What you need to know about thrush and medicines

All of a sudden you are itchy, red and sore down below, and notice a whitish discharge. Chances are you have got thrush. As common as it is annoying, this infection is caused by an overgrowth of Candida Albicans, a yeast that usually lives harmlessly in your body but, in some conditions, can proliferate and make you very uncomfortable.

Lifestyle choices such as wearing loose clothes can help control the yeast's numbers. Sometimes, however, it is harder to avoid thrush triggers. For example, taking antibiotics can alter the balance of bacteria that live in your vagina and make it more likely for the Candida to overgrow. If you tend to get thrush often, it is wise to tell your doctor about it when he prescribes you a course of antibiotics.

The infection can also develop if your vagina's hormonal balance is altered and some women believe they get more frequent attacks when they are taking the pill. However, no link has actually been proven between the two, so if you are getting thrush regularly (or if it is the very first time you suffer from it), see your doctor to rule out other causes.

The good news is that you can treat thrush easily with over the counter products. Combinations treatment such as the new format Canesten Soft Gel Pessary Combi 500mg Soft Gel Pessary & 2% w/w - which combines a single pessary designed to fit the contours of your body with a tube of double strength* thrush cream-help clear the internal infection while relieving the external itching and soreness, so you can be back up and running soon.

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