Persistent thrush - TMI

[PugPupsMum]

I’ve had thrush now for close to 3 months!

I’ve been to the docs and been prescribed 2 different treatments (both antibiotic topical creams), both of which have eased the symptoms temporarily but not got rid of the infection altogether.

I don’t know what to do at this stage. It’s not particularly itchy but the colour is definitely not right (greenish! )

What shall I do? Go back to doctors again?!

Antibiotics will not treat a fungal infection. Have you used pessaries? Normally need a course of them

I'm 28 weeks and just about to treat it for the 3rd time now. I get given the pessary and cream the pessary does clear it up but only 4 about 1/2 weeks then it comes creeping back

Midwife didn't seem concerned just said it was normal.
Mine also has a green tinge 🙈

From what I've read you need a course of pessaries over 3-7 days so a one off pessary would not be that effective

Have you been having sex at all? As your partner would need to be treated as well or you will just keep catching again

I think I’ve got thrush. Been driving me mad now for 3 days. Do you go to the Drs or get the stuff over the counter at the pharmacy? X

I ended up being prescribed antifungal tablets for persistent thrush for 21 days and finally the thrush went. I had been driving me bonkers.

It had !

Thanks for the replies.

Both times i’ve seen the doctors they have prescribed a cream. The first was an anti fungal cream. The 2nd was a canestan cream but was inserted up into the vaginal with a plastic plunger thing - so like a pessary.

Like PPs have said, docs seem very unconcerned & basically told me its part & parcel of pregnancy.

Somewhat glad to hear it’s not just me but it’s certainly not healthy and is there any cause for concern for my baby?

@Starlight I went to GP because 1) free prescriptions and 2) I assumed what they’d prescribe would be more effect - but it clearly hasn’t been!

I’m a sexual health doctor and I treat women with persistent thrush. It’s very common in pregnancy and there’s no evidence it will harm the baby. It is very annoying and I’d see your local clinic if GP isn’t helpful - you may need a longer or more structured course of treatment. Just to respond to some points above

1. Oral antifungal tablets shouldn’t be prescribed in pregnancy. Pessaries are safe

2. antifungal cream applied to the vulva alone is rarely enough to treat thrush - the internal cream is as you say similar to using a pessary but it’s common to need to do this more than once in a pregnancy

3. there are multiple studies showing no effect or benefit from treating the male partner to reduce or prevent thrush reoccurring in the female partner so please don’t listen to those who insist this must be done.

4. a green tinge to the discharge from a bad bout of thrush is common IME but often causes concern. If you are worried about STIs of course get checked as well

I had thrush for the last 4 months of pregnancy it was awful no creams would touch it & couldn't use a pessary. It went pretty much instantly after baby was born.

*effective (typo in my last post)

@Fleabag123 Thanks for the advice. The first time I visited the GP for it they did a swab and tested me for STI’s at the same time and the results showed it was thrush and I had no STIs.

Should I just make another GP appt & explain that neither treatments they’ve prescribed previously have worked (in clearing it up completely, only reducing the symptoms temporarily)?

Do you go to the Drs or get the stuff over the counter at the pharmacy?

It's not licensed over the counter in pregnancy. You have to get it from a GP.

Yoghurt, yoghurt, yoghurt - the good stuff with all the good bacteria, not sugar-laden supermarket varieties - will help.

You could try GP again, but depending on their experience they may not be sure what to do next. If you have a local sexual health clinic try there? We see this all the time. You’ll probably need to see a doctor rather than a nurse but most clinics will have a consultant or specialty doctor who manages issues like this. Good luck

cks.nice.org.uk/candida-female-genital#!scenario:4

Nice guidelines says to use a 7 day course of intravaginal antifungals I.e. 7 days of pessaries/internal creams. The single dose you are being given is not enough

Yout can buy pessaries off the shelf in the supermarket too

@Fleabag123 Would you advise on buying over the counter treatments, are these safe in pregnancy? And likely to be effective?

Not to sound like a cheapskate but its a bit annoying that I'm having to shell out for them when I am supposedly entitled to free prescriptions.

Why not print that NICE guideline and take it with you to a gp appointment ans see if they'll prescribe it for you

You can buy over the counter if you want to but a pharmacy may refuse to sell to pregnant women - I’m not clear on the rationale for this (or even if they are actually restricted from doing this) but it’s a problem reported to me by lots of women.

I agree you probably do need a longer course so surely the cost of 7 pessaries would be higher than prescription charge?
Equally if you went to your local clinic it would be free!

Just to be clear the over the counter treatment would be a 500mg clotrimazole pessary which is safe in pregnancy, not the oral tablet