Women's problems

benjus

My girlfriend intermittently suffers from thrush.

In her native Argentina she gets pessaries containing Miconazol/Tinidazol or Metronidazol/Miconazol/Neomicina - she still has a couple that she's brought with her. These seem to help her, while she finds the Canesten ones they sell here (containing Clotrimazole) completely ineffective.

Does anyone know if it's possible to buy these here, or anywhere else in Europe that could deliver?

Mupette

She should see her GP here to get some expert advice, and see what they can suggest.

benjus

The GP just prescribes Canesten which doesn't help.

Does anyone have an answer to the question I asked?

patchwork_cat

Metronidazol actually gives me thrush!! Micanozole is available as daktarin, the pessary is gyno-daktarin (I think). Your best bet is to talk to your pharmacist as to whether these products are availabale over the counter in this country or on prescription. If script only, get the name off the pharmacist and ask the GP for them.

Mupette

they dont just prescribe canisten, they would need to try other things, but canisten would be the first port of call, and if needs be a trip to see a gynie if needs be..

or... womens clinics... are they of any help

benjus

Ok, thanks for the ideas. She's still getting used to the NHS and not being able to go straight to a gynaecologist without seeing a gp first...

building_with_lego

Don't forget that recurrent thrush can be an indicator of diabetes, definitely start with the GP!

Edit: don't forget to get treated too as men can have it with barely any symptoms and keep giving it back to the woman. (Joy!) FWIW I used to have lots of recurrent thrush and it's much much less now that I've stopped using tampons in favour of my Mooncup.

j.e.j.

Have a look on this website:
http://bnf.org/bnf/index.htm
(or ask to look at the BNF book at your local pharmacy/library.)
Basically, if it's not listed there, it's not available in the UK.

It might be worth her getting a friend or relative to send some more over from Argentina (silly though that sounds) if she gets on with those ones, but can't find an equivalent here.

I do agree with her re. being able to go straight to the gynaecologist in other countries, - so much easier than here, where you have to first book to see a 'middle man' so to speak!

hth

suki1964

You Gf needs to go back to the GP and explain that the thrush is recurring

I have the same problem, have done on and off all my life. I can buy otc products and it will clear - 2 months later its back

The only otc product is canestan - or own brands of

I get treated with long term flagyl tablets - sometimes as long as a six week course and even high dose flagyl pessaries when things are really bad. My last treatment was 3 months back and fingers crossed no sign of it returning as yet.

A lot of doctors dont always realise how often some one is getting attacks because its so easy to self treat. She does need to go in and be insistent that she wants flagyl

patchwork_cat

Flagyl /metronidazole is an antibiotic, if your irritation clears with flagyl it is not thrush, which is a yeast infection and thrives when there is no bacteria to keep it in check.

LisaB85

I assume she has looked into her cleaning habits? cleaning too thoroughly with soap can cause thrush, she can get specialist soaps for private areas.

When does it occur? I used to get it when I was was on my period, turns out it was the towels I used. I used to get it all the time when I was 18/19.