Yes, probiotics may help with managing thrush. Clinical studies have shown that optimising one's friendly bacteria with probiotics can help to maintain a healthy vaginal microbiome.
Some of the most well researched probiotic strains shown to help with thrush in clinical trials are Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14® and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1®.
How long do they take to work? Studies involving the use of yogurt and honey in the vagina suggest that this mixture takes about a week to work. Oral probiotics, on the other hand, can take anywhere from one to four weeks to alter the microbiota of your vagina.
Studies have shown that when taken, probiotics will improve symptoms for those who already have a yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis. Probiotics are also able to prevent a potential infection. These bacteria work to balance out the pH level of the vagina, which makes for a healthy and hospitable environment.
Look for a supplement that includes good levels of iron, folic acid and vitamin B12, as low levels of all three nutrients are associated with the development of oral thrush.
However, there are not enough probiotics in yoghurt to fix or reverse the problem, let alone address the root cause. Many yoghurts are also sweetened, so you could be making the problem worse. Also, be careful of supermarket probiotic drinks such as Yakult, as they're often loaded with sugar.
Supplementation with probiotics to boost the body's overall population of lactobacilli can help restore the balance of microflora in the vagina and thus help prevent common female problems such as bacterial vaginosis, yeast infection, and urinary tract infection.
A common question about probiotics is whether it is ok to take probiotic supplements every day. Whilst there may be a few exceptions to this rule, the general answer is yes, it's safe, and usually recommended, to take them daily. It's important to understand that probiotics are a natural supplement and not a medicine.
What causes thrush? Your vagina naturally has a certain amount of yeast. Thrush is caused by the growth of too much yeast. You are more likely to get thrush if you have recently taken antibiotics, you have diabetes or your immune system is weakened (for example, because you have HIV).
In a 2020 review of studies on 22 vaginal probiotics taken as suppositories, all were found to be safe. Some even showed promise in preventing and treating B.V. However, none of the strains stuck around the vagina for long, meaning they were unlikely to be beneficial in the long run.
Thrush treatment
You'll usually need antifungal medicine to get rid of thrush. This can be a tablet you take, a tablet you insert into your vagina (pessary) or a cream to relieve the irritation.
Studies have shown that it's not only possible to take probiotics with antifungals and antibiotics, but it's beneficial, too.
Some doctors may recommend up to 10 to 15 billion CFUs per day. For vaginal infections: Some supplement manufacturers offer a probiotic suppository for vaginal use. Many people recommend inserting regular probiotic capsules vaginally, as well. Oral medications should only be taken orally.
Vitamins A, D, and E are necessary for keeping your vagina healthy and free from infection. For example, Vitamin A is essential for maintaining the health of your mucous membranes, including those in your vagina. It also has antibacterial and antiviral properties, which can help to protect you from infections.
A 2012 study found that a mixture of yogurt and honey was actually more effective than an antifungal agent for the treatment of vaginal yeast infections in pregnant women. Participants in this study applied the yogurt and honey mixture vaginally. The clinical cure rate for the yogurt mixture was 87.8 percent.
Actually, there is some evidence for the use of live yogurt (due to the probiotics) in reducing the symptoms of thrush. And no you don't eat it (well you can) but it's best applied topically or vaginally.
Plain yogurt that contains Lactobacillus and no natural sweeteners might help treat the infection and ease the symptoms. But be sure to only use plain yogurt. Yogurt that contains added sugar will likely make the infection and its symptoms worse because sugar causes the yeast to multiply.
If you have mild thrush symptoms you can use over the counter antifungal creams to treat your thrush, however if your symptoms are severe you'll need to visit your GP who may be able to prescribe stronger anti-fungal medicines.
The symptoms will usually clear up within a week or two. However, for some women, vaginal thrush can be difficult to treat and keeps coming back.
Another effective and fast way to treat the symptoms of vaginal thrush is with thrush relief medicine. Fluconazole is an antifungal medication that stops the overgrowth of vaginal yeast. It works within a few days and can even be used to prevent vaginal infections.
Avoid sugar
glucose, lactose, sucrose. Keep an eye out for those nasty sweeteners too, such as aspartame. The best way to manage thrush through diet is to avoid those processed foods and refined sugar foods altogether. That means skipping the pastries, biscuits or chocolate bars.