Canesten Pessary

The organism that causes thrush is a yeast (candida albicans) that grows on and in all of us. Most of the time it is completely harmless, but if it overgrows, it can cause symptoms.

For women, overgrowth in the vagina causes itching and irritation internally, sometimes some redness and irritation outside the vagina and often a white creamy thick discharge. Sex can feel sore and it can cause stinging and soreness when passing water as well.

For men, an overgrowth of thrush will cause redness, itching and irritation of the head of the penis and / or the foreskin. It can be uncomfortable to pull the foreskin back and sometimes there is a white discharge around the foreskin. However any discharge seen won’t be coming from the end of the penis.

The thrush organism is on and in all of us and it causes thrush when it overgrows. Sometimes there is a reason for this. It can overgrow with antibiotic use, or if diabetes is present. Some people see it linked with sex, but for many people there is no clear cause.

No. We all carry the organism and it does not transfer from one to another with sex. However, sex can sometimes act as a trigger for it starting.

For men, clotrimazole cream is usually effective for clearing the infection as well as providing soothing relief. 

For women, clotrimazole is effective in the form of a pessary (a tablet that is inserted into the vagina) together with local cream. Women can also use a single dose of an oral tablet called fluconazole, that is very effective for clearing infection as well. The tablet cannot be used if pregnant or in patients with severe kidney disease. Fluconazole also interacts with a number of other medications and it is therefore important that before purchasing fluconazole, any medication that is currently being taken is checked against this list. The MedExpress Consultation will help you with this.

For men, applying clotrimazole cream to the penis and foreskin 2-3 times daily for up to 10 days is effective. You should consult with your doctor if symptoms are continuing after this. 

For women, using the clotrimazole pessary and cream, the pessary is inserted into the vagina and the cream used around the external genitalia, 2-3 times daily for up to 10 days.You should consult with your doctor if symptoms are continuing after this.

For women using the oral tablet, fluconazole 150mg is taken as a single dose. Symptoms should start to resolve within a couple of days. If symptoms persist beyond a week, you should consult with your doctor.

You should always read the information that comes with any medication prior to taking it.

Side effects with either the cream, pessary and cream or fluconazole tablet are very uncommon.

Clotrimazole cream or pessary and cream, may cause some irritation of the skin. 

Fluconazole tablets can cause gastrointestinal upset, constipation, headache, nausea and vomiting.

You should always read the information that comes with any medication prior to taking it.

If you have had more than 4 bouts of thrush in the last year, you should contact your doctor and discuss this with them. 

Wearing cotton underwear and avoiding tights and tight underwear can help to reduce the number of bouts of thrush. Avoiding using shower gels, “douching” and deodorants on the penis or vagina can also be helpful.