Say no to scent

To help prevent a thrush attack, avoid using perfumed soaps, shower gels and bubble baths.

Want to avoid thrush? Try watching the soaps you use. Despite common misconceptions, thrush is not a sexually transmitted disease (although you can pass it to your partner). Instead, it is caused by a type of yeast that lives in your body.

Normally, this yeast, called Candida Albicans, is harmless, but if your body balance is altered, the Candida can multiply, triggering a thrush attack. Scented soaps, shower gels, bubble bath, disinfectants and deodorants all contain chemicals that can make the infection more likely.

If you get thrush, however, you have many over the counter options to treat it with (although you should always go to the doctor if it is the first time you develop it, or if you have had it more than twice in six months).

Combination treatments, in particular, help clear the internal infection while soothing the external itching and soreness. For example, the new format Canesten Soft Gel Pessary Combi* is a handy pack containing one soft, comfortable, tear-drop-shaped pessary to fight the infection and a tube of Canesten double strength** thrush cream to relieve the itch and soreness, and help you feel like yourself again.

For more information on intimate health, visit www.canesten.co.uk

*Canesten Soft Gel Pessary Combi 500mg Soft Gel Pessary & 2% w/w Cream contains Clotrimazole. Always read the label. For the treatment of thrush.

** Compared to Canesten 1% Cream