Thrush during pregnancy: causes of occurrence, how to treat, prevention

Thrush, or, as this disease is correctly called, vaginal candidiasis, worries, according to statistics, almost a third of all pregnant women. This disease occurs under the influence of the Candida fungus.

Causes of thrush during pregnancy

In healthy women, this yeast-like fungus is also present, but its action is suppressed by other microorganisms. With a weakened immune defense, a violation of the microflora of the genital organs occurs, which provokes the rapid multiplication of the fungus and the occurrence of thrush.

The appearance of this disease indicates that the woman's body is not working quite correctly. The reasons for the manifestation of thrush can be called a variety of infectious diseases, oncology, diabetes mellitus, disruption of the genitourinary or endocrine systems, gastrointestinal diseases and other disorders.

In addition, candidiasis can provoke rough sex, in which microtraumas are formed on the walls of the vagina, an addiction to sweet foods during the months of pregnancy, the effect of certain medicinal or hormonal drugs. In special cases, the growth of fungus is the result of wearing synthetic underwear.

Symptoms of thrush during pregnancy

As for the manifestation of the disease, we can say that there is no particular difference between the disease in pregnant and not pregnant women:

• First you need to determine the nature of the discharge that appears from the genitals. With candidiasis, the consistency of the secreted mass will be curdled or creamy white with a characteristic sour smell. At the same time, in a healthy woman during pregnancy, the discharge has a slightly whitish tint, abundant, sometimes the discharge becomes thick. But at the same time, there is never an unpleasant smell.

• Another characteristic symptom is the appearance of a burning sensation in the vulva and in the vagina, and severe itching also appears. After using the toilet or having intercourse, these unpleasant symptoms worsen. Also, an increase in symptoms provokes a strong cooling of the body or an ineffective toilet of the genitals.
• Sex for many women with thrush is painful. In this case, the inner walls of the vagina are inflamed, bleeding may appear. Therefore, there is pain during sex and a feeling of discomfort.

All these signs are visible during an external examination of the genitals by a gynecologist. In addition, the examination reveals swelling of the vagina, redness and white bloom on its surface.

Thrush in early pregnancy

Even if a woman has never had candidiasis before, there is a high probability that the disease will manifest itself in the first days after conception. This risk especially increases if the disease has become chronic. Therefore, it is necessary immediately after confirmation pregnancy pass tests and confirm or exclude the presence of the disease.

It should be noted that one of the reasons for the development of candidiasis doctors call the oxidation of the vaginal environment. This is how a change in the hormonal background manifests itself, namely the increased production of progesterone, which begins immediately after ovulation and is carried out at the initial stage of pregnancy.

You should know that it is impossible to use usual preparations for candidiasis in a short period of pregnancy, as they can harm the health of the fetus. Initially, you need to reconsider your habits. nutrition and correct for improvement.

How to treat thrush during pregnancy

With early suspicions of candidiasis, we advise you not to engage in healing yourself, but immediately contact a gynecologist. Only a specialist will be able to prescribe the correct treatment that will take into account the pregnancy and will not harm the fetus.

As a rule, local or systemic drugs are prescribed at the initial stage of treatment. The latter are used in especially severe cases of infection. They act in the intestines, where the Candida fungus is located. After that, the active substance of the drug enters the circulatory system and spreads to all organs. These drugs are highly toxic and have many side effects. Therefore, they try not to prescribe them to pregnant women, but to treat thrush locally.

Various forms of topical medications are suitable for pregnant women. These can be special pills that are inserted inside the vagina, creams and ointments. At the initial stage of pregnancy, it is usually recommended to eliminate candidiasis with Natamycin. This drug does not cause intoxication even at a high dosage, but it should be borne in mind that the effectiveness of this agent is quite low. For this reason, at a later date, thrush can manifest itself again.

In the later stages, candidiasis can be treated with Miconazole, Clotrimazole, Isoconazole and other drugs of a similar effect. In this case, the duration and dosage of taking the drug should be determined by the gynecologist.

Since thrush passes easily to a partner during sex, treatment should also apply to him. For men, both systemic and local medicines are used. For oral administration, Fluconazole is used. The external genitals must be treated with a cream or ointment that contains clotrimazole. 10 days after the start of treatment, both the woman and the man should be retested.

After passing the first stage, it is necessary to put in order the intestinal microflora. For this purpose, it is recommended to use medications with probiotics, bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. In addition, drugs are prescribed that restore and enhance the immune defense and vitamin complexes.

In combination with drug treatment, you can use the advice of traditional healers, which will ease the woman's condition and remove the external manifestations of the disease. Among the popular methods, it is possible to advise washing the vulva and vagina of a woman with an infusion of oak bark or calendula flowers.

Candles from thrush during pregnancy

Among the approved drugs used during pregnancy to treat candidiasis, there are several types of suppositories. First of all, it is worth noting the Pimafucin candles. This drug is considered the safest and most suitable for eliminating thrush in pregnant women. Its main active ingredient is called Natamycin. It does not do any harm to the body of the unborn baby, since it is not absorbed through the blood and does not penetrate the mucous membranes and the placenta. We can say that Pimafucin acts only in the vagina. It can be used for a long time without harm to health. Therefore, Pimafuin eliminates thrush at any time of pregnancy.

After the end of the first trimester, candidiasis can be treated with Terzhinan suppositories. The manufacturer convinces that the drug is harmless to the health of the baby, but according to the results of research by other companies, Terzhinan can still do harm. Among the active ingredients of these suppositories is prednisone, which weakens local immunity.

In the early stages, Betadine suppositories can be used for those women who do not have thyroid disorders. But at a later date, these candles cannot be used, since the substance is able to overcome the barrier created by the placenta.

From the second trimester, candidiasis can be treated with Livarol suppositories. Its active ingredients act on the mucous membrane and do not pass into the blood. Therefore, they will not harm either the health of the woman or the baby. According to medical research, the use of this drug leads to recovery in 96% of cases.