Symptoms of vaginal thrush

Overview of the typical symptoms of vaginal thrush

The typical symptoms of vaginal thrush are:

• Severe itching in the genital area
• Painful burning sensation on both the external genital area and the entrance to the vagina
• Yellowish, granular, but odorless discharge
• White-gray deposits on the vaginal mucosa
• Swelling and / or redness of the inner and outer labia
• Sore feeling around the entrance of the vagina
• Painful intercourse or urination
• Rash (possibly also blisters) and cracked skin in the area around the vagina

General information on the topic can be found at: Vaginal fungus or yeast in the vagina

Discharge as a symptom of vaginal thrush?

A light, whitish, odorless discharge (also Fluor albus or called white river) is perfectly normal in a sexually mature woman and is nothing to worry about.

It serves to maintain the protective, slightly acidic environment of the vaginal flora and to flush out potentially harmful germs.

In the case of a vaginal yeast infection (mostly caused by the fungus Candida albicans), however, the color and consistency of the discharge can change.

Most affected women describe a rather thick, yellowish, slightly grainy or even crumbly discharge. The intensity of the discharge also increases with a yeast infection. Usually, however, the discharge remains odorless, just like the white flow that occurs in a healthy woman.

You might also be interested in: Candidiasis

Bleeding as a symptom of vaginal thrush?

Vaginal bleeding is not a typical symptom of a yeast infection.

In rare cases, however, it is possible that peeling vaginal coatings lead to a small amount of bleeding in the underlying mucous membrane. Such detachments can be triggered, for example, during the gynecological examination by the gynecologist or through the use of medicinal mushroom therapy. Usually they are not a cause for concern.

However, if the bleeding continues after the end of the fungal therapy, it is advisable to contact your gynecologist to clarify other reasons for the bleeding.

Read more about this at: Spotting

Pain as a symptom of vaginal thrush?

Pain is a common symptom of vaginal thrush.

Affected women most often describe pain when urinating and during sexual intercourse.

This is because the vaginal thrush can lead to changes in the skin and mucous membrane in the genital and intimate areas.

The otherwise moisturizing, germ-protective white flux (fluor albus) turns into a thick, crumbly substance.
In this way, especially during sexual intercourse, it can lead to increased irritation and friction of the vaginal mucous membrane, which can lead to pain.

The pain when urinating can also be explained by an overstimulation caused by fungus, in this case the urethral area. They are confusingly similar to symptoms of a urinary tract infection.

Read more on the topic: Pain during intercourse, pain at the entrance to the vagina

Vaginal odor as a symptom of vaginal thrush?

Many women mistakenly associate a foul vaginal odor with vaginal thrush.

This is more of a typical symptom of bacterial vaginosis (inflammation in the vaginal area, which is usually caused by the Gardnerella bacterium).

The discharge from vaginal fungus, on the other hand, changes primarily in its color and consistency, and less so in its smell. As a rule, it is even described by sick women as almost odorless. A discharge that smells fishy and unpleasant is an indication of another disease that should be treated differently.

Itching as a symptom of vaginal thrush?

In most cases, itching is the main symptom of vaginal yeast infections. Far more than half of all vaginal yeast infections are recognized when a woman presents to her gynecologist with a strongly itchy genital area.

Read more on this topic at: Itching in the vagina

The itching can affect both the external genitalia, i.e. the labia and the vaginal entrance, as well as the vagina itself.

This can be a great burden for women, as an itchy genital area requires great self-control, especially in public.

Relief of the symptoms by rubbing is almost never possible outside of your own home or a toilet. In addition, the itching cannot always be resolved by friction. In some cases, it can even make it worse. The only effective remedy for itching in vaginal thrush is therapy of the fungus itself. This can be done quite easily with locally applicable creams or vaginal suppositories (so-called antimycotics), which are freely available in pharmacies.

Vaginal fungus without itching

Even if itching is one of the most common symptoms of vaginal thrush, it is still possible that it is completely absent despite the fungal infection. This could be due to the fact that the number of fungal colonies in the vagina is still quite low. As the vaginal fungus spreads, itching can also occur.

Fever as a symptom of vaginal thrush?

Fever is not a classic symptom of vaginal thrush.

As a rule, fever means that the body has to fight against inflammation, which is usually not the case with vaginal thrush.
If skin changes in the genital area occur in combination with fever, a doctor should also be examined with regard to an infection with genital herpes or other viruses and bacteria.

Nevertheless, it cannot be ruled out with certainty that a vaginal yeast infection cannot also be associated with an increase in temperature.

Read more on the topic: Genital herpes

Burning as a symptom of vaginal thrush?

Another possible symptom of vaginal thrush is a burning sensation in the genital area. Some women notice this when urinating on the toilet, which can lead to it being misinterpreted as a sign of a urinary tract infection or a bladder infection and possibly even an antibiotic, in this case ineffective, therapy being initiated.

Other women, on the other hand, feel the burning sensation regardless of whether they go to the toilet. In any case, the burning sensation is an indication of inflammation or fungal infection and thus an illness that requires treatment, which justifies a visit to the doctor.

You might also be interested in: Burning sensation when urinating or vagina is burning

Diarrhea as a symptom of vaginal thrush?

A connection between vaginal thrush and the occurrence of diarrhea is very unlikely. This can be justified by the fact that the two diseases affect two different, independent organ systems.

Diarrhea can have many causes (e.g. food intoxication, gastrointestinal infections or food intolerance), however, according to the current state of medical knowledge, vaginal thrush is not one of them.

Back pain as a symptom of vaginal thrush?

Abdominal or back pain that is associated with the typical fungal discharge (yellowish, unpleasant smelling and crumbly) are a possible but rare symptom of vaginal yeast infection.

However, since back pain usually improves with successful treatment of the vaginal thrush, these usually do not require any separate drug or physiotherapeutic treatment.

If the back pain persists despite treatment of the fungus, it is possible to reduce it by taking a limited amount of a mild pain reliever such as B. Ibuprofen 400mg to alleviate. However, this should only be done for a short time. If the pain persists, it is advisable to consult a doctor.

Rash as a symptom of vaginal thrush?

The appearance of a rash is most often associated with an allergic reaction. For example, a rash in the vagina area can indicate an allergy to a detergent that has been used or it can be caused by wearing new, unwashed underwear. A common occurrence with a vaginal thrush is possible, but does not have to have a causal connection.

You might also be interested in: Eczema in the genital area

Symptoms in the partner

The vaginal thrush is a fungal infection that can be transmitted to the partner during sexual intercourse.

Read more about this at: Sexually transmitted diseases

Since the man's intimate area has a rather dry environment, the fungal colonies there only multiply very slowly and accordingly only cause symptoms much later. However, these are usually similar to those of a woman's vaginal fungus: redness, itching and whitish coatings (most often in the area of ​​the glans).

If such signs of a fungal infection are noticed in the partner, it is advisable to start antifungal therapy (therapy against the fungus) for him as well. Otherwise, a kind of “ping-pong effect” could occur, in which both partners repeatedly infect each other during sexual intercourse. If there is any uncertainty as to whether the partner is also infected, it is possible to have a clarifying fungal swab done by the doctor (urologist or dermatologist).

You might also be interested in: Fungal infection drugs