The most effective treatment is pessaries (dissolving tablets) or cream inserted into the vagina. You can buy this over the counter from a pharmacy. Other options are tablets that also do not require a prescription. These medications kill the fungus that causes thrush.
Intravaginal treatments for thrush
Because it's best to just treat the area that's affected by thrush rather than the whole body, an internal tablet (called a pessary) is often recommended.
Clotrimazole works by killing the yeast that causes the fungal infection. It usually treats thrush within 7 days but it's best to treat the infection for at least 2 weeks to stop it coming back.
This Canesten® thrush pessary is a convenient single dose treatment. Used alongside Canesten® External Cream, it lets you treat both the cause and the external symptoms of thrush. The treatment is easy to use at home and irritating thrush symptoms should begin to disappear within 2 days.
The pessary dose to treat thrush is: 100mg – use 1 pessary every night for 6 nights in a row or 2 pessaries for 3 nights in a row. 200mg – use 1 pessary (or 2 100mg pessaries) every night for 3 nights in a row.
Canesten® Thrush Oral Capsule is a convenient and effective treatment for yeast infections. The oral capsule contains an effective antifungal agent that treats the cause of thrush in both women and men. The treatment is easy to use at home or on the go and irritating symptoms should begin to disappear within 2 days.
You can use Canesten thrush treatments during day or night. However, vaginal treatments are best to be applied before you go to bed, and you can expect some leakage with the product use.
Because pessaries push against the lining of the vagina, they can irritate the mucous membranes there and even lead to pressure sores. These cause symptoms such as pain and bleeding. Pessaries can also lead to problems with bowel movements or increase the likelihood of vaginal infections.
The symptoms of thrush should disappear within three days of treatment. If no improvement is seen after seven days you must tell your doctor. If the infection returns after seven days you may use one further treatment, but if you have more than two infections within six months you should see your doctor.
Depending upon the strength of the pessary, a single dose is usually sufficient to treat the infection. If you are having your period, ask your doctor when you should use the pessary. If you are pregnant, do not use the applicator which is provided to insert the pessary, unless your doctor has recommended you to do so.
The oral antifungal tablet called fluconazole can sometimes be more effective and is a one-off dose. This can be used alongside the creams, and for women pessaries.
Fluconazole is really effective at restoring the balance of bacteria in your body, and fighting the fungi or yeast causing your thrush. It usually only takes one dose of fluconazole to clear up thrush in men and women. Some users report needing a second dose, but make sure not to take a second within 24 hours.
There are a number of different types (or species) of Candida, and some don't respond well to certain treatment. Inappropriate use of anti-fungals may lead to fungal resistance which means higher doses of treatment may be necessary, or that the anti-fungal treatment won't work at all.
Once in the vagina the pessary will melt and may leak from your vagina. You may find it more comfortable to insert the pessary before going to bed at night rather than during the day. If you do insert it during the day, sanitary towels can be used to prevent any staining of your clothes.
Side effects from the pessary or internal cream
discomfort or swelling in or around your vagina. pain or a burning or stinging feeling after putting the pessary in. lower stomach pain or pain in the pelvic area. bleeding from the vagina.
You'll usually need antifungal medicine to get rid of thrush. This can be a tablet you take, a tablet you insert into your vagina (pessary) or a cream to relieve the irritation.
To aid absorption try to lay down for 20 minutes after inserting pessaries vaginally. If used rectally then you should not open your bowels for an hour after inserting the pessary, if you do then another dose is required.
Not all women can have their symptoms successfully controlled by a pessary. Situations such as vaginal scarring, a surgically narrowed or shortened vagina or very weak pelvic floor muscles can cause pessaries to fall out or be uncomfortable.
Insert the folded pessary into the vagina (long ways) as far back as you can. It will open up into its normal shape when you let go on the ring. Use your index finger to make sure the rim is behind the pubic bone. If you are left handed, place your right foot up on a chair, low stool, or toilet.
Pain or discomfort means the pessary is not fitting correctly and should be replaced with a different size. A pink or bloody discharge could mean the pessary is rubbing against the wall of the vagina. In most cases, removal will allow the area to heal. In cases of bleeding, a visit to a nurse or doctor is needed.
Canesten 500mg Pessary is recommended for the treatment of candidal vaginitis. The pessary should be inserted into the vagina, as high as possible, using the applicator provided. Adults: One 500mg pessary should be inserted at night.
Apply a thin layer of the cream to the affected area and rub in gently. Repeat once daily, preferably before bed time. Continue treatment for 2 weeks after symptoms disappear, to avoid recurrence.
Anti-fungal treatments are highly effective if the symptoms are caused by thrush. The trouble is, Candida albicans isn't the only cause of these symptoms. One study showed that of women who treated themselves for vaginal thrush, only one-third actually had thrush, and around 14% had no infection at all.
You should also see your doctor if the itchiness and pain doesn't go away or comes back again after treatment. Although thrush is common, it is not the only thing that can cause itchiness or pain, and accidentally using anti-thrush medication when you have another condition can sometimes make that condition worse.