Better Education on Thrush Treatment
Thrush is never a comfortable topic to discuss, but it’s also not a comfortable thing to experience as I’m sure many of you will know! Due to the amount of women we treat for this condition, we thought it would be a great topic to discuss.
For some women, it may only occur sporadically. But for others – they suffer from it every single month. Have you tried everything to get rid of it? Medicated creams, anti-fungals, anti-candida diets, you name it – it still hangs around. Candida is not the only problem to consider for this condition. Other factors such as hormones, vaginal pH and the mucosal lining can all effect the treatment outcome.
What Is Thrush?
Thrush is an infection caused by a overgrowth yeast in the vagina, most commonly being Candida albicans. Candida naturally makes up a small portion of the microbial terrain in each of us. It is usually harmless, however when the vaginal terrain become favorable, Candida will thrive.
A NATUROPATH’S INTERPRETATION OF THRUSH:
Hormones & Mucosal Lining
The mucosal lining is similar to the digestive lining, where the integrity of the lining is the key to preventing infection. For those who have regular flare-ups every month, hormonal thrush may be the problem. Female hormones fluctuate on a daily basis, it is the estrogen – progesterone ratio that has the ability to deplete mucosal integrity.
As the ratio changes around ovulation and menstruation, so does the lining. You may notice thrush develops more often on the days leading up to your period? Estrogen rises during menstruation, and the mucosal lining is at its thinnest, meaning there is a reduced amount of protection against infection. Around ovulation estrogen drops and the lining becomes thicker, so there is greater protection against candida. If your hormones are out of balance, it may be increasing your risk of infection.
pH
Optimal pH of the vagina should be between 4.0 – 4.5. The acidic environment provides unfavorable living conditions for potential pathogens. When the pH becomes too alkaline, it becomes a potential breeding ground for fungus such as Candida. Vaginal infections, sexual activity, menstrual cycle (hormones), changes in the vaginal flora, estrogen administration and vaginal douching can all influence the vaginal pH.
Vaginal Dysbiosis
A balanced vaginal terrain is essential in preventing thrush. Micro-flora plays a key role in preventing candida by two ways:
- Beneficial bacteria and cells present in the vagina excrete acidic bio-products. This naturally maintains the acidic environment which is required for preventing thrush.
- Think of the mucosal lining as a car park, car spaces are lined up next to each other along the entire surface. If every space is filled with a car, there is no room for anything else to park. It is a similar situation for bacteria – if there are no spaces available across the mucosal lining, there is no room for candida to colonize.
Please call us to find out more information on this topic 1300 855 008.