Preventing thrush
How to reduce the risk of thrush
Here are a few tips and hints to help you prevent thrush:
- Avoid tight, synthetic clothing; loose, cotton knickers may help
- Avoid perfumed soaps, gels and bubble baths and vaginal deodorants
- Change tampons and sanitary towels regularly during your period
- Wash and dry intimate areas regularly but gently especially after exercise
- Be careful with toilet hygiene; always wipe from front to back
- A well-balanced diet low in fats and sugar, together with a healthy lifestyle or regular activity and enough rest
- Use of lubrication during sexual intercourse
- To help prevent re-infection, treat your partner with a thrush cream
Recommended foods which prevent and cause thrush
| Foods that prevent thrush | Foods that cause thrush |
|---|---|
Vegetables |
Breakfast Cereals |
| White meat | Processed Foods |
| Fish | Cheese |
| Small amounts of Red Meat | Mushrooms |
| Soya Milk | Tea |
| Fruit | Coffee |
| Live Natural yoghurts | White Flour Products |
| Nuts and Seeds | Fizzy sugary drinks |
| Rice | Alcohol |
| Lentils and Beans | |
| Oats | |
| Wholemeal Bread | |
| Probiotics (e.g. Acidophilus) |
Thrush Facts or Fallacies
Thrush always produces discharge
Thrush does not always produce vaginal discharge. Any discharge present can vary in consistency from a thin, watery fluid to white and cottage cheese-like.