Thrush, or candidal infection, accompanied by damage to the vaginal mucosa, is a problem for many women. The symptoms of this disease are so unpleasant that they completely knock the patient out of rhythm: due to severe itching, she cannot work normally, be sexually active, or even sleep peacefully.
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Unfortunately, medications for thrush are advertised everywhere, which is why, having contracted candidiasis, women run not to the doctor, but to the pharmacy. After some time, the disease returns, which is natural, because such an infection cannot be cured with one pill; complex therapy is needed. That is why, at the first signs of thrush, you need to make an appointment with a good gynecologist and undergo full treatment. Today we will dispel myths about the treatment of thrush and formulate a number of recommendations that every woman should know.
The danger of candidiasis
Thrush is not a dangerous condition, since it does not relate to any particular disease and cannot affect the condition of the cervix and vaginal walls in women. The occurrence of a condition such as candidiasis indicates a disruption in the functioning of the body. Therefore, recurring thrush requires an examination to find out the cause of its occurrence. If you get rid of the cause, you can forget about the further appearance of candidiasis.
What to do if candidiasis does not go away?
The lack of effects from properly administered treatment, as well as frequent relapses of thrush, is the reason for re-seeking medical help from a specialist who can select a more effective treatment regimen.
It is important not to engage in self-correction of previously prescribed therapy if it turns out to be ineffective. Using a similar medicine under a different brand name or simply increasing the dosage may not only be therapeutically useless, but also dangerous to health. Only a qualified specialist can evaluate the interaction of several different medications when used simultaneously.
The right decision would be a repeat consultation and further compliance with all rules for the prevention of thrush. The doctor will select a different, alternative treatment regimen, and will also point out possible errors in behavior or deficiencies in lifestyle that were not so obvious to the patient. For example, he will recommend nutritional correction with limited carbohydrate foods and prescribe additional means to restore normal microflora.
Causes
Reasons why thrush may occur in women:
- pregnancy;
- microflora disturbance;
- weakened immunity;
- endocrine diseases;
- use of contraceptives;
- failure to comply with hygiene standards.
Causes of thrush in men:
- failure to comply with hygiene standards;
- the result of unprotected sexual intercourse, transmission of the candida pathogen from a partner with thrush;
- sudden change in climatic conditions;
- use of aggressive detergents;
- weakened immunity;
- long-term use of antibiotics.
Sources
- Urogenital candidiasis. Clinical recommendations. Moscow, 2016. - 22 p.m.
- Bayramova G.R., Amirkhanyan A.S., Chernova V.F. Vulvovaginal candidiasis: pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment tactics // Doctor.Ru, 2018. - No. 10 (154). - P. 32-36
- Evseev A. A. Modern principles of diagnosis and treatment of vaginal candidiasis // Vestn. repr.. 2009. No. 2.
- Mayo Clinic Staff. (2015). Yeast infection (vaginal).
- Sherry L., Kean R., McKloud E., O'Donnell LE, Metcalfe R., Jones BL et al. Biofilms formed by isolates from recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis patients are heterogeneous and insensitive to fluconazole // Antimicrob. Agents. Chemother, 2017; 61(9).
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of thrush in women are:
- Pain that occurs during sexual intercourse.
- Swelling and redness of the mucous membranes.
- Pain with cutting when urinating.
- Pain with the release of cheesy contents from the genital tract, without odor.
- There is itching and burning in the vagina, which can periodically or regularly intensify during sleep, after sexual intercourse, after swimming and during menstruation.
In men, there is a burning sensation and pain during emptying of the bladder, constant or periodic itching, and a white coating on the head of the genital organ.
The drug Clotrimazole
Clotrimazole is available in both ointment and tablet form. But the tablets are not intended for oral administration. They are used as suppositories, placed in the vagina. The active substance is clotrimazole. It disrupts the production of their main component by fungal cells. As a result, the fungus first cannot reproduce and then dies. The main advantage of vaginal tablets is their low cost.
The main contraindication to the use of Clotrimazole is pregnancy. In other cases, in the absence of allergic reactions to the drug, the drug can be used both at the first manifestations of thrush and in case of relapse.
Diagnostics
To determine the presence of candidiasis, you will need to take a scraping and send it for further research to a laboratory to identify pathogenic microflora.
The main goal of laboratory diagnostics is to determine the presence of candida fungus. If the diagnosis is carried out in women, then the diagnosis of thrush is established only when there is a large number of yeast-like fungi, as well as additional symptoms of vaginal dysbiosis.
Candidiasis in men is diagnosed when there is a small number of fungi, which indicates the presence of infection. Severe symptoms will allow the urologist to conduct a more detailed examination.
Which doctor should I contact?
If symptoms appear that indicate candidiasis, a woman should consult a gynecologist, and a man should consult a urologist.
How to determine victory over thrush?
Photo: marymarkevich / freepik.com
Complete recovery from thrush is confirmed by several criteria. The first is clinical. This means the complete absence of any symptoms of candidiasis and its relapses for a long time, usually at least 6 months.
The second criterion is the results of a microbiological examination of the vagina, carried out 14 days after the end of treatment. This analysis is aimed at studying the microbial composition of the organ mucosa. With effective treatment, the analysis will not reveal candida or their ratio with other representatives of normal microflora will be within the acceptable norm.
Treatment
All medical procedures related to candidiasis should be carried out only under the supervision of the attending physician. If you try to treat yourself, thrush may transform into an acute form, into a chronic form, and there is also a possibility of an exacerbation of the condition, which will lead to further difficult treatment.
Treatment for thrush includes:
- Antibiotic therapy, personal hygiene, support and protection of the immune system.
- Adhering to a diet that will require limiting carbohydrate intake.
- Complete cessation of bad habits.
- Use of prescribed medications to combat thrush.
Medicines
In the treatment of thrush, which occurs in a mild stage, it will be enough to use local remedies such as vaginal ointments, suppositories and tablets. The most popular drugs include:
- Natamycin;
- Nystatin;
- Miconazole;
- Clotrimazole;
- Isoconazole;
- Ketoconazole.
Doctors most often prescribe drugs with clotrimazole, and avoid the use of vaginal tablets, as they can suppress the normal microflora of the vagina.
Experts prescribe tablets for candidiasis in more advanced cases, as well as in chronic cases of thrush. Almost all medicines have fluconazole as their active ingredient; itraconazole may be an alternative.
Compared to women, thrush in men occurs more easily, and as a treatment, an experienced specialist will prescribe local treatment in the form of ointments, which will need to be applied to the affected areas. In more severe cases, oral medications such as Diflucan and Fluconazole may be prescribed.
Suppositories Livarol
Suppositories for the treatment of fungal vulvovaginitis have ketoconazole as the active substance. This substance stops the vital activity of not only fungi, but also some bacteria, including staphylococcus and streptococcus. The substance helps well with primary infections. In the case of a chronic form of thrush, Livarol will not have the expected effect, because ketoconazole is a substance to which Candida fungi become resistant over time.
Livarol will cope with a mild form of thrush in 5 days. In special cases, the doctor may prescribe a 10-day course. The drug is sold in appropriate dosages: 5 and 10 suppositories per package.
The suppositories, once in the vagina, quickly take on a liquid form and envelop the mucous membranes of the organ. To achieve the maximum duration of contact of the substance with the contaminated surface, it is better to place suppositories at night. So that when the medicine becomes liquid, it does not leak out of the vagina.
Diet
For thrush in women, the diet plan should be based on consuming foods that have antibacterial and antifungal effects. These include:
- garlic;
- seafood;
- parsley;
- buckwheat;
- White rice;
- broccoli;
- natural yoghurts;
- oatmeal;
- cucumbers
For men, when diagnosing candidiasis, the diet should be followed for up to 12 months, the minimum is 4 months. During this time you should:
- Avoid consumption of spicy foods and various sauces.
- Completely abstain from alcohol for the entire period of treatment.
- There are only low-fat dishes, those that are steamed, boiled or stewed.
Myths and truth about treating thrush
Myth No. 1. Thrush is normal!
The causative agent of thrush is fungi of the genus Candida, which are classified as opportunistic microorganisms. This means that they are contained in small quantities in the microflora of the body of healthy women. This fact leads some patients to believe that periodic manifestations of thrush do not deserve attention.
This is a misconception, because normally fungal pathogens do not cause unpleasant symptoms and do not bring discomfort to their owner. But in large quantities, Candida becomes dangerous, so thrush needs to be treated.
Myth No. 2. If thrush is not treated, it will go away on its own
This misconception, propagated on many websites, has led to the spread of chronic thrush among young women.
The primary symptoms of the disease - severe itching and curdled discharge, characteristic of the acute phase of the disease, indeed, even without treatment, gradually fade away. But this is a false sense of recovery. After some time, the troubles will return again - at the moment when the body experiences severe physical or psychological stress. In addition, the recurrence of thrush is facilitated by changes in hormonal levels, which occurs during menstruation and during pregnancy.
Myth No. 3. One tablet is enough to treat thrush!
The advertisement claims that after taking one capsule of the miracle drug, a woman will forever forget about the symptoms of thrush. Yes, the thrush may go away, but it will be replaced by severe dysbiosis, vaginosis and other diseases associated with disturbances in the vaginal microflora.
All antifungal agents used in the treatment of candidiasis (thrush) are drugs that specifically suppress pathological flora. At the same time, a safe drug should have a gentle effect on the mucous membrane without causing dysbacteriosis. In other words, he should treat smoothly, leaving time for the body to adapt. Whereas the “killer dose” will destroy both the causative agent of thrush and all living things, freeing up a springboard for colonization by new fungi and bacteria.
In addition, thrush rarely comes alone. Analysis (smear) sometimes reveals a whole bunch of STDs. In this case, combination treatment is required.
Myth No. 4. Local remedies for thrush are useless
Topical antifungal drugs quickly suppress fungal growth and play an important role in the treatment of thrush. Candles, creams, gels and sprays do not cause side effects and have no restrictions on use. But local therapy is considered by gynecologists exclusively as an additional measure, since it is effective only in the early stages of the development of pathology.
At the same time, suppositories and ointments are the drugs of choice in the treatment of candidiasis in pregnant and lactating women.
Myth No. 5. The appearance of thrush does not depend on lifestyle
The development of thrush always has a specific cause. Frequent stress, poor diet and heavy physical activity, which weaken the immune system, activate the fungal flora. Failure to comply with personal hygiene rules also affects the state of the vaginal microflora; in addition, the disease can be acquired by changing partners and using traumatic sex toys.
Another, perhaps significant reason is the uncontrolled use of antibiotics that affect the flora of the body. Broad-spectrum antibacterial drugs are not able to distinguish “bad” bacteria from “good” ones; they kill everything not only in the vagina, but also in the stomach and intestines. Therefore, lovers of self-medication are in for a surprise in the form of dysbiosis and accompanying candidiasis.
Myth No. 6. The most effective treatment for thrush is traditional medicine!
Traditional methods of treating candidiasis usually come down to the use of infusions and decoctions of herbs for washing and douching the vagina. For this purpose, herbs with antibacterial and antifungal effects are used.
These measures are good only as an aid to the main treatment, but thrush cannot be cured in this way. For quality treatment of vaginal candidiasis, you need to take antifungal drugs, immunostimulants and vitamins. Only this set of medications is guaranteed to reduce the likelihood of relapse of the disease.
Prevention
Prevention of thrush:
- It is important to wear underwear made exclusively from natural fabrics. It should be such that it does not rub anywhere;
- when playing sports, it is recommended to wash your sports uniform as often as possible;
- in order to maintain hygiene of the genital organs, they should be washed only with water, using a special mild soap;
- Hygiene products should not contain dyes or fragrances;
- for those who suffer from diabetes, blood sugar control should be constant;
- adhere to proper nutrition and actively walk in the fresh air to support your immune system.
Why thrush develops: causes of candidiasis
The main cause of the disease is fungi of the genus Candida. Normally, the fungus lives in the body of any person, but under certain circumstances, as a result of the influence of various predisposing factors, it begins to actively multiply. Therefore, such microorganisms are called opportunistic.
Normal vaginal microflora keeps the fungus from excessively multiplying. When it changes (dysbiosis), the growth of Candida increases, and thrush .
Stimulate the activation of infection:
- hormonal changes in the body: pregnancy, menopause, diseases of the endocrine system (diabetes, thyroid problems), incorrect selection of birth control pills;
- violation of personal hygiene rules and wearing synthetic underwear - the fungus loves dampness, warmth and does not like fresh air;
- douching, using aggressive cleaning agents;
- the presence of sexually transmitted infections, inflammation of the internal female organs, infection with thrush from a partner;
- diseases accompanied by changes in the concentration of sex hormones in the blood,
- pregnancy and chronic foci of infection in the body, weakening the immune system;
- uncontrolled use of antibiotics, which destroy, along with parasitic flora, beneficial lactobacilli - protectors of the mucous membrane.
It’s easy to provoke candidiasis: just walk around in tight synthetic panties in the heat. The fungus develops instantly in such conditions - it loves moisture, warmth, and does not need air.
Soda
Baking soda is one of the most popular folk remedies, with which the treatment of thrush goes away quite quickly. The action of soda changes the composition of the vaginal environment, making it unsuitable for fungal life.
Important. This method is considered one of the most accessible and safe, and can also be used for children.
Treatment with soda is allowed during pregnancy.
The solution for the procedures is prepared from a tablespoon of soda and a liter of warm water. It can be used to wipe the external genitalia, as a personal hygiene product, or for douching.
Fact. The last option is considered the most effective. This folk method of treating thrush quickly gets rid of discharge, because... cleanses the vagina and destroys fungi.
Douching, like other methods, can be used twice a day. The volume of the solution can range from 300 ml to one liter. To carry out the procedure, it is best to use a syringe or enema. The water pressure should be low, otherwise the infection may spread further through the fallopian tubes, and the temperature of the solution should be 37-38 degrees.
Important! A course of douching with any solutions and other liquids should not exceed 10 days, since abuse of the procedure can disrupt the vaginal microflora and aggravate dysbacteriosis.
During pregnancy, any kind of douching is prohibited
Advice. For greatest effectiveness, you can add a teaspoon of iodine tincture to the prepared soda solution. This solution is best used as gynecological baths: the procedure should be carried out while sitting in a basin with the prepared liquid, its duration is 15-20 minutes.
Treatment of thrush at home with folk remedies is best combined with drug treatment: this way the result will appear faster and the risk of relapse will be reduced.
Essential oils
Essential oils are used to treat many diseases, including thrush. With their help, you can quickly get rid of the unpleasant symptoms of thrush, as well as reduce the activity of fungi and restore the vaginal microflora. They cannot be used in their pure form: essential oils are added a few drops to the main oil of plant origin.
Important! Before using essential oils, you must make sure that you are not allergic to them: to do this, apply a small amount of oil to the skin of the elbow - if after a few hours there are no changes, then you can begin treatment.
How to cure thrush with folk remedies using essential oils? First of all, it is necessary to select all the necessary components of treatment. All essential oils have healing properties, but tea tree oil and lavender oil are the best for thrush. They are mixed with grape seed oil, olive, sea buckthorn or almond oil. To create the mixture, you need to add about 10 drops of essential oil to 15 ml of base oil.
Advice. It is best to make tampons from a mixture of oils. To do this, you need to make a tampon from a medical bandage, lightly moisten it in a mixture of oils and leave it in the vagina overnight. If strong discomfort occurs, it is better to stop the procedure.
You can douche with warm water, to which add 2-3 drops of essential oil per 250 ml of liquid.
