Health Advice

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Head Lice – Help!!!

Every parent’s heart sinks when they receive the dreaded note from school warning about head lice. Don’t worry – Jane Brennan from Brennan’s Life Pharmacy in Donabate is here to to give us advice and tips. The first thing to do is to check the child’s head. You will need some tea tree conditioner, a... Read more >

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Are You SunSmart?

We ask Jane Brennan from Brennan’s Life Pharmacy Donabate how to make the most of great sunny summer days whilst protecting our skin from harmful rays. Jane says “The Irish Cancer Society SunSmart program has great guidelines to keep us safe. See below for some useful tips and advice” Ways to protect your skin: Shade... Read more >

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Pollen Highs & Watery Eyes

Pollen Highs & Watery Eyes… Talk to Jane Brennan, your Hay Fever Expert in Donabate Are your eyes itchy, red or watery? Is your throat scratchy? Are you sneezing? Do you have itchy ears, nose or mouth? Do you have a blocked or runny nose? Do you wake up feeling exhausted? Hay fever can cause... Read more >

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Bringing you the best health advice for your family

NHS Choices - Complications of vaginal thrush

(09/05/2014)

The main complications of thrush are:

  • the treatment doesn't work
  • the thrush keeps coming back
  • depression and sexual problems
  • penis problems in male partners

When thrush treatment fails to work

Anti-thrush medication fails to work in up to one in five cases. If your symptoms don't clear up within 7-14 days, the treatment hasn't worked.

There are several reasons why this happens. You may have a different infection, such as bacterial vaginosis, which is the most common cause of abnormal vaginal discharge.

If your treatment doesn't work, visit your GP. 

When thrush keeps coming back

If you have yeast infections that keep returning, your GP may run more tests to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other conditions. They may suggest trying a longer course of anti-thrush treatment or they may give you a prescription you can use whenever the symptoms return.

Research has suggested that a strategy known as "maintenance therapy" is effective. This involves taking an anti-thrush oral treatment or pessaries on a weekly basis for up to six months. Maintenance therapy will stop symptoms of thrush during treatment and allow the underlying causes to settle down.

Depression and sexual problems

Depression and psychosexual problems, often related to anxiety about having sex and the effect on your relationship, can sometimes develop if you have recurrent thrush.

You may wish to discuss with your partner whether tightness and dryness during sex are contributing to recurrent thrush. Your GP can advise you about specialist treatments, such as counselling

You could also try using a water or silicone-based lubricant during sex. These are available from pharmacies without a prescription.

More information and advice about sexual health problems are available in our sections on good sex and sexual health.

Male thrush

Occasionally, male partners of women who have thrush can develop a condition called candidal balanitis, where the head of the penis becomes inflamed.

If this happens, antifungal medication will usually be recommended.

Read about how to prevent thrush

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