Vaginal thrush during pregnancy

Causes of a vaginal thrush infection

Candida albicans is a yeast that is found on human mucous membranes in the mouth, genitals and intestines and often causes fungal infections in the vaginal area. Pregnant women can get infected more easily with the annoying vaginal thrush because pregnancy hormones change the glucose content of the vaginal mucous membranes and thus create optimal growth conditions for the fungus. Stress and a weakened immune system are also factors that often lead to illness.

Complications of vaginal thrush in pregnancy

In contrast to a bacterial infection, for example bacterial vaginosis , a fungal infection is relatively harmless in terms of health. The symptoms are still annoying and should be treated with medication after consultation with the doctor.

If the yeast infection is present at birth, there is a high chance (about 90 percent) that the yeast infection will be passed on to the child. The baby can still develop a fungal infection in the mouth and genitals called thrush for a few weeks after pregnancy. With thrush , a whitish coating can be found on the affected areas, but these can easily be treated with an antifungal agent.

Symptoms of vaginal thrush

• Red and swollen skin in the genital area
• itching and burning
• Lumpy white discharge
• Unpleasant fishy smell

Treatment of vaginal thrush in pregnancy

A vaginal thrush is treated with vaginal suppositories and anti-fungal creams. Even if you notice that the symptoms are easing, you should definitely stick to the agreed duration of the therapy. Otherwise, the remaining fungal pathogens will spread again.

• Do not use strong intimate washes or intimate sprays. Otherwise, the natural protective acid layer of the vagina will be attacked and will no longer be able to fight the fungus.
• Be sure to wear breathable clothing and underwear, such as cotton. If fungal pathogens have already established themselves, you can also wash cotton in the washing machine at 60 °C. This effectively kills the fungal pathogens.
• Always wipe from front to back when going to the toilet, otherwise pathogens from the intestinal area can simply penetrate into the vagina.
• Avoid hot tubs in public baths. The heat and small volume of water provide ideal conditions for fungi to spread.
• Similar to bacterial vaginosis , you can regularly check the pH value of the vagina with test strips or test gloves. In this way, an infection can be detected and treated at an early stage.
• If you are prone to infections in the vaginal area and the first deviations in the pH value in your vagina appear, your doctor can prescribe you lactic acid suppositories. They help bring the pH of the vagina back into balance.

Preventing and treating vaginal thrush during pregnancy

To protect yourself from a fungal infection, you should make it as difficult as possible for the fungus to establish itself:

Attention: It is better to avoid alternative treatments such as tea tree oil, marigold extract or garlic. Fungal germs are hardly killed by the treatment, but the natural vaginal environment suffers from the active ingredients.