This common yeast infection can affect both men and women. Find out what causes it and how to manage your symptoms with our expert guide
Written by Charlotte Haigh on March 18, 2019
Reviewed by Dr Rob Hicks on March 21, 2019
Most women have had thrush at some point in their lives,1 and if you’ve ever been affected, you’ll know how awkward it can be. But there are lots of simple ways you can tackle this uncomfortable condition.
What is thrush?
It’s a yeast infection usually caused by a fungus called candida albicans. This fungus lives naturally in the body, where it thrives in warm, moist conditions. Normally, it normally doesn’t cause any problems but certain conditions can cause candida albicans to grow – and that’s when it may cause thrush.2
Thrush is most common in the vagina or on the penis, but it can also crop up in other parts of the body including:3
- armpits
- groin
- mouth
Who gets thrush?
Both men and women can get thrush, but it’s more common in women. It’s estimated three in four women will be affected at some point.4 You’re most likely to get it in your thirties and forties, or if you’re pregnant.5
What are the symptoms of thrush?
Vaginal thrush symptoms in women include:6
- white discharge with the consistency of cottage cheese – it doesn’t usually have an odour
- itching and irritation around the vagina
- soreness and stinging, particularly during sex or when you pass water
Thrush symptoms in men include:7
- irritation, redness, and a burning feeling around the head of the penis and under the foreskin
- a white, cottage cheese-like discharge
- difficulty pulling back the foreskin
- an unpleasant smell
Symptoms in other parts of the body:
- in the armpits or groin – a itchy, red or painful rash that scales over, with white or yellow discharge8
- oral thrush – white patches in the mouth, loss of taste, redness inside the mouth9
What causes thrush?
Thrush develops when the candida albicans yeast grows out of control10 for a variety of reasons. Common causes include:11,12
- taking antibiotics – friendly bacteria usually help keep yeast overgrowth in check, but a course of antibiotics can wipe out the good bacteria. Around one in three women taking antibiotics will develop thrush
- hormone changes in women – for example, due to pregnancy
- underlying health conditions that weaken the immune system, such as diabetes and HIV
- using perfumed soaps and shower gels
- for men, not drying your genital area after a shower or bath – candida thrives in warm, moist conditions
While thrush isn’t a sexually transmitted infection (STI) <link to: Sexual health: what you need to know>, it can sometimes be triggered by sex or passed on during sex.13
How to prevent thrush
Some simple lifestyle tips can really help. These include:14,15
- have showers instead of baths
- wash your genital area using water and perfume-free emollient rather than soap or shower gel
- wear cotton underwear – avoid anything too tight
- avoid sex until thrush has cleared up
Managing thrush
See your GP or a sexual health clinic if you think you have your first bout of thrush – they’ll check if thrush is definitely the issue and advise you about appropriate treatment.16 If your thrush has already been diagnosed, you can get over-the-counter treatments from a pharmacist, including pessaries. Symptoms usually clear up within a week.17
Natural remedies may also offer support:
Friendly bacteria – and in particular those containing the lactobacilli strain of bacteria. Although studies have had mixed results, a 2009 Canadian review reported that participants taking friendly bacteria and a prescription medication had fewer yeast cultures than those taking just the medication.18
Natural yoghurt – this source of friendly bacteria, when applied internally or externally, may help soothe symptoms of thrush in women, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) .19
Honey – honey is a natural anti-fungal and anti-microbial, and in a 2006 study by the University of Sydney was shown to help curb candida growth.20 Try mixing honey with natural yoghurt: a 2012 study in Archives of Gynaecology and Obstetrics reported that a combination of the two reduced symptoms of thrush in pregnant women.21
Advice is for information only and should not replace medical care. Please check with your GP before trying any remedies.
Sources
1. NHS Inform. Vaginal Thrush
2. Jill Seladi-Schulman. Medical News Today. About Candida albicans: Natural yeast and problematic infections
3. NHS Conditions. Thrush in men and women
4. BBC. Vaginal thrush ‘a growing problem worldwide’
5. Dr Roger Henderson. Netdoctor. Candida: 5 signs you have vaginal thrush
6. As Source 3
7. As Source 3
8. NHS. Thrush in men and women
9. NHS Inform. Oral thrush in adults
10. ScienceDirect. Candidiasis
11. Brook. Thrush (candidiasis)
12. NHS Inform. Thrush in men
13. As Source 8
14. As Source 3
15. As Source 11
16. As Source 8
17. As Source 3
18. Martinez RCR, et al. Improved treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis with fluconazole plus probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR‐1 and Lactobacillus reuteri RC‐14
19. NICE. Candida – female genital
20. Irish J, et al. Honey has an antifungal effect against Candida species
21. Abdelmonem AM, Rasheed SM, Mohamed ASh. Bee-honey and yoghurt: a novel mixture for treating patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis during pregnancy
