Can having sex cause thrush?
For all the fun it may be, sex does come with a few different risks. Aside from the obvious (sexually transmitted diseases), there’s also the matter of yeast infections.
Thrush is a common yeast infection that affects both men and women. The condition is usually harmless, but can be uncomfortable and it can keep coming back.
It is not considered a sexually transmitted disease, but it can be spread through sex if a person with a vagina or penis has thrush before having sex.
Thrush thrives in warm, moist parts of the body such as the genitals and can happen because of tight clothing, underwear and/or hot weather.
While it can be spread through sex, or triggered by it (the infection thrives in warm moist spaces remember), thrush isn’t caused by the act.
But oral sex plus using sex toys can also put you at risk of developing the infection.
But treatment is fairly easy. You can access tablets over the counter at a pharmacy.
What are the symptoms of vaginal thrush?
- White vaginal discharge (like cottage cheese), which does not usually smell
- Itching and irritation around the vagina
- Soreness and stinging during sex or when you pee.
What are thrush symptoms in men?
- Irritation, burning and redness around the head of the penis and under the foreskin
- A white discharge (like cottage cheese)
- An unpleasant smell
- Difficulty pulling back the foreskin.
How do you treat thrush?
Usually, you’ll be given antifungal medicine to get rid of it. This can be in the form of a tablet you take, a tablet you insert into your vagina or a cream to relieve the irritation.
It should then clear up within a week after one dose of medicine or using the cream daily.
If you have thrush and are sexually active, you don’t need to treat your partner unless they also show symptoms. But you might want to refrain from sex to lessen the chances of spreading it back and forth.
Thrush can affect other areas of skin such as the armpits, groin and between the fingers.
This usually causes a red, itchy or painful rash that scales over with white or yellow discharge. The rash may not be so obvious on darker skin.
If a person has oral thrushes it can also be passed on. The symptoms include white or yellow patches of bumps in your mouth, slight bleeding if the bumps are scraped or soreness and burning.
If a partner kisses or licks other parts of your body, their bacteria and fungi can spread. This includes your mouth, nipples, and anus.
Sometimes thrush causes no symptoms at all.
Treatments and remedies may vary so consult with your doctor for the best solution.
Source: Read Full Article