Thrush? Don't worry, you're not alone!
Common thrush myths
- Taking the contraceptive pill can cause thrush – Undecided. The jury is still out on this one, although there doesn't seem to be much evidence to suggest that using the pill can leave you more prone to thrush
- Thrush is a sexually transmitted disease – this one is very definitely false, even if your partner pulls a face when you tell them why sex is out of the question for a while. The yeast responsible for thrush is in our bodies, and women who are not sexually active get thrush too
- Thrush always causes a discharge – False. Contrary to popular belief, thrush doesn't always lead to the thick, white discharge that's commonly associated with it. Sometimes you just get itching, maybe some redness or slight swelling. Often, there is no discharge, or just a slight one
- Thrush is very smelly - False. If you have thrush you shouldn't notice any unpleasant odour at all. If there's anything, it will be a yeasty smell, and if there's any unpleasant smells at all, you probably haven't got thrush and should see the doctor
- Thrush can be prevented by douching the vagina – Definitely false. The vagina is self cleaning; vaginas do not need soaps or antiseptic solutions to keep them clean or fresh. In fact, over cleansing can lead to the opposite problem, as the chemicals can strip the body of natural bacteria and upset the acidity levels, which can leave you more prone to thrush in the first place
- Thrush can cause problems in pregnancy – False. If you get thrush when you are pregnant, it can't hurt your baby, as it can't spread to your uterus. Just make sure that you tell the pharmacist, so that you get the appropriate treatment for a pregnant woman
Summary
- Thrush is most definitely not a sexually transmitted disease
- Around 75% of women will suffer from thrush at least once in their lives
- It's unlikely that you will pass thrush on to a male sexual partner. But you do need to tell him that you have it
- See your doctor if it's your first experience of thrush, or if you've had it twice in the past six months
- Thrush is very easy to treat and nothing to be embarrassed about
References:
Reporting on a study conducted at Niigata University School of Medicine back in 1961, the Japanese Journal of Microbiology stated: the fungicidal effect of Caprylic acid on Candida Albicans was exceedingly powerful.
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