• By Maria Bantellis
• Published 01/5/2012

What is thrush?

The fungi Candida albicans is the common cause of thrush.

An infection that occurs in warm, moist areas of the body, it is most typically seen on the skin, inside the mouth and around the genitals. As worrying as this may sound, thrush is usually an easily treatable condition if spotted early.

Does it mean I’m dirty?

Many women believe that thrush is caused because they are ‘dirty’. This is not true.

If anything, women who clean themselves too much are more at risk as they are washing away the friendly bacteria that keep their natural balance just right.

Thrush can appear at any time, in many forms and with varying symptoms.

All you need to do is consider the symptoms you’re experiencing, where you’re experiencing them and in some cases, why.

Symptoms to expect

Focusing on vaginal thrush symptoms – we’ll list both the common and more severe symptoms and see where you fit in.

The more common symptoms of vaginal thrush can include:

• Itching and soreness around the vagina entrance
• Pain during sex
• A stinging sensation when you pee
• Vaginal discharge – Although vaginal discharge isn’t always present in every case of thrush, when it is, the discharge is usually odourless and can be thick and white, a bit like cottage cheese.

In more severe cases expect to experience one or all of the below:

• Redness of the vagina and inside part of the vulva
• Cracked skin around the entrance to the vagina
• Swelling of the vagina and vulva

About the Author: Maria Bantellis is a health writer on fungal conditions covering topics such as the vaginal thrush symptoms