of the urethra (urethritis) in a male partner. However, bear in mind that some antifungal treatments weaken condoms, diaphragms and caps, and if you think you might be pregnant or are pregnant, or if you’re breastfeeding, tell your doctor as this will affect the type of treatment you’re given.