Thrush or vaginal candidiasis is one of the most common gynecological diseases of women around the world. It is manifested by a number of unpleasant symptoms, and without proper treatment, thrush leads to a number of negative consequences. It is caused by Candida. In women, symptoms can be pronounced. When certain signs appear, you need to start the correct treatment, which the doctor will prescribe. What is thrush and what are the features of its treatment will be discussed later in the article.
General information about the disease
Almost every second representative of the fair sex on our planet in various situations has encountered such a disease as thrush. It is caused in women by Candida fungus (a photo of the pathogen under a microscope is presented below).
It is a yeast-like microorganism. The genus Candida includes many species. All of them belong to opportunistic microorganisms. The composition of the normal microflora of the vagina, mouth, and colon includes Candida fungi, but their number is regulated by the human immune system.
The disease begins to develop at a time when the population of yeast-like fungi begins to increase excessively. Therefore, candidiasis can occur at any age in both sexes. Even newborns can have this ailment. In infants, Candida fungi most often develop in the mouth. They look like white plaque.
However, an increased concentration of Candida fungus in women is most often diagnosed. The causes of this disease are associated with local or general decrease in immunity. The vaginal microflora is quite vulnerable, and many adverse factors affect it. As a result, the balance between the microorganisms that make up the normal microflora of the vagina is disturbed. The fungus begins to multiply uncontrollably.
This causes a number of unpleasant symptoms and requires the advice of an experienced gynecologist. He will conduct a comprehensive diagnosis. Of course, an experienced doctor will be able to say at the examination that the woman has thrush. However, to select the appropriate drug, you will need to determine the type of yeast-like fungi, as well as their sensitivity to certain drugs.
The presented disease without proper treatment quickly turns into a chronic form. In this case, it can proceed almost imperceptibly, recalling itself only periodically. This is a rather dangerous condition. In this case, only the correct diagnosis can identify the fungus. Treatment of chronic candidiasis can be very lengthy.
Why is thrush dangerous?
Treatment of Candida fungus in women is a must. By itself, this ailment will not pass. He will quickly switch from acute to chronic form. In this case, it will be much more difficult to restore the balance of microorganisms on the vaginal mucosa.
If you do not treat thrush, this results in a series of unpleasant symptoms and conditions. And against the backdrop of this ailment, secondary genital infections begin to develop. This is caused by a local or general decrease in immunity. In addition, erosion develops on the vaginal mucosa under the influence of yeast-like fungi. The course of the disease is often supplemented by malfunctions of the menstrual cycle.
Thrush also leads to inflammation of the cervix, which in turn can lead to the development of even more dangerous diseases (for example, cancer).
Treatment for women with Candida fungus is a must. If this issue is not given due attention, inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs appear over time.
Often, thrush first appears during pregnancy. This is caused by a natural decrease in immunity in the first trimester. As a result, the expectant mother is faced with a number of unpleasant symptoms. Therefore, during pregnancy and before planning it is necessary to control the number of yeast-like fungi on the vaginal mucosa.
It is quite difficult to treat candidiasis while bearing a child. Not all drugs are suitable for this. However, you can not ignore the disease during pregnancy. This can lead to complications during childbirth. Tissues affected by the fungus are easily injured. And the child during the passage of the birth canal can become infected with a fungus.
Causes of occurrence
The increased growth of the presented microorganisms may be due to various reasons. Candida fungus in women most often appears against a background of reduced immunity. Various external and internal factors can influence this. And the doctor at the reception should establish what causes influenced the increased growth of the fungus population.
The main external factors are:
- treatment with atibiotics;
- the use of oral contraceptives;
- long course of treatment with corticosteroids or cytostatics (more than a week);
- damage to the vaginal mucosa (for example, surgical treatment or diagnostic procedures);
- contact with mucous membranes of chemical, irritating substances (acids, alkalis, solvents);
- exposure to radiation, poor ecology.
Many internal factors can trigger an increase in the candida fungus population in women. The reasons may be as follows:
- metabolic disorders in the body (diabetes mellitus, obesity, dysbiosis, etc.);
- hormonal changes (hyper- or hypothyroidism, thyroiditis, etc.);
- infectious diseases, especially in chronic form (including AIDS, HIV, tuberculosis);
- a viral disease (e.g., flu);
- pregnancy period (first trimester);
- weak immunity, especially in infancy and senility.
Causes of the chronic form
Over time, the presented disease can become chronic. There are also several reasons for this. Candida fungus can again colonize the vaginal mucosa even after proper treatment. The following factors influence this:
- malnutrition, which includes a lot of carbohydrates and fats;
- neglect of contraceptives (condom) during sexual intercourse;
- the predominance of synthetic underwear, wearing daily pads;
- frequent use of intimate hygiene products with antibacterial effect;
- failure to comply with personal hygiene rules;
- vaginal douche (tap water may contain various microorganisms that adversely affect the microflora of the vagina).
It is these factors that lead to an imbalance of microorganisms on the mucous membranes. This causes thrush, inflammation and a lot of unpleasant manifestations.
Symptoms
When thrush occurs, certain symptoms occur. Candida fungus in women can manifest a number of unpleasant sensations. This is due to the development of colpitis (inflammation of the walls of the vagina). The main symptoms of the disease include:
- a sharp increase in the number of secretions from the genital tract;
- burning sensation, intolerable, severe itching of the external genital organs, as well as inside the vagina;
- the appearance of white discharge cheesy (lumpy) consistency with a sour-milk smell;
- the external genitalia become swollen, painful, the skin on them is sensitive and red;
- during urination, itching is felt;
- during intercourse, pain, burning and pain appear.
Discomfort with the appearance of thrush can be very strong. In this case, the lower abdomen may even hurt. However, these symptoms do not always occur. Candida fungus in women can colonize the mucous membranes and without pronounced signs.
In this case, the thrush proceeds almost hidden. She only periodically returns again, bringing significant soreness, burning and specific discharge. To determine whether a woman has a presented disease, you need to undergo a special diagnosis. A visit to the gynecologist once a year is also required. This will allow you to identify this or another disease of the genital area on time.
Diagnostics
Many women are familiar with the symptoms listed above. Treatment of Candida fungus in women should be prescribed by an experienced gynecologist after a diagnosis. It is strictly forbidden to engage in self-medication. Even if some drug was recommended by friends, this does not mean that it will suit you. Due to improper treatment, you can start the disease, and chronic thrush will be much more difficult to eradicate.
If characteristic symptoms appear, Candida fungus in women can be detected using laboratory tests. At the reception, the doctor takes a swab from the vagina of the patient. Under the microscope, the study of the taken material is carried out. This allows you to identify yeast-like and pseudo-fungi in the smear. Vaginal pH is also evaluated.
Bactericidal inoculation is taken from the vagina and from the urethra. This allows you to evaluate the sensitivity of the fungus to therapy. Next, an analysis of PCR. This allows you to determine the DNA of the pathogen of infection.
Mushrooms can grow on culture media. This allows you to determine their type, quantity. Also, such an analysis is necessary to determine the sensitivity of the microorganism to the main active components of modern drugs.
Only after this, the doctor will be able to prescribe treatment. At the same time, he necessarily takes into account the factors that influenced the development of the disease. Without this, the main treatment will not be effective.
Treatment features
How to cure Candida fungus? Advertising of some drugs claims that you can literally get rid of the disease in a couple of days. However, this is not the case. In one day, you can reduce discomfort to an acceptable level. It will seem to a person that the disease has receded, but after a while it will appear again. But this time, the same drug will not be able to cope with the problem so quickly. It will take time. If a woman does not go to the doctor, but continues to self-medicate, this will lead to sad consequences.
Inflammatory diseases of the genital area will haunt her. Intimate life will not be a joy. Also, gradually the sensitivity of the fungus to the selected drug (and the like) will decrease. As a result, a neglected pathology will appear, for the treatment of which significant financial investments and a lot of time will be required.
Treatment of the presented disease should be comprehensive. It is prescribed by the doctor individually. The treatment regimen that came up with your girlfriend will not suit you. This is due to the characteristics of the body, the reasons that caused candidiasis. The sensitivity of the fungus to a particular drug may be different.
It is worth noting that many drugs act exclusively on the causative agent of thrush. As a result, the microflora of the disease dies. But in its place, lactobacilli and another 300 different beneficial microorganisms do not begin to develop. This leads to relapse. Because only in the presence of normal microflora does the natural regulation of the fungus population take place.
As a result, the patient feels relief after taking the drugs. They kill fungal colonies. But after a while they grow again. Moreover, the surviving microorganisms become more resistant to the drug, which last time acted on them.
It is imperative to get treatment with your sex partner. Otherwise, there is a high probability of reinfection.
Right actions
To defeat the disease once and for all, you need to learn a simple rule. An experienced gynecologist with a good reputation should deal with the treatment. After the examination, he will prescribe a course of treatment. It may include tablets that are taken orally, vaginal suppositories, as well as drugs to increase immunity. Alternative recipes can also be used, as well as funds for external use.
In addition to drugs for the treatment of Candida fungus in women, the doctor will definitely give some simple recommendations for maintaining a healthy microflora:
- Need to sterilize underwear and bedding, as well as bath accessories. To do this, they are boiled or ironed. So it turns out to destroy the spores of the fungus.
- Exclude the wearing of synthetic underwear and clothing. Such fabrics do not allow air to pass through well. In this case, they are electrified. This provokes the development of the fungus. It develops particularly rapidly in warm and humid conditions. Synthetics contribute to this.
- It is worth stopping the use of perfumed washing powders, strong odor conditioners.
- It is necessary to stop using intimate hygiene products with an antibacterial effect. It is better to replace them with ordinary children's soap with marigold or succession extract.
- Do not use daily pads. They are also made from synthetic materials. Flavored tampons and pads are also prohibited.
- You should stop taking hormonal contraceptives. They need to be replaced with other means of protection.
- It is necessary to abandon the lubricants of the fat-soluble type. It is better to buy water-soluble compounds.
- It is recommended to refrain from sexual intercourse during treatment (at least it is quite painful). In extreme cases, a condom is used during intercourse.
Treatment regimen
How to treat Candida fungus in women? This process is carried out in stages. First, you need to take drugs that reduce the number of fungi on the vaginal mucosa. It can be tablets for oral administration. These include Fluconazole, Nystatin, Difluzole, etc. The dosage is prescribed by the doctor, depending on the characteristics of the disease.
The treatment regimen necessarily includes vaginal suppositories. These may be such drugs as Pimafucort, Livarol, Pimafucin, Zalain, etc. Sometimes the use of local ointments based on the identical active ingredient of suppositories is required. The doctor may also prescribe the fungicidal solution "Cital".
After the main treatment, microflora is restored. For this, probiotics are prescribed. They are also available in the form of candles. It can be such drugs as Vagilak, Viferon, Lactovit.
In addition, a diet is mandatory. From the diet exclude or at least reduce the amount of sweet and fatty foods. You can also not eat mold cheeses, drink beer.
Folk recipes
In addition to tablets and suppositories from Candida fungus for women, traditional medicine is prescribed. They cannot replace the main treatment. It is also worth consulting with your doctor about the appropriateness of using this or that prescription.
Prepare special solutions for douching. But it is worth noting that such methods are contraindicated in pregnant women. Douching can cause uterine contractions, miscarriage.
If the gynecologist considered it possible, a solution of soda and boiled water is used for douching. It’s easy to cook. To do this, mix a liter of warm clean water with a tablespoon of soda. The procedure is carried out in the morning and in the evening. Soda normalizes the pH level of the vagina, which positively affects the well-being of the patient.
Having examined the causes of the growth of the Candida fungus population in women, the symptoms of thrush, and also the features of treatment, we can draw conclusions about the need for timely, comprehensive therapy under the supervision of a gynecologist.