Most women want to treat thrush when they are pregnant. During pregnancy, you go through a series of hormonal changes that will make your vagina more conducive to the growth of Candida albicans and weaken your immune system. They usually experience a yeast infection at 39 weeks of pregnancy.
When they seek treatment, they don’t have many options when it comes to antifungal medications and antibiotics. Doctors are concerned that these medications could pass to the fetus, which is not desirable during pregnancy. So how do you get rid of a yeast infection during pregnancy that doesn’t affect the fetus?
Doctors often prescribe standard medications based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations for pregnant women with fungal infections. Only vaginal medications such as creams and vaginal suppositories are recommended. You can use over-the-counter azole drugs such as clotrimazole, miconazole, terconazole, and butoconazole. However, you should avoid the use of oral medications. Doctors do not recommend long-term treatment. This is to reduce the risk of exposure to the fetus.
However, many short courses of treatment do not produce satisfactory results. Therefore, doctors usually recommend a seven-day course of treatment. Always complete the course or else you may face recurring yeast infection. Once it’s healed, use a non-starch drying powder or nystatin powder to prevent a recurring infection.
You can try some natural remedies that can help keep your vagina dry. Never wear pantyhose or tight jeans. You should wear loose clothing to prevent moisture from being trapped near the perineum. Pregnant women usually sweat more than usual. It is advisable to bathe frequently and keep the vagina dry.
After urinating or urinating, be sure to wipe from front to back. If you wipe from back to front, you can transfer some bacteria to the vaginal area. However, when you reach the third trimester, you may find it difficult to do so due to the large stomach.
When using medications to treat thrush during pregnancy, always check with your doctor first, even if you have used them before. You want to make sure that the medications do not pose any threat to the growth of the fetus.