Canesten *pessery* in pregnancy? ....

[EnchantedWithEdwardCullen]

Have had recuring thrush and pharmacist wouldn't sell me internal cream 'incase I use it wrong and then ummm.. wellll... (she points to belly) y'know....'

Went to GP who umm and ahhhed, went through books, phoned another doctor and finally prescribed pessery only to add 'if I feel funny remove the pessery and come back to us ASAP'

and then the leaflet inside says to the effect of 'if you GP/midwife has prescribed this durning pregnancy pleas etake extra care when using the applicator'

SHOULD i be using this??

have you tried less medical methods like natural yogurt etc? might be less worrying.

Ive had the external cream, but it keeps coming back, the GPP said 'everything' needs treating at once to get rid once and for all.

Haven't tried natural yogurt as Ive had the external cream for weeks and its been keeping it at bay, but returns

poor you, that sounds deeply uncomfortable.

I guess i'd be asking

• what are the risks (both of using it and not using it, iyswim)?
• what's the alternative? are there any alternatives?
• what happens if you don't do anything?

I wouldn't use it before getting some more info, but I'm a worrier.

good luck - don't scratch.

I was on a thrush website this morning, just looked it up again for you and it says this -
Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Pessaries and creams are not well absorbed into the body?s circulation and are therefore unlikely to affect a developing foetus, but there has been little research into their use during pregnancy. Treatments with clotrimazole have been used by pregnant women for years and are considered safe. But iodine-based pessaries, such as betadine for recurrent thrush, should not be used during pregnancy. Some experts advise against using econazole during the first three months of pregnancy. If you are pregnant and have thrush, talk to your doctor or midwife about treatment.

the site is www.womenshealthlondon.org.uk/leaflets/thrush/thrushtreat.html

I've had terrible thrush with this pregnancy and came up against the same situation as you. My GP said that the pessary was fine, just to insert it with my finger rather than the applicator.

I bought mine from the supermarket rather than a chemist to avoid any conversations about it.

I had it prescribed to me by the midwife. She didn't check anything so I assume that she prescribes it regularly. I was just told to be carefull using the applicator.

It didn't have any bad effects for me, DD is 8 days old and perfect

Im 29 weeks so not in the first 3 months.

might just not use the applicator.

I was given one by the midwifes whe I was full term with Dd. They didn't have any problems with it, can't remeber if I was given it earlier on as well though.

I had them twice when pregnant with dd1, was absolutely fine. Wasn't even told anything about being careful with the applicator.

I had horrible thrush when pg with DS and was prescribed a course of about 6 pessaries by the GP. It got rid of the thrush and DS (5 next month) is fine

my antenatal clinic had cupboards full of pessaries which they handed out willy nilly when i was pg. you'll be fine.

I had Thrush for the first time when I was pregnant. I was prescribed the pessary and cream by my GP when I was about 6 months pregnant and dd appears to be fine.

Your baby is in your Uterus,and your Cervix is closed.Putting a Pessary in,with or without an applicator shouldn't be a problem.

If you touch the cervix with the tip you would know,it would be uncomfortable,but you'd have to be very rough to cause any contact damage,and still don't see how this could interfere with a pregnancy....

Just insert into vagina low down. No problem.

thanks,

i used it.

Do you just leave it? how long before you can have a bath/shower?

Yes you leave it,and you can bath/shower straight away.Although Shower might be better as it will "dissolve" with body heat,and obviously a warm bath may speed thngs up.

You will also get some Chalky/Powdery discharge.

Thanks alot.

i used it a couple of times thru both my pregnancies, once it was given to me by the hospital, they never told me not to use the aplicator