by Olwen Anderson

Created on: October 20, 2010

To understand the cause of your thrush infection, particularly if it’s a chronic yeast infection, you need to understand what conditions Candida (thrush) loves to live in. Change the conditions and you’ll help control the thrush. Lets look at some of the ways thrush infections often develop:

1. Have you have taken a course of antibiotics recently?

Antibiotics are a very effective medication for wiping out disease producing bacteria. Unfortunately they are also effective destroyers of the good bacteria too, including the ones that are supposed to reside in your vagina. This can allow the thrush bug to set up an opportunistic infection. Use probiotics.

2. Are you taking a contraceptive pill?

Oral contraceptives can increase vaginal glycogen stores (your cell's natural sugar storage for energy), which means that there will be more sugar present for Candida (the thrush bug) to thrive on. If you're taking the oral contraceptive pill and experience recurring thrush, modifying your diet to keep your sugar and yeast intake to a minimum may help.

3. Are You Pregnant?

When you're pregnant your hormone levels soar. This can alter the microbiology of your vagina, making it easier for thrush to take hold. Its important to consult with your doctor rather than self-prescribe remedies, medication or diet changes if you're pregnant, as what you do may have an impact on your unborn baby.

4. Do You Have Diabetes?

Women with poorly controlled diabetes have chronically high blood sugar levels, and this provides an ideal environment for Candida (the thrush bug) to thrive. You may need to tighten up your blood glucose level control through diet and exercise to reduce your thrush symptoms.

5. Is There Too Much Sugar or Yeast in Your Diet?

Candida loves sugar. In fact, your thrush infection will get worse when you have a high sugar diet.

If you have ever made bread at home, you know that you have to add sugar to the bread mix to give the bread-rising yeast something to feed on. Well, Candida is just a yeast – so the higher your blood sugar level, the more food there is for Candida to thrive in.

6. Has Your Vaginal Lining Been Irritated?

Sexual intercourse has the potential to cause vaginal irritation if your vagina wasn't sufficiently lubricated. This can give Candida a chance to take hold. Vaginal dryness is more likely once you have passed the menopause, as less estrogen is present to maintain your vaginal lining. 

7. Were You Infected By Your Partner?

Although technically not a sexually transmitted infection, if your partner is uncircumcised its possible for Candida to live under his foreskin. However your own immune defences have to be low to allow you to become infected – if you're really healthy the Candida bug is unlikely to be able to infect your vagina.

So if your thrush treatment is successful, but then recurs as soon as you begin having sex again, arrange for your partner to be checked too. Your partner might be carrying the infection but just not showing any symptoms.

8. Feeling Stressed And Run Down?

Chronic stress means a chronically elevated blood sugar level for most people, which means that Candida has more nutrients to thrive. Chronic stress also lowers your immunity.

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