Thrush in women: symptoms, causes, treatment. Thrush (candidiasis in women). Symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatment of thrush Thrush in women causes treatment

There is hardly a person who has never heard of such a disease as thrush. Most of the fair sex have personally encountered this problem. The disease is different for everyone. The mild form of the disease does not bring tangible discomfort, and complex, advanced cases require long-term treatment.

Thrush is ...

What is thrush in women? Thrush is a fungal disease caused by yeast-like fungi of the genus Candida. Microorganisms of the Candida species are present in the human body on an ongoing basis. It is one of the components of the intestinal microflora, skin, mouth and vagina.

Fungi of the genus Candida albicans is involved in maintaining the optimal pH balance of the reproductive organs and has a major influence on the fertilization process.

The sign of the disease is not the very presence of bacteria of this type in the body, but their excessive reproduction.

The microflora of the vaginal mucosa is an army of protection against the possible development of a number of infectious diseases. Immunity controls the optimal ratio of symbionts, timely suppressing the dominance of any type of microorganisms. However, for a number of reasons, an imbalance is likely to occur, contributing to the active reproduction of one of the types of bacteria.

Thrush in women carries the medical term candidal colpitis and is a gynecological disease. It is manifested by itching, burning and specific discharge in the genital area.

In the common people, vaginal candidiasis was called thrush by association with milk. Discharge during an exacerbation of the disease becomes abundant, has a whitish tint and is interspersed with lumps that visually resemble a curdled mass.

Causes of vaginal candidiasis

Nature created the human body as a self-regulating system. But the delicate balance is easy to upset. What can serve as an impetus for the development of thrush?

The leader in the list of causes of vaginal candidiasis is drug treatment. Taking antibiotics during a therapeutic course can affect the state of the microflora and provoke the development of thrush. Antibiotics are used to treat serious diseases, prevent the development of complications, so they cannot be abandoned. Medicines of this series act selectively on a certain type of microbes and are capable of disrupting the microflora of the vagina in favor of candida fungi.

Another reason is the weakening of the body's defenses. Immunity is a natural defense of a person. The self-regulating system in most cases successfully resists pathogenic microbes. But under unfavorable circumstances, the level of immune protection decreases, and conditions are created for the development of thrush.

Metabolic disorders lead to the development of systemic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus. Endocrine disease is characterized not only by an increase in sugar levels in the human body, but also by a violation of fat and protein metabolic processes. Candida albicans finds itself in a sweet, carbohydrate-rich environment favorable for its development, which contributes to the onset of thrush.

The hormonal background in women is not stable. This is due to your menstrual cycle, birth control pills, or pregnancy. Hormonal surges destabilize the genital microflora and can contribute to the development of candidiasis.

Power supply errors. While a person is healthy, he does not think about a balanced diet, preferring tasty, but not always healthy products. Girls and women who are fond of sweet and flour products, fans of confectionery, lovers of sugary carbonated drinks are at risk. If the pancreas can no longer cope with excess sugar, conditions are favorable for the development of thrush.

Violation of hygiene standards: the constant use of tight synthetic underwear, not timely change of sanitary napkins create greenhouse conditions in intimate places. Heat and moisture (thermos effect) are optimal conditions for the active development of the fungus.

How thrush manifests itself in women: symptoms, nuances, features

Vaginal candidiasis is easily diagnosed by doctors. Self-medication is not advisable. If you experience discomfort in the vaginal area, you should pay a visit to the gynecologist.

Vaginal candidiasis is manifested by unpleasant tactile sensations (dryness, burning, itching), visual changes are noticeable (traces on linen, a change in the color of the mucous membrane), a change in the smell of secretions.

Thrush has pronounced symptoms in women. The first signs of the disease are characterized by cheesy or more intense than usual white discharge (see photo).

Discomfort in the vagina is manifested by a feeling of itching and burning. The unpleasant sensations are worse when urinating. The disturbed microflora does not provide full protection of the mucous membrane, and the inflamed receptors actively respond to aggressive fluid.

When having intercourse, unpleasant sensations also arise: dryness, burning, itching. You can return to a full sexual life only after a complete cure.

A change in the smell of discharge is also an alarming signal. With thrush, a woman feels a sour smell, reminiscent of kefir. The emotional aspect of the problem lies in the fact that the patient thinks that everyone can smell this smell. In fact, except for the sick woman, no one notices him.

Unpleasant tactile sensations intensify when throwing your legs over your legs, increasing physical activity, swimming in a pond, taking a warm bath.

The symptoms of thrush in women are manifested with varying intensity. With a mild course of the disease, manifestations may be mild or manifest as only one of the signs. Chronic thrush can poison a woman's life. Its symptoms appear vividly, and the treatment takes a long time, for several months in a row. It is necessary to maintain close contact with the attending physician and undergo additional examination at each stage of treatment.

Candidiasis can manifest itself as an independent disease, or be a side effect of sexually transmitted infections.

What should not be done with thrush?

A woman experiences itching in the vagina with thrush. In such a situation, it is quite natural to want to scratch. Should not be doing that. The inflamed epithelium is easy to injure. The infection will gain access to the deep layers of cellular tissue. As a result, the affected area will expand and the itching and discharge will intensify.

Self-diagnosis and treatment should not be performed. The diagnosis can be made incorrectly and lead to disastrous results, and the treatment of thrush with home remedies is permissible only after consultation with the attending physician.

How to treat thrush: examination, diagnosis, technique

When should you be on your guard? The primary signs of thrush make a woman wary. Acute burning and itching appear simultaneously with redness of the vaginal mucosa. The intensity of the discharge changes upward. The color of the secreted mucus is white, often interspersed with small white pellets. Urination is uncomfortable. Sexual intercourse is accompanied by painful sensations. Symptoms may worsen before menstruation begins.

If burning and itching interfere with sleep, taking a warm bath aggravates the symptoms and mucous discharge appears - it's time to see a doctor.

Thrush is treated by a gynecologist. For a correct diagnosis, the doctor needs a complete picture of the disease. The patient must be ready to answer all the doctor's questions and reliably describe her feelings. Visual examination will complement the clinical picture. And a laboratory examination of a smear will fully reveal the range of problems.

What questions can a specialist ask?

What's worried about? All symptoms should be described in detail. The patient cannot independently determine what is important and what is secondary.

It is necessary to inform the time of the appearance of the first signs of the disease, to describe the dynamics of the development of the disease. How symptoms have changed over time. Describe the nature of the discharge: color, odor, consistency, intensity. Thrush is not the case when you need to wash yourself before going to the doctor. You can show the doctor a pad with secretions.

At what moments, and for what reasons, does the relief come, and when does the deterioration occur?

Has something like this happened before? Have you had sexually transmitted diseases before?

Has douching ever been used?

Thrush in women has pronounced symptoms of the disease, without knowing the reasons for the development of the disease and treatment, any woman from this can panic.

Thrush is a very common vaginal candidiasis. Caused by the yeast-like fungi Sandida.

Thrush is spoken of as a disease of megacities, which is not surprising. We are accustomed to doing everything on the go, we always have no time, much less to be treated.

We are self-medicating, and do not finish it. As a result, we start the disease, which leads to a change in the microflora of the vaginal mucosa and, as a result, thrush.

Candidiasis also affects the mucous membranes of the respiratory system, there is thrush in the mouth, it affects the skin, the nervous and digestive systems of a person.

Every person has Candida fungi on their skin and this is the norm. But with the development of the disease, they begin to multiply vigorously, which leads to the appearance of thrush.

Thrush is a common companion of pregnancy, especially in primiparas due to changes in hormonal levels.

Causes of thrush in women:

1. Insufficient or excessive hygiene, it is not necessary to douche or wash the vagina under a strong pressure of water without the need and testimony of a doctor.
2. Every day pads need to be changed after 4 hours. If you change them less often. Then, when worn for many hours, there is a favorable environment for growing
   that mushrooms.
3. Wearing thongs and heavy synthetic underwear creates a favorable environment for candida to breed.
4. Taking antibiotics without the need, they, together with the pathogenic microflora, destroy the beneficial flora, there is a shift towards the alkaline side and the processes of vaginal self-cleaning are disrupted and thrush develops.
5. ... Drinking alcoholic beverages.
6. Due to frequent colds, immunity decreases. And thrush appears, so establish proper vitamin nutrition and take vitamin preparations in courses, especially in winter.
7. Diabetes mellitus and other endocrine diseases.
8. , pregnancy, menstruation, intrauterine device are provocateurs of the development of thrush due to hormonal changes in the body
9. Constant overwork.
10. Hypothermia, colds.
11. Infectious diseases.
12. Allergic reactions.

Try to have a proven sexual partner and have protected sex. Treat inflammatory diseases of the female reproductive system in time. Get tested and treated for genital herpes.

The first symptoms of thrush:

• White curdled vaginal discharge.
• White plaque on the mucous membrane of the external genital organs.
• swelling in the vagina, irritation.
• Painful sensations during urination and intercourse.

The name of the drug.	Release form.	Reception method.	Dosage.	The duration of the course of treatment.
Fluconazole.	Pills or capsules from 50 to 150 mg. Candles 150 mg. Ointment.	Orally. Vaginally. Outwardly.	150 mg once for primary disease. 150 mg every 3 days for secondary development	With secondary thrush, 2 weeks.
Flucostat.	Capsules 50 and 150 mg.	Orally.	150 mg once for medicinal purposes and 150 mg once a month for prophylaxis.	Prevention 4-12 months.
Diflucan.	Capsules from 50 to 150 mg.	Orally.	Single dose 150 mg. for treatment and 150 mg. once a month, prevention.	Prevention 4-12 months.
Miramistin.	Spray. Ointment. Solution.	Douching. Outwardly. Vaginally (a swab moistened with a solution).	Once a day.	7 days.
Pimafucin.	Tablets 100 mg. Candles 100 mg. Ointment 20 mg.	Orally. Vaginally. Outwardly.	1 piece 4 times a day. Once a day. Up to 4 times a day.	10-20 days. 3-6 days. Until symptoms are eliminated.
Clotrimazole.	Ointment 10 mg.	Outwardly.	Up to 3 times a day.	4 weeks.
Sodium tetraborate	Solution.	The swab is moistened vaginally.	Twice a day for 30 minutes.	7 days.
Gino-Pevaril	Candles	Vaginally.	Once every 3-5 days.	Two courses with a break per week.
Kandiston.	Spray.	Vaginally.	3 times a day.	7 days.

Untreated or untreated thrush can cause complications:

• Damage to the cervix, precancerous diseases may develop.
• The infection spreads to all organs of the genitourinary system.
• The defeat of large areas of the skin and mucous membranes.
• The transition of the disease to a chronic form with frequent relapses (exacerbations).

Name of products.	Can.	It is forbidden.
Bakery products.	Bread without yeast made from wholemeal flour.	Pastries, sweet pastries, fresh bread made from white flour.
Beverages	Freshly squeezed vegetable and fruit juices.	Canned juices, alcoholic drinks, beer.
Fruits and berries.	Oranges, grapefruits, apples, lingonberries, kiwi, blueberries, strawberries, currants, gooseberries, etc.	Peaches, grapes, dried fruits, bananas, dates, figs.
Vegetables.	All vegetables.	Steamed or raw.
Fish and seafood.	Pike perch, pike, flounder, cod, mullet, bream, river perch, crayfish and molluscs.	Salmon, halibut, mackerel, cod liver.
Meat.	Turkey, veal, chicken, lean pork.	Fatty pork, offal, lamb.
Sauces, spices, condiments.	Hot chili peppers, bay leaves, cinnamon, garlic, cloves.	Ketchup, vinegar, mayonnaise, soy sauce, mustard.

Drink vitamins C, A, E, and especially group B to restore metabolism in your nervous system.

1. Live yogurt: to get rid of itching, use tampons moistened with live yogurt, insert into the vagina further away for at least one hour.
2. Pharmaceutical camomile: take 2 tablespoons of chamomile pharmacy, pour a glass of boiling water, leave for 30 minutes, add 500 ml of warm boiled water and douche,
3. Calendula: you can use 1 teaspoon of calendula tincture, diluted in a glass of warm boiled water.
4. Eucalyptus: take 3 tablespoons of eucalyptus leaves. Pour a glass of boiling water, leave for 30 minutes, strain and dilute with one liter of water, use for douching.
5. Soda: the best and fastest folk remedy for thrush in women is soda: one tablespoon of baking soda is dissolved in one liter of warm boiled water. Then add one teaspoon of iodine tincture. Pour into a small bowl and sit in it for 15 minutes. For a complete cure, 2-3 times are enough.

Today we tried to figure out where the thrush comes from:

• Her symptoms.
• Reasons for the appearance.
• Thrush treatment.
• Prevention.

Please, be more attentive to your health, get treatment on time, because health cannot be assessed.

Watch the video to help you, thrush treatment:

Update: December 2018

Vaginal candidiasis in women, the so-called thrush, is an inflammation of the vaginal mucosa due to the growth of colonies of yeast fungi of the genus Candida.

Taking antibiotics, inappropriate nutrition, hormonal disruptions, a decrease in the body's defenses after serious illness or against the background of prolonged stress or overwork, hygiene disorders - are.

Symptoms of the disease can be either bright, intense, or absent or subtle. If the diagnosis and treatment of thrush is not carried out in a timely manner, then the disease becomes chronic, often recurrent, causing severe discomfort, soreness, which significantly worsens the woman's well-being.

Signs of thrush in women

Since thrush is often asymptomatic, and it often accompanies other gynecological diseases, including latent sexually transmitted infections, you should contact a qualified specialist to establish the correct diagnosis. With the intensive reproduction of pathogenic fungal agents, a pronounced thrush occurs in women, the symptoms of which are quite typical:

• One of the signs of thrush in women is itching and burning in the vagina and in the external genital area. An internal burning sensation is especially intense when a woman sits cross-legged, this is one of the tests for thrush ().
• At the same time, the volume of secretions increases, they become white with a sour smell, but there may be no smell.
• For thrush, the heterogeneity of the consistency of the discharge is characteristic, they take the form of small lumps, similar to particles of cottage cheese, as they say, of a curd consistency, hence the name of vaginal candidiasis - thrush.
• Many women who have candidiasis complain of an increase in the volume of discharge at night, after various water procedures or after intercourse.
• A common symptom of thrush in women is redness and swelling of the labia majora, extending to the anus.

• Inflammation, burning, itching, swelling of the vaginal mucosa provoke soreness during intercourse.
• For the same reason, pain can occur when urinating.
• It is not uncommon for an erased course of candidiasis to occur, when the symptoms of thrush in women are mild and only one of the listed symptoms may disturb.
• Thrush in women often goes away on its own during menstruation, since the microflora of the vagina becomes more alkaline, unfavorable for fungi.
• The situation becomes more serious if the disease becomes chronic. Recurrence occurs more than 4 times a year, appearing, as a rule, a week before menstruation.
• Often, recurrent thrush is more difficult to treat and leads to complications when the intestines, bladder and other organs and tissues are involved in the pathological process.
• Not infrequently, thrush accompanies other infectious diseases, such as genital herpes, ureaplasmosis, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, etc.

The table shows a comparative characteristic of some symptoms of thrush, trichomoniasis and bacterial vaginitis (gardnerellosis -). These are only the most characteristic symptoms that should not be considered as a diagnosis at all. Even the most experienced doctor, only on the basis of complaints and examination, cannot exclude the presence of other genital infections in a woman, which often accompany thrush, therefore self-diagnosis and self-medication are unacceptable. Only the attending gynecologist should diagnose vaginal candidiasis and prescribe treatment.

	Thrush	Bacterial vaginitis	Trichomoniasis
smell	sourish	the discharge has a fishy smell	unpleasant fishy smell
excretions	thick, whitish, reminiscent of cottage cheese, homogeneous, milky color, increased amount of discharge	liquid gray-whitish, abundant, sometimes foamy	purulent, yellow-green, profuse, frothy discharge
the discomfort	itching and burning in the vagina, discomfort and pain during intercourse and urination, the burning sensation intensifies when a woman is sitting cross-legged	mucosal irritation and vaginal itching	intense external and internal itching, redness of the vaginal mucosa, urinary disorders

Diagnosis of thrush

When visiting a gynecologist, a woman should be ready to answer questions that a doctor may ask her in order to find out the clinical picture and symptoms that bother her:

• Describe in detail all the symptoms that bother you.
• When did they first appear?
• How much have the signs of the disease changed after their onset?
• Describe the consistency, odor, color and amount of discharge.
• What provokes a deterioration in your condition, what, on the contrary, helps?
• Have you had similar symptoms before?
• Have you received any treatment before for any STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases)?
• How many sex partners do you have and are you sexually active?
• How do you protect yourself, what methods of contraception do you use?
• If you have a regular partner, does he have a discharge from the penis?
• Have you ever used any antibiotics or other medications lately?
• The day of the last menstrual period, is the cycle regular, how long does the period last and how many days does the menstrual cycle last?
• Do you use douching, by what means and why? (not recommended as it is both useless and dangerous)
• What chronic diseases do you have, what are you sick now or in the past?

After collecting the anamnesis, the gynecologist conducts an examination on the chair, and takes the cervix.

With a microscopic examination of a smear in women with thrush, a fungal mycelium is found in large quantities. However, this is considered a quick method, but not informative, as it does not provide information on the type of fungus that is causing the disease.

To find out the type of fungus, a bacterial inoculation of a smear should be carried out on special nutrient media, with further determination of the formed colonies, and their sensitivity, susceptibility of Candida fungi to various. The quantitative factor of the detected colonies of fungi is also taken into account, since the detection of an insignificant amount is the norm with a healthy microflora of the vagina.

Clinical studies and observations carried out by specialists indicate that thrush often proceeds not as an independent disease, but in combination with other genital infections. With thrush in women, the symptoms perfectly mask hidden infections, which have tended to be widespread in recent decades.

Therefore, a differential diagnosis of thrush with gardnerellosis, trichomoniasis, ureaplasmosis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital herpes is necessary. To do this, it is enough to consult a venereologist, pass complex PCR tests for STIs, and donate blood using the rapid RIF and ELISA tests.

In addition, in the chronic course of thrush, a woman should undergo a comprehensive examination, since often the first appearance of thrush is, therefore, blood should be donated. If the norm is exceeded, then it is necessary to consult an endocrinologist, and in the future follow a diet.

Also, with thrush, a woman should be examined by a gastroenterologist - to do an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity, to be tested for, to pass feces for a coprogram, if there are indications, then undergo FGS and other diagnostics.

If thrush has already provoked complications in the urinary tract, then you should also visit a urologist, take a smear from the urethra, urine analysis according to Zimnitsky, conduct an ultrasound of the bladder and kidneys.

When should you definitely contact a gynecologist?

Complications of thrush

With chronic thrush, a woman may experience a number of complications:

The spread of fungal infection occurs in the absence of treatment, or a weak immune response to ongoing therapy. First of all, the cervix of the uterus may be susceptible to the development of candidiasis, leading to cervicitis, the bladder - cystitis, the urethra - urethritis.

The combination of STIs with thrush is especially dangerous; it is fraught with serious inflammatory gynecological processes leading to infertility.

With an insignificant development, thrush does not seriously harm a woman's health, but constantly worries and creates discomfort for a normal sex life.

Thrush may be the first sign of serious illnesses, such as HIV infection, diabetes mellitus, etc. hormonal processes. ().

With recurrent, frequent thrush in women, the symptoms of which are vivid, simultaneously with therapy for candidiasis, the cause of the decrease in immunity should be found and eliminated. Otherwise, thrush can occur over and over again. In our article, you can learn in detail about the medicines used to treat vaginal candidiasis, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of using.

Prevention of thrush in women

First of all, you should always observe intimate hygiene, do not use tampons for more than 4 hours, often change pads, both daily and during menstruation - this is very important!

When using antibiotics () for the treatment of other diseases, various probiotics should be taken before and after treatment that normalize the intestinal microflora (all)

Adequate and timely treatment of any disease, including chronic diseases, STDs or hormonal disruptions.

To prevent thrush, a woman should wear only cotton underwear, avoid tight-fitting, squeezing underwear - thongs, tight tights, jeans.

Do not use hygienic antibacterial gels, soaps for intimate hygiene, colored scented toilet paper, which can affect the acidity of the microflora.

If a woman has a humid environment that aggravates thrush, she should thoroughly wipe herself off after bathing, do not stay in a wet swimsuit for a long time, ideally, while relaxing on the shore, have a spare dry swimsuit in which to change after swimming.

Thrush or vaginal candidiasis is an unpleasant disease that often affects women. During thrush, Candida fungi actively multiply, causing vivid symptoms: burning sensation in the vagina, profuse cheesy discharge, pain during intercourse, redness and swelling of the vulva.

Patients are always worried about the question: what causes thrush in women? Having eliminated the main factors, the disease ceases to bother the female representatives.

Causes of the disease

There are many pathogens in the body of women, but they live in small numbers, the immune system inhibits their growth. Sometimes there is a failure in the work of immunity, then microorganisms begin to multiply actively. In gynecology, there are two main factors that answer the question: why there is thrush in women.

In the body, the fair sex has more than 150 fungi that provoke the development of thrush. Pathogens begin to multiply actively in two cases: under unfavorable external circumstances and due to internal reasons.

The first factors are not dangerous to health, candidiasis disappears after treatment and elimination of the cause. The second circumstances are associated with diseases, thrush can constantly return until the underlying disease is cured.

External causes

External factors include the following:

• - antimicrobial drugs kill both pathogenic and natural microflora of the body. Their use often causes thrush. To avoid an unpleasant disease, antibiotics should not be taken haphazardly, without a doctor's prescription. In parallel with antimicrobial agents, you need to use probiotics that support the normal microflora in the vagina and.
• Unbalanced nutrition - the abundant use of sweets, flour products and spicy dishes creates a favorable environment for the development of the fungus. These foods change the acidity in the vagina.
• Poor adherence to the rules of personal hygiene - all women are recommended to wash themselves 1-2 times a day. Hygiene should be increased during menstruation. With rare washing, bacteria accumulate in the vagina, from which candidiasis develops.
• Washing out beneficial microflora - along with rare hygiene, thrush is also caused by the frequent use of personal hygiene products or constant douching.
• Wearing wet underwear - women who constantly swim in pools or ponds are more likely to suffer from thrush than others.

Also external factors include unprotected sex with a sick partner, improper treatment of diseases of internal organs, wearing synthetic underwear or inappropriate panty liners, overheating or hypothermia of the body. Sometimes even the use of scented toilet paper causes thrush.

Internal factors of the disease

Sometimes the causes of thrush is a malfunction of the female body. Thrush occurs even if a woman observes personal hygiene, eats right and follows the rules of prevention.

Internal factors include:

• disorders in the work of the hormonal system - this is pregnancy, menopause, a couple of months after an abortion or miscarriage;
• pathological changes in the endocrine system - diabetes mellitus, pathologies in the work of the ovaries, obesity;
• chronic diseases - any disease reduces immunity. With their exacerbation, Candida fungi begin to actively multiply. The main chronic pathologies include: tonsillitis, genital herpes, respiratory diseases, HIV infection;
• diseases of the pelvic organs - usually inflammatory reactions in the female genital organs are accompanied by thrush;
• stress, constant being in a nervous state.

If thrush is caused by internal diseases, then home treatment is unacceptable. The main disease should be diagnosed and cured.

Why does thrush occur during pregnancy?

Women in interesting positions often suffer from vaginal candidiasis. The situation is complicated by the fact that not all drugs can be used with them. It is especially difficult to treat the disease in the first trimester, when it is not at all recommended to use medications.

Thrush occurs due to hormonal changes. During pregnancy, gestagens predominate in the body. These hormones promote the growth of fungi. In addition, in women in an interesting position, immunity decreases. The body regards the baby as a foreign body. To avoid miscarriage, the immune system is weakened.

Causes of frequent candidiasis

Some women. They cure the disease, and after a while, it comes back again (up to 4 times a year). This suggests that candidiasis has become chronic. Women are worried about why they often get thrush.

The main factors are:

• lowered immunity;
• chronic diseases;
• frequent use of antibiotics;
• using inappropriate personal hygiene products;
• unhealthy diet, which is dominated by simple carbohydrates.

Treatment

When the first symptoms appear, it is worth contacting a gynecologist. The doctor will examine the patient, take a smear for the presence of mycelium, indicating thrush. After positive results, he will tell you how and how to treat it. Therapy includes:

• The use of antifungal drugs. These are local remedies - ointments, suppositories or gels ("", "Zalain", "Clotrimazole"). They have a quick effect on inflammation and itching. They are inserted deep into the vagina.

Along with local remedies, internal preparations in the form of tablets are used. They systemically affect the immune system and suppress the development of Candida fungi. Common medicines: "Fluconazole", "", "Terzhinan".

• Antihistamines - are aimed at relieving allergic reactions. They can be caused by antifungal agents. Among antihistamines: Zodak, Zirtek, Suprastin.
• Sedatives are sedatives that improve the condition of the nervous system. Often, candidiasis is accompanied by stress, nervous disorders or depression. Doctors prescribe "Novopassit", "Persen", tincture of valerian or motherwort.

The duration and dosage of medicines are prescribed by the attending gynecologist. During treatment, women are advised to give up sexual intercourse and alcohol, to observe personal hygiene of the genitals. It is forbidden to use antibiotics and other medications without consulting a doctor.

Candidiasis is such a widespread disease that, probably, every woman at least once in her life had to deal with this fungal infection of the genus "Candida". But not many people know about the symptoms and causes of candidiasis, therefore, they completely choose the wrong treatment, which ultimately leads to undesirable consequences and a complication of women's health.

As mentioned earlier, candidiasis is a disease of the mucous membranes of the mouth, genitals, intestines, urinary organs caused by a fungal infection. Most often, speaking of candidiasis, we mean the disease of the female genital organs, less often - the defeat of the male genitals.

You can determine candidiasis using the following symptoms:

• Itching and burning in the genital area, anal canal, on the skin. One of the first signs of candidiasis in women is a burning sensation in the external genital area. Itching may worsen and subside and cause severe irritation and sleep disturbance.
• Pain during intercourse;
• Pain when urinating;
• White vaginal discharge.
• Inflammation of the genitals;
• Bad smell.

You can also determine candidiasis visually. For those who do not know what thrush looks like in women, we offer a photo:

Causes of thrush in women

Often, it is not possible to establish the causes of thrush in women. after all, a variety of factors can provoke an increased growth of the fungus. But, there are several factors that contribute to the development and appearance of thrush in women. These include:

• Change in hormonal levels. Many gynecologists believe that the cause of the infection is changes in a woman's hormonal background, for example, taking contraception or the onset of menstruation. At this time, the level of hormones rises and the vaginal environment changes, which ultimately leads to the multiplication of the fungus and the appearance of thrush.

• Weakening of immunity. During long-term illnesses such as ARVI or influenza, it is considered mandatory to take antibiotics, and antibiotics, as you know, not only destroy harmful infections, but also infect beneficial bacteria that are in our body. As a result of taking broad-spectrum antibiotics, the balance between beneficial bacteria and the candida fungus, which normally always lives on the mucous membrane, begins to multiply, is disturbed, which can cause thrush in women. Therefore, while taking antibiotics, you need to take drugs that will help restore the beneficial microflora.

In addition to these factors, the appearance of thrush can also be caused by such reasons as:

• Diseases of the endocrine system .
• metabolic disease or an unbalanced diet. A person, depending on body weight, should consume the required amount of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. If there is an excessive consumption of sweets, flour products or carbonated drinks, the pancreas simply cannot produce enzymes to break down glucose. Further, sugar is deposited in the epithelium of the vagina, which serves as an excellent breeding ground for fungi. Therefore, women should monitor their diet and blood sugar levels.
• Taking antibiotics.
• Age-related changes.
• Various sexually transmitted diseases (chlamydia, HIV, AIDS).
• Lack of personal hygiene.
• Incorrect selection of contraception.

Many experts believe that thrush can occur due to the wrong choice of linen. For example, synthetic and tight underwear does not retain heat well in winter and can lead to hypothermia as a result of which candidiasis can occur.

One of the reasons for the appearance of candidiasis in women can be beat and the use of panty liners. These hygiene products can retain secretions that can serve as a breeding ground for fungi.

Surprisingly, even the frequent travel of a woman can become a factor in the appearance of thrush. Frequent travel, flight from country to country, rise and fall in temperature and atmospheric pressure, can lead to thrush and lower immunity in general.

Is thrush transmitted from woman to man?

Most men who have heard of thrush are convinced that only a woman can suffer from this disease. But this opinion is erroneous, because in men, thrush is painless and asymptomatic.

Another controversial issue is how is thrush transmitted from man to woman, or vice versa? In order to find out, it is necessary to figure out: which of the partners is prone to increased reproduction of candida fungi on their genitals.

As mentioned earlier, the cause of candidiasis can be a weakened immune system, hormonal disruptions and the use of antibiotics. The listed factors can occur in both women and men, and therefore each of them can get thrush.

Since the infection chooses a more comfortable habitat for itself, often fungi choose the folds of the vagina for life, where the infection spreads actively. Therefore, the more frequent carrier of the fungus is a woman. But a man can also infect a woman, since thrush proceeds without symptoms and regular partners often live sexually unprotected.

Thus, it is possible to identify the main routes of infection when a woman can infect a man and vice versa:

• The infection is transmitted sexually, without the use of contraceptives;
• With oral sex, if an infection is present on the oral mucosa;
• Through household items (washcloth or towel) - with this type of infection, the infection is transmitted not only to the partner, but also to the rest of the family.

Candidiasis in women: treatment, photo

In the treatment of candidiasis, an important aspect is the selection of the correct treatment and drugs, since with the wrong choice, the spread of the fungus can increase, and the treatment may be ineffective and lead to zero results. Much depends on the type of fungus of the genus "Candida" and on the volume of the affected area.

For the correct choice of treatment and prevention of thrush, you must consult a doctor who will tell you how to treat candidiasis in women and select medicines that can destroy the pathogenic fungus. At the initial stage of the disease in women, drugs such as vaginal suppositories or tablets are more often prescribed. With a more advanced form of candidiasis, it is necessary to take local drugs in combination with vaginal suppositories or tablets.

During the treatment of infection and in order to increase immunity, you need to eat bifidobacteria (yoghurts or kefir) and follow a diet (refrain from fatty and sweet foods). It is also very important that during the treatment of candidiasis one should refrain from sexual intercourse.

Candidiasis is a serious problem, so do not hesitate, but it is better to immediately make an appointment with a doctor. But if you are still an opponent of drugs, you can try to cure candidiasis at home. How to treat thrush in women at home? There are a large number of methods to combat it and they are available to everyone:

• Soda- Candida fungi tend to develop only in an acidic environment, and soda is alkaline in its composition, and thus, 20-minute soda baths or douching with soda solution will help defeat candidiasis in women.

• Herbal decoctions... Decoctions of chamomile, juniper, calendula can be used not only in the treatment of candidiasis, but also in its prevention or in combination with drugs, which will help to quickly and effectively get rid of an unwanted problem.
• Honey- using honey, you can douch. To do this, it is necessary to dilute honey with boiled water in a ratio of one to ten and rinse the affected areas in the morning and evening. You can also make a tampon soak it in liquid honey and insert it into the vagina for half an hour. This honey swab will help relieve itching and irritation and reduce the number of fungi.

Important: Such a specific product as honey can not only help, but also seriously harm, because honey is a strong allergen. Therefore, if you are treating thrush, then you should check the body's reaction to honey, and then carry out such treatment at home.

Thrush pills for women

Thrush pills are a common treatment for infection. The tablets are aimed at destroying Candida fungi and restoring the normal microflora of the mucous membrane. The use of tablets for the treatment of candidiasis may be justified in such cases:

• the use of douching, alternative methods of treatment turned out to be ineffective or ineffective;
• candidiasis is chronic and manifests itself when other diseases of the body appear or while taking strong antibiotics;
• the patient has such structural features of the genital organs that the possibility of douching or the use of suppositories is excluded.

Pills for thrush can be conditionally divided into two types:

• Topical tablets that are placed directly into the vagina;
• Tablets for systemic use, which are taken orally.

Contraindications:

• Thrush pills should not be taken during menstruation, as they can lead to disruptions in the hormonal background of a woman.
• Pills are also contraindicated during pregnancy as they can affect the development of the fetus and provoke a miscarriage.
• You can also not take pills for candidiasis while breastfeeding, since the composition of the pills is toxic and can affect the health of the child and the woman herself.

Fluconazole: use for thrush

The drug is prescribed by a gynecologist, who develops a treatment regimen depending on the complexity of the lesion and the presence of other diseases. Fluconazole is indicated for the treatment of vaginal or systemic candidiasis, as well as for the prevention of fungal infections in people with low immunity.

Application of the drug:

• If this is the initial stage of thrush disease, you can apply the drug at a dosage of 150 mg once.
• If the illness is prolonged, fluconazal 150 mg. use every three days for two weeks.
• To consolidate the effect, the drug is used once a month in one dose for 6 months.

About 85% of women taking fluconazole for thrush tolerate treatment without side effects. At the same time, there is still a small percentage of those who, when taking the drug, experience disruption of the gastrointestinal tract or allergic reactions. We strongly recommend that you read the instructions in detail regarding contraindications before taking the medication, and it is better not to self-medicate at all.

Trichopolum with thrush in women

Many women use absolutely all available and inaccessible means to fight thrush. A drug such as tripochol also falls on this list. Its active ingredient - metronidazole - actively affects various bacteria and infections. At the same time, the instructions for the drug indicate that it is completely powerless against fungi and viruses, and as you know, thrush is nothing more than a disease caused by a fungus.

Thus, tripochol cannot help with candidiasis. Why is there an opinion that the drug is used for thrush? The answer is simple - often thrush is accompanied by other diseases of an infectious nature, with which Tripochol is intended to fight, and doctors actively prescribe it for this in combination with antifungal drugs.

By itself, with candidiasis, tripochol is not only useless, but can also cause serious harm. So, the tool has a number of contraindications:

• pregnancy
• breast-feeding
• liver disease
• epilepsy
• blood diseases

If, nevertheless, the drug is used uncontrollably without a doctor's prescription, then this can lead to serious problems with immunity and a number of other dangerous conditions.

Pimafucin for thrush in women

The active ingredient of Pimafucin is nitamycin, which is very active against the candida fungus. The substance is capable of destroying the cell membranes of the fungus, thereby destroying it. It is also important that the drug is not absorbed into the bloodstream and acts only in the right place, being excreted from the body unchanged.

The drug "Pimafucin" is produced in the form of:

• pills
• candles
• cream

The main advantages of treatment with Pimafucin for candidiasis:

• the remedy showed high efficiency - up to 95% of patients were able to cope with the disease;
• has an extremely small list of contraindications and does not show side effects, therefore it is often prescribed for the treatment of children, pregnant women;
• not addictive;
• does not interact with other drugs.

As a rule, taking the drug is prescribed for a course of 7-10 days, in a dosage and form that the doctor considers appropriate. Moreover, if improvement does not occur within 4-5 days, then you need to consult a doctor to adjust the dose.

Miramistin for thrush in women

The use of miramistin for candidiasis is not only very effective, but also extremely safe. This drug has a selective ability and actively affects the candida fungi, while the agent does not destroy the body's lipids. With all of this, miramistin does not have a toxic effect, since its absorption into the blood is minimal.

Miramistin is widely used for thrush:

• prescribed for the treatment of thrush of the genitals and oral cavity
• allowed for pregnant women
• used as a prophylaxis for candidiasis

In order to prevent the occurrence of candidiasis and other STDs after unprotected intercourse, it is recommended to treat the penis and vagina with a solution of miramistin.

An antiseptic allows you to feel relief from thrush after the first use. Its effect destroys the fungus, heals small ulcers, eliminates the itching sensation and helps restore microflora.

Candles for thrush in women

Suppositories for thrush are one of the most convenient and effective treatments for women. The action of the candles is as follows - the antifungal substance contained in the candles enters the mucous membrane, destroying the causative agent of the disease, relieves inflammation.

Before using suppositories, you should consult a doctor and find out what reasons contributed to the appearance of thrush, in order to exclude a recurrence of the infection with this infection and to exclude its transition to a chronic form.

Depending on the degree and complexity of the disease, suppositories can have a certain course of therapy, for example, in many cases, it is enough to use only one suppository for treatment, and with chronic thrush or an infection that is difficult to remove, longer treatment is necessary.

• One candle can be used - Zalain, Lomeksin
• Three candles each - Livarol, Pimafucin
• 8-14 candles each - Macmiror, Nistanin, Polizhmnak, Clotrimazole, Irunin

Features of the use of candles:

• carefully read the instructions before use;
• hands must be clean, without long nails (otherwise, use a medical glove);
• it is better to introduce candles at night, in order to prevent it from flowing out with unnecessary movements and walking;
• before the procedure, you need to thoroughly wash;
• you need to insert the candle while lying on your back, push it as deeply as possible with your finger;
• after the procedure, you should remain in the supine position for another 20 minutes so that the medicine is completely dissolved;
• in order not to stain your underwear and sheets, you can use a pad .

The use of flucostat for thrush in women

Flucostat is a modern medication aimed at treating candidiasis by limiting the ability of fungi to reproduce. Flucostat is produced in the form of capsules with dosage:

• 50 mg - for the treatment of cutaneous candidiasis;
• 150 mg in one capsule - for the treatment of mild thrush;
• 150 mg in the form of two capsules - for the treatment of complex forms of candidiasis and the prevention of relapses.

Flucostat can cause side effects such as:

• headache
• dizziness
• allergic reactions
• disorders of the liver and gastrointestinal tract

Side effects are quite rare, the drug is generally well tolerated, and if after taking the drug you feel at least one of the above negative effects, then immediately consult a doctor.

• renal failure
• diseases of the cardiovascular system
• childhood (up to 18 years old)

Clotrimazole ointment for thrush in women

Instructions for the use of clotrimazole ointment assures that its use will help to quickly get rid of thrush, exterminating the fungi living in our body, and also eliminate other harmful microbes. An ointment is produced in white tubes, which must be stored in a cool place for no more than 3 years.

The use of Clotrimazole ointment is very simple: it is enough to squeeze out a small amount of the ointment and rub it into areas prone to thrush with light, massage actions.

The ointment is universal and can be used by both female and male representatives, therefore, clotrimazole in the form of an ointment is often prescribed to both sexual partners. If one of the sexual partners does not have signs of candidiasis and he refuses to use the ointment, then re-infection and the development of a fungal infection into a chronic form is possible.

Chronic thrush in women - treatment

Thrush is a common disease that causes discomfort and a lot of trouble during treatment, but if it is not started on time, it can develop into a chronic form of the disease. What is the difficulty of treating chronic thrush chronic thrush? As a rule, at the chronic stage of the disease, the fungal infection is widespread and not every drug can cope with it.

Chronic thrush develops due to the fact that symptoms may not appear immediately after intercourse, during which infection occurs. Another reason for the occurrence of chronic thrush may be the incorrect use of the drug for the treatment of thrush.

Often, after feeling better, the woman stops taking medication, and the infection slowly spreads further. Therefore, when thrush occurs, it is important and desirable to undergo a full course of treatment for both partners, since if you do not consult a doctor on time, this can lead to the following consequences:

• infertility
• decreased immunity and infection in all internal organs
• frequent infections of the pelvic organs

One of the main steps in the treatment of chronic thrush is a timely visit to a doctor. During the examination, the doctor will identify the causes of thrush and possibly concomitant diseases that could provoke the appearance of chronic thrush. Therefore, it is necessary to follow the course of treatment prescribed by the gynecologist and in no case self-medicate.

Diet for thrush in women

When thrush occurs in women, doctors recommend adhering to a specific diet and excluding foods that help spread candida from the diet.

Nutrition during candidiasis treatment should include foods that will have antifungal effects and boost the immune system. These include pumpkin, which reduces fungal growth, and garlic, which boosts immunity and reduces the growth of fungal infections in the body.

Also, during the treatment and prevention of thrush, the body must be enriched with beneficial bacteria, which will not allow fungi to expand their possession in the body, so it is worth increasing the use of yoghurts. But when choosing yogurt, stop your attention on those that do not contain sugar, because glucose in the body only enhances the development of thrush.

During the treatment and prevention of thrush, it is allowed to use:

• unsweetened fruits and all vegetables that can be eaten raw, stewed or boiled;
• poultry and fish meat;
• cereals;
• spices.

• products containing fructose, sucrose, glucose
• flour products
• vinegar
• alcoholic and carbonated drinks
• smoked meats

Thrush in pregnant women

Symptoms of thrush in pregnant women are the same as in those who are far from motherhood. But women in position are at greater risk of contracting candidiasis due to hormonal changes and decreased immunity.

During pregnancy, most medications for the treatment of thrush are contraindicated. Therefore, self-medication is not necessary, it is better to visit a doctor or talk about annoying symptoms at the next appointment at the antenatal clinic.

The safest drugs are topical agents such as "Clotrimazole-ointment" and "Pimafucin", they are safe even in large doses and will not affect the development of the fetus. Also, during pregnancy, traditional methods will help get rid of thrush. For example, frequent washing with soda solution or decoction of oak bark will help get rid of the symptoms of thrush.

Thus, the treatment of candidiasis during pregnancy has its own characteristics:

• during treatment, only suppositories and ointments are used;
• take pills only if prescribed;
• it is important to eat well;
• it is advisable to carry out a course of treatment together with a sexual partner;
• if during gestation, thrush manifested itself at least once, then a course of therapy must be carried out before childbirth.

Thrush is a disease that can and should be eliminated. There are a huge number of
methods of treating thrush in women, but nevertheless, self-medication is not worth it. At the first symptoms of candidiasis, visit a doctor - this will get rid of the disease quickly and for a long time.

Video: Treatment of thrush at home