Agonising thrush ‘like torture’ for many women – as cases of the infection soar
Three out of four women experience thrush at some point, with six per cent suffering from recurring infections
IT'S a common vaginal infection that most women experience at some point in their lives, but thrush is becoming "like torture" for a growing number of sufferers.
Three out of four women experience thrush at some point, with six per cent suffering from recurring infections.
In many cases it's mild, but new research from the University of Manchester suggests recurrent thrush is making life "hell" for more and more women.
Cases are expected to rise to 158million by 2030, according to a review published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
"Recurrent vulvovaginal thrush is common, debilitating and complex," said lead author Dr Riina Rautemaa-Richardson.
"Myths, unnecessary worry and stigma are associated with it as medical professionals struggle to understand it.
"Though thrush is treatable, it often reoccurs and there are often additional causes for the symptoms which all need to be addressed.
"Antifungal treatment is often only part of the solution.
"Thrush is often thought of as an embarrassing problem woman should accept, rather than a medical problem which needs to be dealt with.
"But for millions of women, it can have a massive impact on quality of life."
About 1.2 million women in the UK are thought to suffer with the common yeast infection.
Thrush is caused by a group of yeasts called candida.
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It develops when there is an imbalance of micro-organisms in the vagina causing the candida to multiply.
You are more likely to get thrush if you are in your 20s and 30s or women who have gone through the menopause.
Dr Riina Rautemaa-Richardson told the the constant itching, pain and discomfort of thrush can make many women feel desperate.
For some it can even cause a loss of confidence that makes sex and exercise very difficult.
"They say, 'Life is hell', 'I can't go on holiday because of it' and 'I can't do this or that'," she said.
"Female patients have told me I saved their marriage by getting rid of thrush."
The condition is easily treated by over-the-counter creams, capsules and pessaries, but in some cases fungus that cause the infection can become resistant to treatments.
If you think you have thrush you should speak to your GP or pharmacist about what treatments are right for you.
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