Menu

Thrush



What is thrush?

Thrush (also called “candida”) is usually caused by the yeast Candida albicans. This yeast lives harmlessly on the skin and in the mouth, gut and vagina. Normally it is kept under control, occasionally conditions change and signs and symptoms can develop.

Conditions that make thrush more likely:

  • (Over)washing with irritants such as soap/shower gels/feminine washes;
  • Skin conditions such as eczema/psoriasis;
  • Tight clothing and synthetic materials such as nylon;
  • Pregnancy;
  • Diabetes;
  • Recent antibiotics /chemotherapy.

As it lives on the skin it is not sexually transmitted.

  • Not an STI.
  • Affects both sexes.
  • Easily diagnosed in the clinic.
  • Can be due to an underlying skin problem.

What are the symptoms?

Men / I have a penis: red itchy blotchy skin usually on the glans penis (“ bell end”) or under the foreskin, swelling of the foreskin sometimes worse after sex, thicker discharge under the foreskin.

Women / I have a vagina: itching soreness and redness of the vulva, vaginal discharge which is often thicker and can smell “yeasty”, pain when passing urine or having sex.

Bottoms: itching and redness around the bottom.

How is it diagnosed?

This is usually diagnosed by appearance (so by looking at the skin) although occasionally the doctor or nurse who sees you may take a sample from the skin on the penis or from the vagina to look at either under the microscope OR to send to the lab to identify the yeast.

What is the treatment?

Try to avoid using soaps and showers gels/feminine washes on the genital skin - use emollients instead.

Thrush is treated with creams if the skin is irritated and/or oral treatment if there is a vaginal discharge or severe infestation (in men); pessaries (vaginal tablets) are also an alternative (as the oral treatment is not licensed in pregnant women).

It is not a sexually transmitted infection so partners do not need treatment; your partner may have symptoms but this is likely due to them using soaps and shower gels and causing thrush to irritate their skin too.

Useful information

For more information on thrush visit the NHS website.

Easter Holidays

Please note Sexual Health Dorset will be closed Friday 29 March 2024 and Monday 1 April 2024 for the Easter Holidays.

We will reopen on Tuesday 2 April 2024.

If you have an urgent enquiry while we are closed, please contact NHS 111.