Women are prone to vaginal thrush between puberty and the menopause because, under the influence of the hormone oestrogen, the cells lining the vagina produce a sugar and yeasts (which is what Candida albicans is) are attracted to sugars.
Significant hormonal changes in women, such as during pregnancy or when taking oral contraceptive pills, can also increase the likelihood of oral thrush. Age is another factor that is associated with risk of oral thrush.
Fluctuations in estrogen can lead to an overgrowth of yeast and eventually a yeast infection. Therefore, some women notice that they get yeast infections more often during perimenopause when hormone levels start to change.
Women with high estrogen levels have an increased risk of developing genital thrush caused by Candida albicans.
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. Thrush should clear up within 7 to 14 days of starting treatment. You do not need to treat partners unless they have symptoms.
In the same hormonal vein, pregnancy also increases your likelihood of developing thrush. When you're pregnant, the levels of oestrogen and progesterone in your body change, which can cause the levels of bacteria and yeast in your vagina to change, too.
When you go through menopause, your menstrual periods stop and your ovaries stop making hormones, including estrogen. This leads to changes in the female reproductive system. For some women, these changes can cause recurring yeast infections -- even though they're rare after menopause.
Hormonal imbalances are linked to yeast infections. People are more likely to get candidiasis if they're pregnant, on hormonal contraception, and around their period. This is because it disrupts your body's natural balance of progesterone and estrogen.
What causes thrush? Your vagina naturally has a certain amount of yeast. Thrush is caused by the growth of too much yeast. You are more likely to get thrush if you have recently taken antibiotics, you have diabetes or your immune system is weakened (for example, because you have HIV).
A lack of regular hygiene practices, such as daily showers and brushing your teeth, or a constantly damp environment can also lead to chronic yeast infections. You're also at risk of recurring yeast infections if you have a weakened immune system.
Drugs such as prednisone, inhaled corticosteroids, or antibiotics that disturb the natural balance of microorganisms in your body can increase your risk of oral thrush. Other oral conditions. Wearing dentures, especially upper dentures, or having conditions that cause dry mouth can increase the risk of oral thrush.
It's normally kept in check by other bacteria and microorganisms in the body. When illnesses, stress, or medications disturb this balance, the fungus grows out of control and causes thrush. Medications that can make yeast flourish and cause infection include: Corticosteroids.
Babies, young children and elderly people are at a particularly high risk of developing oral thrush, as are people with certain underlying conditions, including diabetes, an iron deficiency or vitamin B12 deficiency, an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) and HIV.
Thrush can be confused with other conditions that cause itching and redness with or without discharge. These other conditions include herpes infections and bacterial infections. Your doctor will examine you and take a swab or do further tests to confirm the diagnosis.
Some of the most well researched probiotic strains shown to help with thrush in clinical trials are Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14® and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1®.
Symptoms of high progesterone are similar to premenstrual syndrome and can include anxiety and agitation, bloating, breast swelling and tenderness, depression, fatigue, and weight gain.
albicans infection and reduces the inhibitory activity of epithelial cells against Candida. Progesterone, on the other hand, has no demonstrable effect on the vaginal infection or on systemic and/or local immune responsiveness associated with the infection.
Avoid using perfumed soaps and shower gels or other products which can irritate your skin. If you have Thrush, it's best to avoid having sex until you've completed a course of treatment and the infection has cleared up.