Written by Editorial Team
Pregnancy is a time when a pregnant woman is susceptible to different types of infections, mainly due to low immune levels. However, the last thing you want to deal with is an ‘itchy’ vaginal yeast infection. Unfortunately, vaginal yeast infection, also called vaginal thrush is one of the common problems during pregnancy.
But the good news is that though vaginal thrush may cause a lot of irritation to the expecting mother, it will not affect the healthy progression of pregnancy or the baby in the womb.
In This Article
Thrush refers to a fungal infection. Candida albicans, a kind of fungal yeast causes this infection as it commonly develops in the areas of the body that are warm and moist like the intestinal tract, vagina, or mouth. The pregnant woman might already have this fungus in the vaginal area without her knowing it. This fungus is harmless and the good bacteria present in the vagina help to keep this fungus under control.
The fungus becomes problematic when there are inadequate good bacteria to regulate its growth. In the absence of good bacteria, the Candida grows fast and thrives, resulting in the most irritating condition that troubles the pregnant woman – vaginal thrush.
As we mentioned above, Candida, the fungus is the reason of vaginal thrush during pregnancy. The thriving fungus and lower good bacteria, upset the natural balance of the vagina resulting in vaginal thrush. Some of the main causes of this are:
The antibiotics that are taken prior to or in course of pregnancy to treat some bacterial infections can also result in the reduction of the good bacteria that control the growth of Candida. This results in vaginal thrush.
A nutritional deficiency that happens due to poor eating as a result of morning sickness or unhealthy cravings during pregnancy can result in vaginal thrush.
Gestational diabetes that results in increased blood sugar levels increases the chances of vaginal thrush as these yeasts thrive on a sugar medium. In fact, recurring vaginal thrush is one of the important symptoms of gestational diabetes.
Stress during pregnancy is one of the significant factors that trigger vaginal thrush.
Eating food with high sugar, carbonated drinks, drinking beverages with caffeine, drinking alcohol, smoking, etc. increases the chances of vaginal thrush
Other factors that increase the chances of vaginal thrush during pregnancy are:
The increased estrogen level during pregnancy results in the thriving of Candida fungus. This is because a form of glucose called glycogen, which is present in the vagina is directly proportional to the estrogen level. Candida literally thrives on glycogen, resulting in vaginal thrush.
The pH level of a healthy vagina is between 4.0 to 4.5, which is too acidic and prevents the fungus to multiply. However, during pregnancy, due to hormonal fluctuation the acid levels in the vagina lower. This, along with excess glycogen can result in excessive fungal growth in the vagina.
Some of the important symptoms of vaginal thrush are:
Though increased vaginal discharge is very common in the course of pregnancy, normally it should be thin and milky. If the discharge thickens and appears creamy white with or without odor, you can expect vaginal thrush.
[Read: Vaginal Discharge During Pregnancy]
Stinging or burning sensation during urination or, pain during intercourse can be a sign of vaginal thrush.
Developing itching and soreness in or around the vagina or the vagina appearing reddish with itching are the symptoms of vaginal thrush.
[Read: Itching During Pregnancy]
The doctor will diagnose vaginal thrush after listening to the symptoms and possibly doing a vaginal examination. During the examination, the doctor may take a vaginal swab to look for the yeast under a microscope. This helps to confirm vaginal thrush.
Even though you cannot control the hormonal causes, there are certain steps to prevent vaginal thrush:
Usually, if vaginal thrush appears during the first trimester, the doctor will wait until the mother gets into the second trimester before starting the treatment. However, there are numerous natural remedies, which help you to treat thrush safely during pregnancy. But do consult the doctor before trying out any natural remedies or over-the-counter anti-thrush medications.
Also, never at any point, take an oral medicine as it can be harmful to the growing fetus. Always complete the course as the chances of reoccurring vaginal thrush is pretty high during pregnancy. Some of the treatment options include:
Read Also: Treating Yeast Infection And Candida During Pregnancy
Cervical mucus that is more viscous and creamy could be an indication of thrush. Thrush can cause irritation, pain, and sometimes a stinging feeling in the genitalia when urinating.
If you have a yeast infection and don’t have it treated, it might spread to your baby’s mouth during birth, leading to mouth thrush. If the infant has a yeast infection on the nipples and continues to nurse, the illness might spread to you.
Thrush is common in pregnant women because of hormonal and physiological changes, particularly in the third trimester. The thrush infection, however, poses little risk to your unborn child.
The thrush condition resolves on its own without treatment. The itching should have lessened by this time, bringing welcome relief. At last, the itching, swelling, and redness should subside. Your genitalia will soon feel and look natural again.
With a rich experience in pregnancy and parenting, our team of experts create insightful, well-curated, and easy-to-read content for our to-be-parents and parents at all stages of parenting.Read more.
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