Women's health is fragile. Stress, bad habits, abuse of junk food not only affect the appearance, but also lead to a weakening of the body. In such a situation, the risk of many diseases increases at times. And if you recall the dislike of girls and women for a regular visit to the gynecologist, it becomes clear why many women suffer from such an ailment as thrush. Consider why thrush occurs in women, symptoms and treatment of the disease.
Disease Description
Thrush (candidiasis colpitis, vaginal candidiasis) is a gynecological disease caused by an increase in the number of yeast-like fungi of the genus Candida. A certain number of microorganisms is necessary to maintain a normal level of Ph mucous membranes. When the number of bacteria becomes excessive, this indicates the presence of candidiasis disease. In common people, the name "thrush" is used, because white curdled discharge from the vagina is associated with milk.
If a future mother has candidiasis, this is a serious cause for concern, because the disease can go to the baby in the womb. The probability that the baby gets sick is about 70%. According to the Ministry of Health, candidiasis accounts for 30% of all cases of sexually transmitted diseases that are referred to specialists. And when you consider that many are treated independently at home, this figure will be much larger. We found out what thrush is in women, we will talk about symptoms and treatment later.
Symptoms of thrush
As they say, the enemy needs to be known in person, therefore, we will analyze the signs of thrush in women. Symptoms of the disease can be pronounced or barely noticeable. The first sign is discomfort in the genital area. Burning and itching are felt. If you ask women who have suffered this disease what thrush is, the most popular answer will be white discharge.
Indeed, with candidiasis they are plentiful, thick, lumpy, with an unpleasant sour smell. The mucous membrane of the vagina and external genitalia is very irritated, redness is observed. In this case, it is important to overcome the desire to scratch inflamed areas, otherwise there will be a deeper penetration of bacteria into the tissues of the genital organs.
During the disease, the acidity of the mucous membrane increases, which increases the risk of injury. Small cracks appear that cause severe pain, especially during urination and sexual intercourse. This is another sign of thrush in women. Possible swelling of the genital organs, and bleeding in advanced cases.
If you do not take any action for a long time, this will lead to an increase in the symptoms of thrush in a woman. Treatment should be started in a timely manner and not postpone a visit to the gynecologist if the above symptoms are present.
Causes of the disease
In eastern medicine, any disease is associated with an imbalance in the body. Traditional medicine provides a list of specific causes of thrush in women. Here are the main ones:
- Long-term use of antibiotics tops the list of causes of vaginal candidiasis. Potent drugs are prescribed for the treatment of serious diseases. Antibiotics, suppressing the spread of some microorganisms, contribute to the growth of others, in this case Candida fungi.
- Thrush develops against a background of weakened immunity. The regulatory functions of the body constantly maintain a balance of “good” and “bad” microflora, but when the defenses are weakened, the disease appears.
- Metabolic disorders provokes the development of candidiasis. If a woman is ill with diabetes, protein and fat metabolism are disrupted in the body, and the environment becomes favorable for pathogens.
- If there are hormonal disorders, a woman may very likely find out what a thrush is. Among the factors affecting the hormonal background, there are: oral contraceptives, pregnancy, the menstrual cycle.
- For Candida mushrooms to grow actively, a certain environment is needed. Eating a large number of refined products (white flour, sugar, refined rice), as well as dairy products and yeast-based products increase the risk of thrush.
- In order to never know what thrush is, a woman should observe elementary norms of intimate hygiene. Wearing tight underwear made of synthetic materials, an unchanged sanitary pad or tampon on time, creates favorable conditions for yeast-like fungi.
Types of thrush
There are several classifications of female candidiasis. By the nature of the disease, the following groups are distinguished:
- For true candidiasis, a vivid clinical picture is characteristic. In this case, there is a large number of Candida fungi and milk bacteria.
- With candidacy, a woman is a carrier of bacteria, but the body copes well with their activity. The number of fungi does not exceed the norm, the symptoms of the disease are also absent. In this case, treatment is not required.
From what place of the female reproductive system is affected, three types of thrush are distinguished:
- candidal colpitis, if the vagina is affected;
- vulvitis, with damage to the external genitalia;
- vulvovaginitis, with a combination of candidal colpitis and vulvitis.
Diagnosis of candidiasis
To know what to expect at a gynecologist’s appointment, we’ll get acquainted with which tests are taken and which tests are performed to identify a woman with thrush. What is a smear, I think, is known to every girl who has reached a certain age. To identify Candida, a specialist takes a swab from different sections of the vagina. This bacteriological study helps to determine the causative agent of the disease, as well as select drugs that are effective against a particular fungus. In addition, the gynecologist makes a visual examination of the genitals and asks the patient about the symptoms.
Before going to the hospital, you should not wash yourself so that a specialist can diagnose a woman with thrush. It is also important to know the gynecologist how the discharge looks and what smell it is. This is not the case when you need to be shy, because we are talking about health. Answer all the questions of the gynecologist in detail. Tell us about when the first signs of the disease began, how the symptoms changed, whether you had previously had thrush or other sexually transmitted diseases.
It will be necessary to provide information on the menstrual cycle and means of protection against unwanted pregnancy, if sexual activity is being conducted. The doctor may ask about the presence of diseases, including chronic and transmitted in childhood. You need to tell in detail about taking antibiotics: what drugs were taken, when and what time, for the treatment of what diseases. It is important to provide information in detail and honestly so that the doctor selects treatment. Symptoms of thrush in women can be different, and one case may not be similar to another.
Drug treatment
Let's talk about how to treat thrush in women. Gynecologists, as a rule, prefer antifungal drugs. It can be both local action agents (suppositories, ointments), and complex preparations (tablets, capsules). Treatment of thrush in women with local drugs is possible with a mild form of the disease. If the disease is neglected or proceeds in a severe form, complex therapy is used.
Local treatment
Such a remedy for thrush for women, like candles, is considered the most effective form of therapy. Candles are in the form of a torpedo, due to which they are easily inserted deep into the vagina, providing a therapeutic effect on the entire mucous membrane. For local treatment, the following vaginal tablets and suppositories are often used:
- "Clotrimazole" - 100 mg vaginal tablets. Inside the vagina, 1 tablet is administered in the evening before bedtime. The course is 6 days. Side effects include itching, burning, swelling and vaginal discharge, as well as frequent urination and headache. The drug is contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation. If signs of intolerance appear, stop taking it.
- "Zalain" - vaginal suppositories. The active substance is sertaconazole nitrate. The drug is administered intravaginally once. Re-use is possible after 7 days. Pregnancy and lactation are not contraindications to taking Zalain, but only a doctor determines this. Side effects in the form of itching and burning, as well as an allergic reaction, are rarely possible.
- Irunin - 200 mg vaginal tablets. The active substance is itraconazole. The tablet is administered in the evening before bedtime. The course is from one to two weeks. Contraindicated use up to 12 weeks of pregnancy, as well as with strong sensitivity to the components of the drug. Side effects in the form of itching, burning and rash are rarely observed.
- "Livarol" - 400 mg vaginal suppositories. The active substance is ketoconazole. It is injected deep into the vagina 1 time per day. The course is 3-5 days. For the treatment of a chronic form, the period increases to 10 days. Contraindicated in the first three months of pregnancy and in the presence of sensitivity to the drug. Side effects are expressed by itching, rash, irritation and swelling of the vaginal mucosa.
Ointments and creams are used to treat inflammation of the vaginal mucosa and skin candidiasis. As a rule, they are well tolerated, do not cause side effects in the form of itching and burning. Ointments are used to treat external affected areas, so there is no effect on internal organs (liver, kidneys), as is the case with thrush tablets for women. Among ointments, such drugs are often prescribed:
- Clotrimazole;
- Pimafucin;
- "Ketoconazole";
- "Nystatin."
As a rule, the affected areas are treated with ointment 2-3 times a day, and the course of treatment is from 10 days to 2 weeks. Side effects include burning, itching, hives, and allergies. A contraindication to the use of ointments is hypersensitivity to the components. The possibility of using the drug during pregnancy and lactation is determined by the doctor.
Systemic therapy
The disadvantage of broad-acting antifungal drugs is that they affect all organs and systems of the body. But in advanced cases, you can not do without them. When taking antimycotics, the destruction of beneficial microflora is possible, which will lead to dysbiosis. Therefore, along with antifungal drugs, drugs are prescribed to maintain a healthy intestinal flora.
If the disease has an acute and chronic form, as well as with visceral candidiasis, when the skin and internal organs are affected by fungi, complex preparations will be used in the treatment. Among them: "Fluconazole", "Itraconazole" and their analogues. Tablets are taken strictly according to the instructions and as prescribed by the doctor. List of side effects of complex antimycotics:
- nausea;
- diarrhea;
- cramps
- dizziness;
- flatulence;
- allergic reactions;
- headache;
- menstrual irregularities.
"Fluconazole" can not be taken to children under 6 years of age, as well as during pregnancy and lactation. The use of Itraconazole cannot be combined with the administration of Cisapride, Astemizole, Terfenadine, Misolastine, Triazolam, Lovastatin. If there are diseases of the liver and kidneys, drugs are prescribed with caution.
Folk remedies for candidiasis
Home treatment of thrush in women by specialists is not recommended. Alternative medicine can be prescribed by a doctor, as an addition to the main therapy. A diet will help to cure the disease. Sweets and flour products, as well as sweet fruits and drinks, should be excluded or significantly limited from the diet. Prohibited pasta and white yeast bread. All these products create a favorable environment for the growth of Candida mushrooms.
If we turn to traditional medicine, then, according to women, thrush is most often treated with soda, chamomile and kefir in the form of douching, washing and bathing. Procedures must be carried out very carefully, avoiding pressure, so as not to damage the cervix and vagina. Consider the popular recipes for thrush in women at home:
- A solution for douching is prepared from baking soda. In one liter of water, one teaspoon of soda is bred. Water should be comfortably warm. A soda solution leaches yeast-like fungi and creates an alkaline environment in the vagina. The product is effective with regular use at least twice a day. Between douching, you can wash with the same solution.
- A decoction of daisies is also douched. To do this, two tablespoons of chamomile flowers are poured with one liter of boiling water. The mixture is put on low heat and brought to a boil. The broth is allowed to cool to 37 ° C. Douching is best in the evening, after giving the procedure 10 minutes.
- Chamomile baths can help relieve symptoms of thrush. First, prepare an infusion of two tablespoons of chamomile and 1 liter of boiling water. After 30 minutes, the infusion is filtered and added to the basin, with 10 liters of warm water prepared in advance. Take such a bath is necessary for 10-15 minutes.
- Kefir is recommended for use with thrush both inside and in the form of douching. In the second case, they take 200 ml of kefir heated to 37 ° C and irrigate the vagina. The procedure is carried out in the morning and evening for 7 days.
Complications of thrush
Thrush, especially chronic, can lead to problems of the genitourinary system such as inflammation of the bladder (cystitis), inflammation of the urethra (urethritis), inflammation of the cervical mucosa (cervicitis). Repeated thrush may indicate a weakened immune system, the presence of diabetes mellitus or HIV.
Difficulties arise with the development of thrush in pregnant women. In this case, not only the woman suffers, but also the unborn child. During pregnancy, the fetus is safe, but at birth Candida fungi easily fall on the baby's mucous membranes. Candidiasis violates the elasticity of tissues, therefore, during childbirth, the number of ruptures increases and in general the process goes more complicated. It is important not to leave the disease on its own, and in time to take up treatment.
Candidiasis Prevention
A disease is always easier to prevent than to cure. To minimize the risk of disease, follow simple rules:
- Follow the rules of personal hygiene. Gaskets and tampons must be changed every 4-5 hours.
- Reduce the amount of sugar and fast carbohydrates in your diet. For sweets, use honey and dried fruits, and then in a small amount.
- Take antibiotics only as directed by your doctor along with probiotics to maintain normal microflora.
- Replace synthetic underwear with natural fabric that allows the skin to “breathe”.
- Strengthen your immune system and treat other diseases in a timely manner.
Men also suffer from thrush or may be its carriers. Therefore, ask your partner to check for Candida mushrooms.
Women's reviews
On the Internet there are a lot of thematic forums on the topic “thrush in women”. Judging by the reviews, there is no single treatment regimen for this ailment. But if you choose between candles and pills, preference is given to candles. From folk remedies praise washing with soda solution and tampons with kefir, which are introduced into the vagina at night.
To prevent the disease, it is important to know why thrush occurs in women. Symptoms and treatment will be different depending on the form and nature of candidiasis. Use the recommendations described above and do not experiment with health. At the first sign of illness, consult a gynecologist.