Thrush

A common yeast infection causing itching, soreness, and discharge. Not always sexually transmitted. Easily treated.

Thrush is a common yeast infection that causes itching, soreness, and thick white discharge between the legs. It's not always caught from sex. It's easy to treat with medicine from a pharmacy.

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Thrush is a common yeast infection caused by an overgrowth of a fungus called Candida that naturally lives on the skin and in the . It causes itching, soreness, and thick white (often described as looking like cottage cheese). It's not always sexually transmitted — it can happen without any sexual contact at all. It's easily treated with antifungal medication from a pharmacy.

Thrush is a yeast infection, not a bacterial one. It's caused by Candida.
Symptoms include itching, soreness, thick white discharge, and sometimes pain when peeing or during sex.
It's very common — most people with a vagina will get it at least once.
It's not always an . It can be triggered by antibiotics, tight clothing, perfumed products, stress, or hormonal changes.
Treatment is available over the counter at pharmacies — no prescription needed.

What causes it

Candida yeast naturally lives in the vagina in small amounts. Thrush happens when something disrupts the balance and the yeast overgrows. Common triggers include:

Antibiotics — they kill bacteria (including the "good" bacteria that keep Candida in check)
Perfumed products — soap, shower gel, or bubble bath used near or inside the vagina
Tight or synthetic clothing — creates a warm, moist environment where yeast thrives
Hormonal changes — during the , , or from hormonal
A weakened immune system — from illness or stress

People with a can get thrush too — it causes itching, irritation, and sometimes a white discharge under the .

Treatment

Thrush is treated with antifungal medication — either a tablet (fluconazole) taken by mouth, a pessary (a tablet inserted into the vagina), or an antifungal cream applied externally. These are available over the counter at pharmacies without a prescription.

Symptoms usually clear within a few days of starting treatment. If thrush keeps coming back (more than 4 times a year), see a GP — they can investigate underlying causes and prescribe a longer treatment course.

Things people get wrong

"Thrush means I have an STI." Not necessarily. Thrush can develop without any sexual contact. It can be passed between sexual partners, but it's primarily an overgrowth of a yeast that's already in your body.

"Only women get thrush." People with a penis can get it too, though it's more common in people with a vagina.

"I should wash more to prevent it." Over-washing — especially with perfumed products — actually makes thrush more likely by disrupting the vagina's natural balance. Wash the with plain water or mild, unperfumed soap. Never douche.

Things people ask about thrush

Can I have sex with thrush?

It's possible, but it might be uncomfortable and you could pass it to your partner. It's usually better to wait until the treatment has worked.

How do I know if it's thrush or an STI?

Thrush has distinctive symptoms — thick white discharge and itching. But other infections can have similar signs. If you're not sure, or if it's your first time with these symptoms, see a pharmacist or GP to confirm before treating it yourself.

Can I prevent it coming back?

Avoiding perfumed products near the vagina, wearing breathable cotton underwear, not staying in wet swimwear, and wiping front to back can all help. If you get thrush after antibiotics, your GP might prescribe antifungals alongside them.

Where to get help

Your pharmacist — for over-the-counter antifungal treatment.
Your GP — if it keeps coming back or if you're not sure what it is.
— if you want to rule out STIs.

Thrush is a very common infection caused by a type of yeast that naturally lives on the body. Sometimes the yeast grows too much, and that's when you get thrush.

The main signs are itching and soreness between the legs, and thick white that can look a bit like cottage cheese. It can also hurt when you wee or during sex.

Thrush is most common in girls and women, but boys and men can get it too. For boys, it can cause itching and irritation on the , especially under the .

It's not always caught from sex. It can be triggered by taking antibiotics, using perfumed soap or shower gel near the private parts, wearing tight clothing, stress, or hormonal changes.

Treatment is simple. You can buy antifungal medicine from a pharmacy without a prescription — either a tablet you swallow or a cream you put on. It usually clears up within a few days.

To help prevent it, avoid using perfumed products between your legs, wear breathable cotton underwear, and don't stay in wet swimwear for long.

If it keeps coming back, see a doctor. They can work out why and give you a longer course of treatment.

Vagina

The internal muscular canal connecting the vulva to the cervix. It's elastic and changes size depending on arousal.

The vagina is the stretchy passage inside a girl's or woman's body that connects the outside to the womb. Period blood comes out through it, and it's where a baby passes through during birth. It's different from the outside part, which is called the vulva.

Discharge

Clear or white fluid from the vagina. A normal part of puberty and a sign the body is healthy.

Discharge is fluid that comes out from between a girl's or woman's legs. It's usually clear or white. It's the body's way of keeping itself clean and healthy inside.