Thrush – is it more common around the time of your period?

What is thrush?

Thrush is a common yeast infection caused by a type of fungus called Candida albicans. Candida exists naturally throughout our entire digestive tract, however, if an overgrowth occurs in certain areas, for example, in the mouth or the vagina, symptoms can crop up and we can end up feeling quite uncomfortable. 

Here I talk about thrush infections affecting the vagina and vulva and why they may be more likely to crop up in the week before your period is due – the last thing you need at this time, right? But there are solutions, so in future, let’s not let these infections become a habit!

What are the symptoms of thrush?

When Candida overgrowth occurs, we can start to experience symptoms and what we commonly call a ‘thrush infection’ can take hold. Some common symptoms of thrush are as follows:

• Feeling itchy, burny or nippy down below

• Finding the affected area is quite red, tender and may also be slightly swollen

• Changes in your vaginal discharge – this may appear thicker, lumpier and appear more white or yellow in colour, rather than clear. However, your discharge shouldn’t smell overly fishy – if this is the case, there may be a bacterial infection at play instead, such as bacterial vaginosis

What factors can make you more likely to get thrush?

Most women will experience a thrush infection at some point in their lives, but for others, recurrent infections can be problematic. For some ladies, they experience an outbreak almost monthly and around the time of their period is a common time for thrush to strike. Unsurprisingly, this can be uncomfortable and can affect self-confidence and even relationships. 

Here I want to run through some common factors which could be making you more susceptible:

Hormonal changes 

• Periods! – Yes, unfortunately the hormonal changes that occur each month to give you your period can make you more susceptible to candida overgrowth. Each month a drop in oestrogen gives you your period. But unfortunately, this drop in oestrogen can also affect the internal environment of the vagina giving thrush more of a chance of taking hold. Another reason that thrush may be more likely around the time of your period is the change in pH as a result of the bleed. Blood can make the pH of the vagina slightly more alkaline, especially with the use of tampons, so this is another factor to contend with! We know that pathogens such as candida are often more likely to flourish in more alkaline conditions.

• Hormone imbalance – Although a drop in oestrogen to give us our period each month is quite normal, if we have a hormone imbalance, symptoms could be more pronounced. Low oestrogen or progesterone dominance could make infections more likely – to find out more about a potential hormone imbalance click the link to watch our video!

• Menopause –During menopause low and fluctuating levels of oestrogen can often make thrush outbreaks more likely

• Pregnancy – Yet again, fluctuating hormones during pregnancy can give rise to changing conditions in the vagina which in turn can contribute to thrush.

Diet and lifestyle factors 

• After use of antibiotics – Although the use of antibiotics won’t directly cause thrush, unfortunately antibiotics can harm the levels of our good bacteria, as well as the bad bacteria they were originally intended to treat. Sufficient levels of good bacteria in and around the digestive tract and vagina are hugely important for keeping yeast infections at bay. Antibiotics are often prescribed for similar conditions such as UTIs, but are they always necessary?

• Dietary factors – One word – sugar. Much like the influence antibiotics can have, a diet high in sugar can increase your chances of thrush and closely related conditions such as cystitis. Refined sugar found in sweet treats, fizzy juice and packaged goods feeds the bad bacteria and yeast in our gut meaning they can upset the delicate balance, and symptoms can easily arise as a result.

• Issues with stress or sleep – You may assume that stress and sleep aren’t directly related to yeast infections, but there are some links! This all comes down to the immune system – your immune system is responsible for keeping pathogens in check, so if you’re sleep deprived or overly stressed (perhaps more likely before your period if you're getting the rest you need!), then your immune responses could become compromised and infections can crop up more easily.

Solutions

Now that we understand a bit more about what can cause thrush and why infections so often coincide with your period – it’s time to offer some sensible solutions:

• Address the hormone imbalance! – Whether it’s progesterone dominance or menopause that you suspect is driving those symptoms, soy isoflavones could be useful. This ingredient helps to very gently balance your oestrogen levels which may help to keep unpleasant symptoms under control

• Practical home tips – If recurrent episodes of thrush are getting you down, even small changes can prove to be positive steps towards helping to keep those infections under control. Some top tips from me include:

• • Consider your home hygiene regimes – Be careful not to use any harsh soaps and perhaps try using a more natural alternative to help maintain the delicate pH balance in the vagina.

• • Period products too – Many period products, often still called sanitory products, contain cheap, synthetic ingredients or chemicals which can contribute to irritation. Again, try using a more natural product and change tampons regularly to help keep the pH of the vagina under control.

• • Wear sensible clothes – Synthetic underwear as well as sanitary products can be problematic. Opt for cotton which is more breathable and don’t wear bottoms which are too tight or restrictive as you will only risk exacerbating those symptoms.

• Dietary tips – Although for many of us, sugar cravings can become an issue around the time of our periods, by giving in to chocolate or other sweet treats, you only risk making thrush worse. Alcohol can have a similar effect, as the natural sugars contained in the alcohol can feed the yeast and bad bacteria in and around the vagina. Try to opt for healthier alternatives (especially during the time of your period) and if sugar cravings are a real issue for you, you may also want to consider trying a chromium supplement.

• Consider pre- and probiotics – A combination of pre- and probiotics could help get thrush infections under control once and for all. Molkosan is rich in L+ lactic acid which means it helps to support the pH of our digestive system and the surrounding areas. Once the environment is more stable we can support this even further by upping the numbers of good bacteria. Opt for a female specific product such as Optibac for women, which contains the most relevant strains of bacteria for helping with those common female issues.

• Conventional remedies – If home and natural remedies aren’t helping to keep your symptoms under control, it may be time to pay your doctor or local pharmacy a visit. They may be able to prescribe anti-fungal remedies, although just beware that these may only offer a short term solution. You may also benefit from seeing a natural health practitioner like a naturopath or herbalist for more ongoing natural support.