Will probiotics help to prevent thrush?
Thrush is a fungal infection which can be oral (causing white patches and sometimes pain in the mouth) or vaginal (causing itching or soreness around the vagina and vulva). Men can contract genital thrush as well but it is much more common in women. Traditional medical treatment involves antifungal creams, pessaries or pills.
The yeast causing thrush is called Candida, and is usually the species Candida albicans. Candida occurs naturally within the intestines, mouth, skin and vagina of most people yet problems occur when this yeast is able to overgrow, in which case thrush can occur. Candida is thought to overgrow when the body's balance of good and bad bacteria is disrupted by factors such as antibiotics, hormonal changes including pregnancy, and by a disruption of the natural pH balance of the vagina caused by factors such as scented intimate products and soaps. Thrush is not commonly known as an STD but it can be passed on from one sexual partner to another.
Although probiotics may not be a quick acting cure for thrush, optimising your friendly bacteria with probiotics such as Lactobacillus acidophilus should maintain a healthy balance of beneficial flora in the gut and thereby reduce the ability of pathogenic yeasts like Candida to overgrow.
For those who regularly suffer from thrush, see OptiBac Probiotics For daily wellbeing EXTRA Strength.
For those who suffer from thrush when taking antibiotics, see OptiBac Probiotics For those on antibiotics.