The signs of vaginal thrush are usually very obvious.
Typical symptoms include:
- itching and soreness around the entrance to the vagina
- pain during sex
- a stinging sensation when you urinate
- vaginal discharge, although this isn't always present; the discharge is usually odourless; it can be thin and watery, or thick and white, like cottage cheese
Severe symptoms
In addition to the above symptoms, you may also have:
- redness of the vagina and vulva
- cracked skin around the entrance to the vagina
- swelling of the vagina and vulva
- sores in the surrounding area (this is rare, but may indicate the presence of another fungal condition, or the herpes simplex virus – the virus that causes genital herpes)
Doctors sometimes refer to 'uncomplicated' or 'complicated' thrush depending on your symptoms and how often you get the yeast infection.
Uncomplicated thrush refers to mild thrush where it's a first bout or you haven't had it very often before. Complicated thrush refers to severe thrush that tends to keep coming back (you've had four or more episodes in a year).
When to visit your GP
Always see your GP if:
- this is the first time you've had thrush
- you're under 16 or over 60
- you're pregnant or may be pregnant
- you're breastfeeding
- you have abnormal menstrual bleeding or blood-stained discharge
- you have lower abdominal pain
- your symptoms are different from previous bouts of thrush, for example, if the discharge is a different colour or has a bad smell
- you have vulval or vaginal sores
- you've had two cases of thrush within the last six months
- you or your partner have previously had a sexually transmitted infection (STI)
- you've reacted badly to an antifungal treatment in the past, or it didn't work
- your symptoms don't improve after 7 to 14 days
Now, read about how thrush is diagnosed.
