Thrush in women - symptoms, causes, treatment and diet

Thrush is an extremely unpleasant infectious disease of the skin and mucous membranes. Candida fungus, which provokes candidiasis, constantly lives in moderation on the human body. It is located on the skin, in the mouth, in the genitourinary and digestive systems. Problems appear when the fungus begins to develop rapidly. That's why you need to know the symptoms and treatment of thrush in women at home.

Candidiasis is a common disease in girls, which brings many inconveniences with frequent relapses. The disease affects the chest, oral cavity and vagina. Since the latter case is the most common, we’ll talk about it.

To counter candidiasis, medical and folk remedies are used. In addition, doctors have developed preventive measures that minimize the risk of this yeast infection.

Causes of candidiasis

• Low immunity.
• Hormonal changes.
• Taking oral contraceptives.
• Excess weight and diabetes.
• Intestinal dysbiosis.
• Infectious diseases.
• Improper nutrition.
• Neglect of hygiene rules.

Under normal conditions, a small amount of yeast lives in the vagina. Under the influence of certain factors, these microorganisms begin to multiply rapidly. As a result, the alkaline environment becomes acidic, which leads to the appearance of symptoms of thrush.

In some girls, the messengers of candidiasis are pronounced, in others they are hardly noticeable. Without proper treatment, the disease can develop into a chronic form, which can worsen the quality of life with constant discomfort and pain. It is necessary to begin treatment as soon as possible.

Symptoms

1. Burning and itching directly in the vagina and in the area of ​​the external genitalia. Itching manifests itself more strongly when a woman occupies a sitting position, with her legs crossed.
2. The appearance of whitish discharge with a sour smell. Sometimes the smell is absent, and the consistency of the discharge is heterogeneous, with lumps resembling cottage cheese. The volume of discharge increases sharply after sex, water procedures and sleep.
3. Redness and swelling of the labia. During urination or sexual intercourse, a woman experiences pain.

Very often after menstruation, thrush disappears, since the vaginal microflora is alkaline during menstruation. Under such conditions, yeast cannot develop. Chronic thrush appears before the menstrual cycle and it is much more difficult to deal with it. Then medicines and folk remedies will come to the rescue. Running the problem is not worth it, as it can contribute to the appearance of trichomoniasis, gonorrhea, and genital herpes.

Thrush treatment at home

Medicine is constantly evolving, as a result of which new medicines against diseases, including thrush, appear on the drugstore shelves every year. However, the methods of combating candidiasis offered by traditional medicine still remain relevant.

Medical preparations

The scheme, type of treatment for thrush, medications and their combination is prescribed only by a qualified doctor. I do not recommend self-medication, otherwise it will be more difficult to achieve the best result. In addition, irrational therapy can lead to the transition of acute thrush to a chronic form, characterized by high resistance to drugs.

It is recommended to treat acute thrush with ointments and suppositories, and relapsing or chronic - with tablets.

Pills

Fighting thrush with pills has several benefits that every girl should know.

• They kill the fungus in the genitals, destroy the microorganisms throughout the female body, even if at a certain point the concentration of fungi is low.
• They prevent the growth and growth of microorganisms and contribute to the death of mycelium.
• The list of such drugs includes Fluconazole, Difluzole, Nystatin, Mikatin, Mikomask and others. Each of these drugs is easily absorbed into the bloodstream and promptly enters the affected area.

Experts recommend treatment for both sexual partners, even if one of them does not have the clinical manifestations of candidiasis. The listed drugs are not suitable for controlling thrush during pregnancy.

Candles

Antifungal suppositories are common in the fight against thrush in women. Let's see what is the secret of the popularity of suppositories from candidiasis.

1. Quickly eliminate the symptoms of the disease, including itching, discharge and discomfort during sex.
2. The composition of some vaginal suppositories in addition to the antifungal drug also includes other important substances. The list of such drugs contains Terzhinan and Klion-D.
3. Candles for the prevention of thrush are on sale. For example, Ginezol.

Disadvantages: not suitable for external use, a good effect is achieved only in combination with tablets.

Ointments

There are frequent cases when the treatment of thrush is complex, since it is impossible to solve the problem with tablets. Then special ointments come to the rescue.

• Ideal for quick outdoor use. The list of ointments contains Pimafucin.
• They are inexpensive, easy to use and with virtually no side effects. You can apply them even to men.
• Some species contain several active ingredients. Among such funds are Polygynax and Dalacin cream.

The only drawback of ointments is that they are not suitable for use in cases where a focal infection is located deep inside. In this case, candles and capsules are used.

Folk remedies

Usually, thrush is fought with medication. However, cope with candidiasis and folk remedies, saving money. They come to the rescue when there is no opportunity to purchase medicines, during pregnancy or during lactation. Be sure to consult your doctor before using any methods of treating thrush.

1. Douching with soda. This method allowed women to effectively fight thrush at a time when there were no vaginal suppositories. To prepare a solution in a liter of water, dissolve a spoonful of soda. In order for the medicine to have a disinfecting effect on the body, add a drop of iodine to the solution.
2. Honey. When thrush is suitable for internal compresses and irrigation of the mucous membrane. Dissolve one part of honey in ten parts of water and apply for douching. In the solution, you can soak a swab of gauze and leave it in the vagina overnight. Doing honey douching is recommended before the thrush subsides.
3. Herbal irrigation. Reduce inflammation and disinfect the vagina. For morning and evening douching, a decoction of chamomile is suitable.
4. Decoction of oak bark. Douching with a decoction normalizes the microflora and heals the mucous membrane. Use is recommended only strong broth.
5. Tampons with yogurt. From a small piece of a sterile bandage, make a swab, equip it with a long thread for extraction, lower it for a moment into yogurt and deeply enter inside. In the morning, the tampon should be removed and douched with chamomile decoction. This approach will overcome thrush in two weeks.
6. Carrot juice. Increases the immunity of the vaginal mucosa. In case of illness per day, it is recommended to drink 3 glasses of juice. Suitable for douching. However, before use, dilute carrot juice with water in a ratio of 1 to 1.

Of course, I cannot guarantee that it will be possible to cope with the thrush only with folk remedies. If they are ineffective, you will have to buy medicines. And remember, candidiasis is a disease that is characterized by frequent relapses.

Thrush during pregnancy

Causes of thrush during pregnancy

• Hormonal changes. In order for the child to bear normally, the body rearranges the endocrine system. At the same time, gestagens predominate in the balance of hormones, contributing to the reproduction of yeast fungi.
• Weakened immunity. The female body sees the fetus as a genetically alien element. In the same time immunity work focused on preventing the ingestion of external genetic material. To prevent fetal rejection, Mother Nature has created a mechanism that suppresses immune defense during pregnancy, which leads to thrush.
• Predisposing factors. To the onset of the disease diabetes, chronic bowel disease, malnutrition, vitamin deficiency, use of antibiotics.

What to do if candidiasis appears while waiting for the baby? It is no secret that girls in position are not recommended to use many medications, and alternative recipes can only worsen the condition, especially if the necessary knowledge is not available. During the first weeks of pregnancy, the disease rarely appears. The likelihood of occurrence increases with increasing duration.

1. Practice shows that it is more difficult to fight thrush in the first trimester, because during this period it is undesirable to use drugs. This is because the laying of systems and organs of the fetus is carried out.
2. In the later stages, the doctor can prescribe a lot of drugs, only during pregnancy it is impossible to completely cure the ailment.
3. You can fight the disease with ointments and suppositories, regardless of the term. Tablets can be taken only as directed by a doctor. Douching with soda or manganese is strictly prohibited. Only a doctor can say is it possible during pregnancy use this or that drug.
4. During the first third of the term, you can use Pimafucin and Betanide suppositories. In the future, as prescribed by the doctor, Ginofort and Clotrimazole.

If signs of thrush appear during the process of bearing a child, try to consult a doctor immediately and begin treatment.

Diet for thrush

Practice shows that even after successful treatment, this misfortune is sure to return. Diet with thrush helps delay relapse.

What to exclude from the diet

• Exclude sweets from the diet and minimize sugar intake. Thanks to sugar, the yeast that causes candidiasis is rapidly developing. Disclaimer biscuits, cakes and soda - just a small step towards a complete rejection of products that include sugar.
• The source of sugar is also berries, fruits and natural juices. It is recommended to refuse the listed products until the disappearance of itching and discharge.
• Exclude white bread, pastries, rice and potatoes, as these foods increase blood sugar. If you can not do without such food, replace it with brown rice or whole grain bread.
• Refuse alcohol. Ideally stop drinkingbecause the effects of alcohol are damaging to the whole body.

It is necessary to refuse the listed products in the presence of pronounced signs of thrush.

What to include in the diet

The composition of the diet for thrush should include foods rich in vitamins and minerals.In addition, such a diet will appeal to young ladies who tend to lose weight.

1. The diet must necessarily include vegetables and fruits, characterized by a low sugar content, fish and cereal products. Eat lingonberries and lemons regularly, which reduce the amount of fungus.
2. Add only natural spices and seasonings to your food, including cloves, cinnamon, laurel and garlic. Yeast does not like decoctions prepared on the basis of clover, alfalfa, chamomile or plantain.
3. Cucumbers, carrots and beets. Dill, parsley, apples and plums contribute to the death of the fungus and saturate the body with vitamins.
4. Natural yoghurts, boiled eggs and seafood can be consumed without restriction.

Girls who adhere to such a diet respond positively to it.

Thrush prophylaxis

Prevention of thrush, which provides for compliance with the totality of the simplest rules, should be continuous. Undoubtedly, some ladies will be forced to change their usual way of life, but their health is worth it. If you have successfully completed the treatment or do not want to feel the unpleasant manifestations of candidiasis, listen to the following tips.

• Use barrier protection during intercourse. It's about condoms. It is imperative that girls without a regular sexual partner adhere to this rule.
• Conduct a comprehensive examination of the body and detect hidden diseases. This is especially true of diseases of the genitourinary system. Getting rid of a disease that provokes a decrease in immunity will allow you to cure thrush.
• If possible, stop taking hormonal contraceptives, under the influence of which favorable conditions for the development of fungi are created in the body.
• Remove synthetic underwear from the wardrobe. Materials that do not allow air to pass through create a greenhouse effect and increase humidity in intimate places. Silk or cotton linen is considered ideal. Underwear is often changed, washed, and thoroughly dried.
• Pay special attention to hygiene of intimate places. Moderately use perfumes, deodorants and other flavored products.
• After water procedures, wipe the genitals dry. Remember, you even need to wipe yourself correctly, otherwise the likelihood of bacteria entering will increase significantly. You need to do this from front to back.
• Refuse frequent douching. Together with pathogenic microorganisms, beneficial microflora is washed out of the vagina, which is replaced by a fungus.
• Refuse a strict diet and pay attention good nutritionbecause strict restrictions weaken the body.
• Refuse alcohol and cigarettes. This will not only delay the next appearance of thrush, but also beneficially affect the work of all systems and organs.

Now you clearly know what thrush is, what symptoms it has and how to treat it with folk and medical means.