CANESTEN®
Women often mistake bacterial vaginosis for thrush, but these are two different infections and they should be treated differently. The main symptoms of thrush are soreness and itchiness around your vulva and vagina, and cottage cheese like discharge that’s odourless. Whereas one of the most common symptoms of bacterial vaginosis (BV) is odour, often described as fishy-smelling.
What is thrush?
It’s more common than you think. Thrush is a vaginal yeast infection caused by excessive growth of natural yeast-like fungus, called candida albicans.
You might have thrush if you experience:
• Sore and itchy vagina/vulva
• Soreness, burning and redness around the entrance to your vagina (vulva)
• Slight swelling of your vaginal lips (labia)
• Finding what looks like cottage cheese-like white discharge
Thrush treatment
Vaginal yeast infection can be treated with medication available overthe counter from a pharmacy or on prescription from your doctor.
Treatment of thrush is quite straightforward. To treat the vaginal infection, you can use an internal treatment that contains the active ingredient clotrimazole or fluconazole. Choose from the oral pill, soft gel pessary, pessary or internal vaginal cream. These products all treat your infection, but different people prefer different format options. External thrush creams will help to soothe your symptoms such as itching.
We all know thrush is uncomfortable but rest assured – thrush is usually easily treated. If you need further help, a pharmacist or doctor can help you decide the best medication option for you.
You should see a doctor if:
• You are experiencing thrush for the first time
• You suffer with recurring thrush, or if it returns in less than 2 months
• There is no improvement in your symptoms within three days, or if they’ve not disappeared within seven days
• You suffer from thrush during pregnancy or while breastfeeding
• You have multiple sexual partners
• You are under 12 years old
• You have fever, chills, nausea, or vomiting
• You feel abdominal pain
Shop Canesten® thrush treatments
What is bacterial vaginosis (BV)?
BV can be a very unpleasant condition that prevents you from living your life to the full. BV is a vaginal infection caused by bacteria rather than by yeast (which is the case for thrush) and occurs when there is an imbalance of the microflora in your vagina.
Normally your vagina is acidic, which stops bad bacteria from overgrowing and helps maintain a healthy level of good bacteria. However, sometimes the conditions in your vagina can change. It can become less acidic, which leads to the growth of bad bacteria causing BV.
One of the most common symptoms of bacterial vaginosis (BV) is odour, often described as ‘fishy-smelling’. Other symptoms can include:
• Watery discharge
• Greyish white discharge
• Worsening of the above symptoms after sex or during your period
Everyone is different, so you might have BV and not suffer from any symptoms at all. You should also remember that BV is not a sexually transmitted infection and it should not cause any soreness or irritation.
When to see a doctor
You should consider seeing a doctor if you have bacterial vaginosis for the first time or if you are pregnant. Pregnant women can be more susceptible to vaginal infections because of the hormonal changes that can upset the balance in their vagina. If you develop bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy, there is a small chance of complications, including premature birth or miscarriage. However, in the majority of pregnancies BV causes no problems, You should see your doctor if you are unsure or when in doubt.
Medicines can affect the unborn baby. Always talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine in pregnancy.
Shop Canesten® bacterial vaginosis symptom treatments & prevention
CANESTEN®
For Thrush: Canesten 100mg Pessary; Canesten 200mg Pessary, contain clotrimazole. Canesten Thrush Combi: Internal & External Creams 10% w/w vaginal cream & 2% w/wcream; Pessary & External Cream 500mg pessary & 2% w/w cream; Soft Gel Pessary & External Cream 500mg vaginal capsule & 2% w/w cream contain clotrimazole. Canesten Thrush: External Cream 2% w/w cream; Internal Cream 10% w/w vaginal cream; Pessary 500mg pessary; Soft Gel Pessary 500mg vaginal capsule contain clotrimazole; Oral Capsule 150mg capsule contains fluconazole. Canesten Thrush Duo Oral Capsule & External Cream 150mg capsule & 2% w/w cream contain fluconazole and clotrimazole. Always read the label.
