Recurrent thrush / TTC

[Williams3001]

Feeling quite defeated today, and in need of a bit of a rant, and maybe some solidarity. I've been getting recurring thrush pretty much the last 6 months and having a ballache trying to see a GP (symptoms disappeared for one cycle, then had to reschedule twice because of AF – and GP has a stupid online system and reception won't let you book over the phone – or even in person!). Anyway, I finally got the swab but AF arrived fifteen minutes before the appointment, so GP said we have to retest. She's almost certain it's thrush but won't prescribe anything without a positive test, so we're stuck waiting another few weeks for test/results.

All the while, me and DH had been planning to TTC this month, but obviously we can't do that if I have to take a fluconazole pill. GP said treatment options are either a high-dose fluconazole or a 3–6-month treatment, so we're looking at maybe March as the earliest we could TTC, but possibly June (!?!). And even then, I know pregnancy hormones (if/when I do conceive) mean it's likely I'll get thrush again anyway, so I'm wondering what's the point... anyone else had a similar situation?

You can treat recurrent thrush with the pessary weekly for 6 months and continue TTC

I had thrush during my first trimester. It was only for about three weeks or so and it was treated twice with the pessary on prescription. I think it's quite common as hormonal imbalances can trigger it.

When I got my second pessary from the gp, she said that some women have a pessary every week throughout their pregnancies. So it can still be treated, just not with the oral medication.

I think I would wait to get the swab though I think, as if it's something else it would probably be good to know what it is before trc.

Thanks for your replies. It’s really relieving to hear that pessaries are another option for recurring treatment if needed. I didn’t realise you could have them so frequently whilst pregnant but it does make sense!

As an update: I got the swab and it came back as thrush (luckily before Christmas as I was worried we wouldn’t get results until the new year. The GP doesn’t think it’s chronic/recurring new infections, rather that it’s one infection that I just haven’t managed to budge, so we’ve done three doses of 150 fluconazole (72 hours/3 days apart). It takes about 7 days (but up to 11 days from what I’ve read online) to get out of my system so we should be safe to TTC next cycle (mid-Jan).

I had recurrent thrush for almost 3 yrs! I’m pretty sure it was hormon related.

alongside all the prescribed medication, I also used this - www.boots.com/multi-gyn-actigel-50ml-10137883 (although I bulk buy from amazon)
it works by keeping vagina at a PH were the Candida cannot grow but good bacteria can. There is also another version marketed for thrush, but that comes in separate tubes and works out much more expensive. I use a medicine syringe to apply about 2,5ml rather than the applicator. It contains natural ingredients and is safe to use in pregnancy.

it has really improved my life and only thing that has worked for me long term. I now use it as soon as there is any dryness or soreness, after sex and after being in any water eg bath or swimming and couldn’t tell you the last time I needed prescription medication for thrush!