First the Facts

• Candidiasis or ‘thrush’ is a yeast infection
• It can affect both women and men
• Usually easily treated with a short course of antifungal medication
• It is not a sexually transmitted infection (STI)

How Does Thrush Develop?

• Thrush is caused by a yeast called Candida
• Candida lives naturally in the vagina and is referred to in medical terms as a vaginal commensal organism
• Overgrowth of Candida can cause symptoms in some people
• Certain conditions can cause overgrowth of Candida, including:
  • Pregnancy
  • Diabetes
  • Medications such as steroids and antibiotics
  • Conditions affecting the immune systems such as HIV
• You can also get thrush from condomless sex with an infected partner

How Will I Know If I Have Thrush?

Symptoms of vaginal thrush include:

• A thick white discharge (like cottage-cheese)
• Irritation or stinging when you pass urine
• An offensive smell
• Itchiness and/or pain in the vagina and vulva (area outside the vagina)
• Pain during sexual intercourse

How Can I Prevent Thrush?

• Thrush develops in warm, moist conditions
• After washing, keep the skin on the outside of your vagina (vulva) dry and wear loose-fitting underwear, preferably made from cotton
• Do not use soaps, shower gels, vaginal douches or feminine hygiene products to clean your vagina/vulva
• Although it is not an STI, if your partner has thrush, the infection can be transmitted between partners and barrier contraception is recommended

Where Can I Get Tested?

• If you are experiencing symptoms for the first time, you should see a doctor or nurse
• This is because you may need to be tested for other infections that present in the same way
• You can see a doctor or specialist nurse at:
  • A sexual health or genitourinary medicine clinic
  • A young person’s / contraception clinic
  • Your GP

What Is the Treatment?

• A short course of anti-fungal medication is usually sufficient to treat thrush. This may involve a:
  • Capsule or tablet – taken orally
  • Pessary – inserted into the vagina sometimes with an applicator
  • Vaginal cream – inserted into the vagina with an applicator
• Treatment only takes a few days and is available from the pharmacy
• You do not need a prescription
• Do not have sex until you have completed your treatment, as there is a small risk of passing the infection back and forth
• Thrush is not classified as an STI, so your partner(s) do(es) not need to be treated unless symptoms are present
• If you are pregnant or breast-/chestfeeding, you should not have oral treatment. However, it is perfectly safe to use the pessary or vaginal cream
• Some people use probiotic yoghurts to treat and prevent thrush; there is no evidence that this is effective

What Happens If I Get Thrush Again?

• Thrush can come back at any time
• You can treat this yourself with antifungal medication from the pharmacy
• You should see your doctor if:
  • Your symptoms do not improve after treatment
  • You have more than 4 episodes of thrush per year
• This is because you may need further tests to identify an underlying cause
• You may need an extended course of treatment
• There are rare strains of the fungus which causes thrush, and these do not respond to regular treatments

Written by Dr David Rook and Dr Paula Briggs
Reviewed and edited by by Dr David Rook
Last updated: July 2025 by Dr David Rook