To ask for your cure for recurrent thrush?

[Soulsista14]

I get thrush like clockwork about a week before my period is due each month and it’s driving me crazy. My GP gave me a course of treatment which cleared it up temporarily but it always returns the following month. Same for any OTC treatments. Has anyone had the same problem and found something that helps? TIA

Very lucky and don't suffer but a go once told me she felt women should go knickerless in (presumably!) long skirts/dresses as much as possible. If you're not into maxi skirts or dresses, difficult one to manage.

Also it may be worth looking at your diet.

*GP

Alcohol/diet

Also; doesn't your partner need treated too?

I feel your pain as I used to get thrush every month. I limited sugar in my diet & took high dose probiotics from Holland & Barrett + multi vitamins for 3 months and haven't had thrush since (this was about 7 years ago now) ! It honestly changed my life. I also started using washable cloth sanitary towels as sometimes it can be an allergy to sanitary towels.

Quick Google and it looks like I'm wrong about treating partner.

Found this;

"If you have recurrent vaginal thrush you should never self-treat. Your doctor should take a vaginal swab with each episode of thrush to monitor your condition. Treatment options for recurrent thrush include:

combined oral and vaginal azole therapy – this means taking tablets (e.g. fluconazole capsules such as Canesoral or Diflucan) as well as using intra-vaginal anti-candidal creams (e.g. clotrimazole cream such as Canesten);

long-term (at least 6 months' treatment with an oral azole – tablets or capsules such as Nizoral (ketaconazole), Diflucan (fluconazole) or Sporanox (itraconazole);

a change of contraception to Depo-Provera (preferably for thrush) or Implanon; and
a change to a lower oestrogen dose for women taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Thrush is not a sexually transmitted disease. Generally, no benefit is shown by treating the male sexual partner of women with recurrent vaginal thrush. Only in specific circumstances (e.g. balanitis) where swabs have been taken and Candida albicans confirmed, is treatment recommended for men.

They do say to get swapped to make sure it isn't something else and/or to check the type of candida (which may affect treatment), not sure if your go did this.

That page says diet makes no difference but, if the diets a healthy one, it couldn't harm ..

I used to suffer from recurrent bouts. My local sexual health clinic has a thrush clinic. maybe phone and see if yours has. I was tested for some protein which apparently people who suffer have - I have this. They can’t do anything about this protein so not sure what the point of that test is but I guess useful to know it wasn’t anything I was doing. I’m just prone to it. Treatment was 6 months of weekly treatments. This seems to have broken the cycle and I now rarely suffer.

Cotton pants
No baths or jacuzzi
No underwear where possible
No sitting in wet clothes eg after swimming - change to a dry costume.
After showering make sure the vaginal area is completely dry.

Thanks for the replies. I have had numerous swabs at my GPs which always confirms thrush and then I’m given a course of treatment, which works but then the thrush comes back about a week before my period is due the following month. My GP said it’s related to changing hormones during my cycle, but I can’t keep going to my doctors every month. I have tried altering my diet and preventative measures such as cotton pants, making sure the area is dry after bathing, etc, but it still comes back. My partner isn’t infected as we haven’t had sex in a while due to this issue

I had this and I found my washing machine wasn't getting hot enough. I had it repaired and put all my pants in on a really really hot wash. Cured it for me

grapefruit seed oil - it's like magic - I use citricidal

My GP said it’s related to changing hormones during my cycle

Would it be worth you trying the contraceptive options mentioned above (injection or implant)?

I have the exact same problem. The only thing that fixes it for me is to be on the pill.

Wash the area with a damp cotton wool pad soaked with water and a few drops of tea tree oil. It’s cooling but clears it up for me too. If that doesn’t work after a few goes, use a tampon with a few drops of tea tree on it. Much cheaper and more effective than those expensive Canestan treatments.

I do have a mirena but GP said it’s not related to that (although a google search says otherwise )

I suffered like crazy but found it’s gone after having a baby. I’m sure it’s alcohol that causes it as I’ll have a drink now and get mild symptoms.

I also found the depo injection made it worse.

If you have a mirena definitely look at that- I had it almost constantly for the 4 months I had it

Has your doctor ruled out diabetes?

Cut down on sugar in your diet, I had recurrent thrush and when I went sugar free it stopped.

Sugar feeds yeast!