Ladies, are you going around and around in circles with repeated thrush infections down below?
If so, listen up!
Thrush is a regular concern of people who visit my clinic. It is a condition that can drive you absolutely crazy and so many women get infection after infection, going round in circles and spending a fortune on products to alleviate the symptoms.
It is something that I have great success in treating in clinic and something that needs to be looked at from a "root cause" point of view.
Just treating thrush with pessaries from the chemist is not treating the reason why you are getting them in the first place. You need to peel the layers back on your health and understand why you are in this situation in the first place.
What is vaginal thrush?
Thrush is a commonly referred to name of an overgrowth of a specific yeast called Candida. There are many species of candida, the most common is candida albicans. Every single one of us should have this yeast to a certain extent, but sometimes, if the vaginal microbiome is out of balance it becomes prolific and grows into large colonies. This is when there is a problem.
Thrush is itchy... Really itchy.
It can also sting or burn. A thick, white discharge is common that resembles cottage cheese. Now before you panic - white clotty discharge is normal in the first part of your cycle and happens when your oestrogen is rising, so don`t go thinking you have a yeast infection just because you had something similar in your underwear. You can also get more white discharge just before your period as your progesterone takes a dip.
If it doesn`t itch or cause you any irritation, is odourloess and disappears as you move through your cycle, it is just cervical mucous and is normal.
Candida discharge is excessive. it is more lumpy and there is more of it than your normal cervical mucous. It is accompanied by an itch that is often so bad that you just can`t help but scratching, no matter where you are!
Sometimes the vulva can become very red and sore and even split open in places. It can also hurt to urinate or have sex.
Why do thrush outbreaks happen?
A healthy vagina should have a PH level of between 3.8 and 4.5, although this can vary depending upon what stage of life you are at. When the vagina is at the right PH, bacteria, microbes and yeasts are kept under control. The vagina is inhospitable to the types of organisms that can cause thrush outbreaks. If the vaginal PH rises (gets less acidic) then the vagina becomes a perfect breeding ground for candida.
A healthy vagina hosts a huge number of beneficial bacteria, just like our large intestine. These "good bacteria" help to regulate the PH of the vagina, keeping it just right for their existence, but too acidic for the likes of candida to over-populate.
If the good bacteria are damaged somehow, or wiped out by antibiotics or other medicines, then that is where the story begins!
Thrush is a regular concern of people who visit my clinic. It is a condition that can drive you absolutely crazy and so many women get infection after infection, going round in circles and spending a fortune on products to alleviate the symptoms.
It is something that I have great success in treating in clinic and something that needs to be looked at from a "root cause" point of view.
Just treating thrush with pessaries from the chemist is not treating the reason why you are getting them in the first place. You need to peel the layers back on your health and understand why you are in this situation in the first place.
What is vaginal thrush?
Thrush is a commonly referred to name of an overgrowth of a specific yeast called Candida. There are many species of candida, the most common is candida albicans. Every single one of us should have this yeast to a certain extent, but sometimes, if the vaginal microbiome is out of balance it becomes prolific and grows into large colonies. This is when there is a problem.
Thrush is itchy... Really itchy.
It can also sting or burn. A thick, white discharge is common that resembles cottage cheese. Now before you panic - white clotty discharge is normal in the first part of your cycle and happens when your oestrogen is rising, so don`t go thinking you have a yeast infection just because you had something similar in your underwear. You can also get more white discharge just before your period as your progesterone takes a dip.
If it doesn`t itch or cause you any irritation, is odourloess and disappears as you move through your cycle, it is just cervical mucous and is normal.
Candida discharge is excessive. it is more lumpy and there is more of it than your normal cervical mucous. It is accompanied by an itch that is often so bad that you just can`t help but scratching, no matter where you are!
Sometimes the vulva can become very red and sore and even split open in places. It can also hurt to urinate or have sex.
Why do thrush outbreaks happen?
A healthy vagina should have a PH level of between 3.8 and 4.5, although this can vary depending upon what stage of life you are at. When the vagina is at the right PH, bacteria, microbes and yeasts are kept under control. The vagina is inhospitable to the types of organisms that can cause thrush outbreaks. If the vaginal PH rises (gets less acidic) then the vagina becomes a perfect breeding ground for candida.
A healthy vagina hosts a huge number of beneficial bacteria, just like our large intestine. These "good bacteria" help to regulate the PH of the vagina, keeping it just right for their existence, but too acidic for the likes of candida to over-populate.
If the good bacteria are damaged somehow, or wiped out by antibiotics or other medicines, then that is where the story begins!
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Antibiotics, medicines and beneficial bacteria Antibiotics are at times completely necessary in order to rid the body of a serious infection. Antibiotics are designed to kill off unwanted organisms in the body. The problem is that they can not differentiate beneficial organisms from the pathogenic ones (bad ones). As they go about their task of ridding the body of infection, they indiscriminately kill off just about everything, leaving the body with altered microbiomes in the gut, the nose, the ears, the vagina and rectum and upon the surface of the skin. Unless you take a probiotic after your course of antibiotics then your body is left extremely vulnerable to pathogenic bacteria getting out of control again. |
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I liken this to the doormen on a nightclub door. They are the good guys, keeping the trouble makers out. If they go home, then sure enough, those trouble makers are going to get inside and cause a problem.
Antibiotics get rid of the doormen!
It`s not just antibiotics that can cause our beneficial bacteria to be wiped out. Other common medicines that do this include:
NSAIDS (ibuprofen and over the counter anti-inflammatories), aspirin, hormonal birth control, proton pump inhibitors (keep stomach acid low), Metformin, SSRI`s ( anti-depressants), laxatives and oral steroids. The other problem is over the counter vaginal treatments. Repeated use of them can cause a negative effect on your microbiome.
If you take any of these on a regular basis, you should really consider supplementing with a probiotic to help your microbiomes of the various parts of your body. There are particular strains that are useful for particular areas, and some that are especially beneficial for the vagina.
Antibiotics get rid of the doormen!
It`s not just antibiotics that can cause our beneficial bacteria to be wiped out. Other common medicines that do this include:
NSAIDS (ibuprofen and over the counter anti-inflammatories), aspirin, hormonal birth control, proton pump inhibitors (keep stomach acid low), Metformin, SSRI`s ( anti-depressants), laxatives and oral steroids. The other problem is over the counter vaginal treatments. Repeated use of them can cause a negative effect on your microbiome.
If you take any of these on a regular basis, you should really consider supplementing with a probiotic to help your microbiomes of the various parts of your body. There are particular strains that are useful for particular areas, and some that are especially beneficial for the vagina.
Other causes
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Immunity What`s going on with your immune system at the moment? If you haven`t been on medication or have a history of antibiotic use, then what has caused this to happen? Well, besides diet and hygiene reasons, it could be down to your immunity. If you have been feeling a little run-down, or have been encountering more stress than normal, it could be having a huge effects on your immunity. |
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The same goes for lack of sleep and certain drugs or treatments that lower immunity. It`s very common to get thrush if you are receiving chemotherapy, for example.
You see, normally, if our immune system is tip-top, it can keep on top of the pathogenic organisms and prevent them from proliferating. If for some reason your immune system has been on the low side, then the body just can`t keep up it`s defences in the same way.
If this is the case for you then you should supplement with a probiotic and really work on building your immunity up with your diet, lifestyle and perhaps some supplements to help you bounce back to vitality.
You see, normally, if our immune system is tip-top, it can keep on top of the pathogenic organisms and prevent them from proliferating. If for some reason your immune system has been on the low side, then the body just can`t keep up it`s defences in the same way.
If this is the case for you then you should supplement with a probiotic and really work on building your immunity up with your diet, lifestyle and perhaps some supplements to help you bounce back to vitality.
Diet
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Candida and other pathogenic organisms use glucose as their main source of fuel.
All carbohydrates are broken down to glucose during digestion. That means that all starchy foods and fruits and vegetables eventually get broken down to glucose. Whilst vegetables are fine, a diet rich in starchy carbohydrates like breads, pastas, pastries, cakes, sweets and biscuits are going to be overloading your body with too much glucose and feeding those organisms responsible for causing you so much irritation. Likewise, fizzy pop, cordials, beers and wine will be doing the same. |
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Fructose is a sugar that is found in fruits. It gets converted by the liver into glucose before it can be used as an energy source. Fruit juices are high in fructose and can cause the same problem as cola in terms of providing a food source for the pathogenic organisms that you want to get rid of.
Some people who eat a LOT of sugary fruits, can have a similar problem. Dried fruits are especially high in sugar content.
If you are battling with thrush, you MUST change your diet and follow a low Glycaemic Index diet. The glycaemic index is a way of measuring foods according to how much glucose they convert to. Foods are labelled low, medium and high G.I. You should eat low and medium foods and avoid all high G.I ones. You can read more about the glycaemic index here.
You should focus on eating as many fresh vegetables as you can and increase your soluble fibre. Try to ensure that twice a day (at least), 60% of your meals are made of veggies.
Some people who eat a LOT of sugary fruits, can have a similar problem. Dried fruits are especially high in sugar content.
If you are battling with thrush, you MUST change your diet and follow a low Glycaemic Index diet. The glycaemic index is a way of measuring foods according to how much glucose they convert to. Foods are labelled low, medium and high G.I. You should eat low and medium foods and avoid all high G.I ones. You can read more about the glycaemic index here.
You should focus on eating as many fresh vegetables as you can and increase your soluble fibre. Try to ensure that twice a day (at least), 60% of your meals are made of veggies.
House-keeping down below
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If you have been prone to outbreaks of vaginal candida then it is important to let your vagina breathe.
If you`ve ever had a baby, your midwife may have advised you to let the baby have some bare-bottom time for their genital health. It`s the same principle. Ditch the thongs for a little while and get some nice, comfy bamboo or cotton pants that allow better airflow around your lady parts. Synthetic fibres trap heat and moisture, which is just going to encourage yeast growth. |
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If you are a swimmer or a gym enthusiast, then try not to stay in your exercise clothing too long and swap your undies after a workout. Thongs create a literal tight rope from your anus to your vagina. Bacteria can travel along them, so opt for some bigger cheek-covering big knickers instead.
When you go to the toilet, ALWAYS wipe from front to back. If you wipe from back to front then you can contaminate your vagina with bacteria that should not be anywhere near it.
Menstrual pads and tampons have all sorts of chemicals in them that can disrupt your vaginal PH balance. Buy organic or natural cotton pads or tampons, or even better use some absorbent period pants or a menstrual cup.
You should also avoid all vaginal, perfumed products and never use soap or products internally. Never douche your vagina. Doing this will negatively impact your vaginal microbiome. You should keep the products that you use to wash with as gentle as possible. There are some great natural products out there that are at the same PH level as what your vagina should be.
Relieving symptoms
A very effective way to relieve symptoms is to run a shallow bath - just an inch or two so that you can submerge your vagina and labia. Before you get in, add around 50ml of apple cider vinegar ,with the mother (- which means it has fermented material in it. I use Biona in the UK, which is available in most supermarkets and even on Amazon)
Adding apple cider vinegar helps the vagina to restore to it`s PH level. It is also soothing.
You can also add tea-tree oil to a warm bath. Never use essential oils neat (undiluted) on your skin, or even in your bath water. Get a tablespoon of almond oil or even olive oil and add 8 drops to it, then add it to your bath water.
Tea-tree oil is antibacterial, anti-fungal (yeast), anti-microbial and anti-viral. Tea tree oil has also been proven in killing MRSA infections!
Add Lavender oil to a warm bath - same as above - make sure you dilute it first. This is great in combination with tea-tree ( 8 drops of each in a carrier oil) Lavender has the same properties as Tea-tree oil but is also anti-inflammatory and very soothing.
Apply pure, virgin coconut oil topically on the vulva. It is also safe to put inside the vagina to offer relief. Coconut oil contains caprylic acid, which is an effective treatment for eliminating candida. It is also correctly matched to the vaginal PH so won`t disturb the acid balance further.
Live, natural yoghurt on a tampon - some people swear by this. I haven`t tried it myself as I am lactose intolerant and if you are too then avoid this one. Live yoghurt contains beneficial bacteria which help re-populate the vaginal canal and microbiome.
Eat garlic, garlic, garlic! Garlic is brilliant at sorting out candida. The more you can eat, the better. If you are on blood thinning medication you should not use garlic capsules and be careful with garlic.
There are some great products from supplement companies that you can use, rather than going down the Canesten route. These include pessaries that not only kill off the troublesome yeast, but help to re-populate the vagina with the right probiotic microbes.
When you go to the toilet, ALWAYS wipe from front to back. If you wipe from back to front then you can contaminate your vagina with bacteria that should not be anywhere near it.
Menstrual pads and tampons have all sorts of chemicals in them that can disrupt your vaginal PH balance. Buy organic or natural cotton pads or tampons, or even better use some absorbent period pants or a menstrual cup.
You should also avoid all vaginal, perfumed products and never use soap or products internally. Never douche your vagina. Doing this will negatively impact your vaginal microbiome. You should keep the products that you use to wash with as gentle as possible. There are some great natural products out there that are at the same PH level as what your vagina should be.
Relieving symptoms
A very effective way to relieve symptoms is to run a shallow bath - just an inch or two so that you can submerge your vagina and labia. Before you get in, add around 50ml of apple cider vinegar ,with the mother (- which means it has fermented material in it. I use Biona in the UK, which is available in most supermarkets and even on Amazon)
Adding apple cider vinegar helps the vagina to restore to it`s PH level. It is also soothing.
You can also add tea-tree oil to a warm bath. Never use essential oils neat (undiluted) on your skin, or even in your bath water. Get a tablespoon of almond oil or even olive oil and add 8 drops to it, then add it to your bath water.
Tea-tree oil is antibacterial, anti-fungal (yeast), anti-microbial and anti-viral. Tea tree oil has also been proven in killing MRSA infections!
Add Lavender oil to a warm bath - same as above - make sure you dilute it first. This is great in combination with tea-tree ( 8 drops of each in a carrier oil) Lavender has the same properties as Tea-tree oil but is also anti-inflammatory and very soothing.
Apply pure, virgin coconut oil topically on the vulva. It is also safe to put inside the vagina to offer relief. Coconut oil contains caprylic acid, which is an effective treatment for eliminating candida. It is also correctly matched to the vaginal PH so won`t disturb the acid balance further.
Live, natural yoghurt on a tampon - some people swear by this. I haven`t tried it myself as I am lactose intolerant and if you are too then avoid this one. Live yoghurt contains beneficial bacteria which help re-populate the vaginal canal and microbiome.
Eat garlic, garlic, garlic! Garlic is brilliant at sorting out candida. The more you can eat, the better. If you are on blood thinning medication you should not use garlic capsules and be careful with garlic.
There are some great products from supplement companies that you can use, rather than going down the Canesten route. These include pessaries that not only kill off the troublesome yeast, but help to re-populate the vagina with the right probiotic microbes.
Is it really Thrush?
If you are getting recurrent infections that you suspect to be Thrush (candida) then please go and get a swab done with your GP. It may be something else. Bacterial vaginosis can cause similar symptoms, as can some sexually transmitted infections. There are also some conditions that can cause really similar symptoms that aren`t infections at all and need a different type of treatment. One such condition is called Lichen Sclerosus
A simple swab with your GP will ensure that you are getting the right treatment so get booked in. If you aren`t comfortable getting this done with your GP then I can arrange a private swab kit to be sent to you and analysed by the laboratory I use.
If you are getting recurrent infections that you suspect to be Thrush (candida) then please go and get a swab done with your GP. It may be something else. Bacterial vaginosis can cause similar symptoms, as can some sexually transmitted infections. There are also some conditions that can cause really similar symptoms that aren`t infections at all and need a different type of treatment. One such condition is called Lichen Sclerosus
A simple swab with your GP will ensure that you are getting the right treatment so get booked in. If you aren`t comfortable getting this done with your GP then I can arrange a private swab kit to be sent to you and analysed by the laboratory I use.
In conclusion...
Thrush is really common. Up to 70% of the female population will encounter it at some point in their lives.
It`s important to look at the whole picture if you are battling with repeated bouts of it. By simply using over the counter treatments, you aren`t getting to the root cause of your infections. Your microbiome must be supported in order to stop these infections and the best way of doing that is through diet, lifestyle and a really good probiotic.
Think about your immune system and what could be weakening it. And if you can`t get to the bottom of what`s causing these problems, then come and see me for some support.
It`s important to look at the whole picture if you are battling with repeated bouts of it. By simply using over the counter treatments, you aren`t getting to the root cause of your infections. Your microbiome must be supported in order to stop these infections and the best way of doing that is through diet, lifestyle and a really good probiotic.
Think about your immune system and what could be weakening it. And if you can`t get to the bottom of what`s causing these problems, then come and see me for some support.
