As you’re using the bathroom one evening, you notice that you’re experiencing some pain as you pee, and when you inspect things further, you find that the vaginal area also appears to be quite red. After doing some quick online research, you discover that it might be thrush. While you know that pregnancy is far from easy, that morning sickness and fatigue are common, thrush isn’t something you anticipated.

However, due to hormonal changes that take place during pregnancy, many women do develop thrush. But the good news is that it’s entirely treatable. But before we get onto that, let’s find out exactly what thrush is.

What is thrush?

Thrush is a yeast infection caused by a species of fungus that usually lives harmlessly in the vagina. But when the balance of bacteria changes, this fungus can grow and cause several uncomfortable symptoms. These include:

Redness in and around the vagina.

Soreness or stinging during sex and when you pee.

White discharge that looks similar to cottage cheese.

Itching around the vagina.

Thrush is generally caused by either pregnancy, sex when the vagina is dry or tight, too much yeast in the diet, or antibiotics.

Now, your first question is very likely - Will thrush affect my baby’s health? So, let’s find out.

Will thrush affect my baby?

There’s no evidence to suggest that thrush will harm your unborn baby, but it could increase your chances of going into early labour.

So, how is thrush treated during pregnancy?

During pregnancy, thrush can be treated with cream or a tablet inserted into the vagina. While antifungal tablets can also be used to treat thrush, they shouldn’t be given to pregnant or breastfeeding women.

If you suspect that you have thrush, don’t worry, but do see a medical professional for treatment.

Antenatal Class Questions: Is thrush more common during pregnancy?

This Unii Pregnancy health article looks at whether you can expect more visits from thrush, an uncomfortable vaginal condition, when you're expecting a baby.