What is thrush?

Vaginal thrush, also called yeast infection or candidiasis, is an overgrowth of yeast that leads to a range of unpleasant symptoms, such as itching and soreness around the vagina. Most women will have thrush at least once during their lives, and many will have more than one episode. But for some women, thrush keeps coming back. Recurrent thrush can affect a woman’s sex life and self-image, and may be a sign of a more serious health problem. Even if you only have thrush once, it can be extremely uncomfortable. And, if you don’t know what is happening or why, it can also be very stressful. This online leaflet explains what thrush is, what causes it, how to treat it and what you can do to help prevent it in the future.

Thrush is caused by yeast, already present in the body, which grows out of control. This yeast is almost always Candida albicans, but another, more resistant yeast, Candida glabrata, can also lead to thrush.