Natural treatment for thrush during pregnancy

Vaginal candidiasis is commonly called thrush, or a yeast infection. It is caused by the overgrowth of a fungus called Candida, leading to a characteristic white, cottage cheese-like discharge, and/or itchiness.

Candida is one of the organisms which is found naturally in the vagina, making up what is known as the ‘vaginal flora’. Together, these organisms maintain the pH of the vagina between 3.8 and 4.5. To put this into context, lemons have a pH of about 2. The acidic environment in the vagina protects you from being infected by an overgrowth of organisms, of which Candida is one.

Why is thrush more common in pregnancy?

Thrush occurs when there is a change in the proportion of organisms in the vagina, leading to the pH in the vagina becoming more alkaline. Lactobacillus, a type of bacteria, is usually the predominant organism of healthy vaginal flora. Changes in the amount of lactobacillus can cause thrush.

Lactobacilli use glycogen as an energy source to make their own excretion – hydrogen peroxide (yep, like the hair colour) – and it is this hydrogen peroxide that keeps the vagina acidic. An acidic pH promotes the presence of ‘good’ bacteria and protects the vagina against other organisms.

Hyperoestrogenic states – where you have more oestrogen than usual – occur in pregnancy. Oestrogen works on the cells of the vagina, keeping mucosa active, and encouraging the production of glycogen. However, Candida also feeds on glycogen so if the balance is off, Candida can overgrow. This means that pregnancy is a common time for thrush to occur.

Having thrush when you are pregnant won’t harm your baby. However, it can be distressing to live with

Having thrush when you are pregnant won’t harm your baby. However, it can be distressing to live with. Thrush often causes vaginal itchiness, which can in turn lead to inflammation, redness and sometimes splits or fissures in the skin. It can be very uncomfortable and affect your daily activities, causing burning pain when passing urine or discomfort during sex.

Anti-fungal medication called clotrimazole is commonly prescribed for thrush, which is the active ingredient in Canesten pessaries and cream, and is entirely safe to use in pregnancy.¹ It works by stopping the production of essential components in the fungus cell membrane, inhibiting its growth.

You should visit your GP to confirm you have thrush, and they may advise you to get Canesten, which is available over the counter in pharmacies. The recommended treatment is a 500mg clotrimazole pessary at nighttime, for up to 7 consecutive nights.²

Although there is an oral tablet treatment for vaginal candidiasis called fluconazole, it is not advisable for use in pregnancy. This is because there have been cases of birth defects when high doses of fluconazole have been used. If someone has taken a single low dose, ie. a 150mg dose which is the standard treatment for resistant thrush, they shouldn’t worry as there is still a very low risk of birth defects.³ Nonetheless, fluconazole should be avoided if you know you are pregnant.

If my thrush won’t go away with treatment, could it be something else?

If your symptoms have not resolved within 7-14 days of initial treatment, see your doctor. There are some alternative treatments available: for example, using different antifungal agents like miconazole or econazole.

Your doctor may also arrange swabs to test for other infections. For example, your infection may be caused by a different species of Candida (the majority of yeast infections are caused by Candida albicans), or you may have bacterial vaginosis as opposed to a fungal infection.

Home remedies and natural treatments for thrush abound, but very few have been scientifically assessed or proven to be effective

It could even be trichomonas vaginalis, a sexually transmitted disease.⁴ Any vaginal infection can make you at risk of preterm rupture of membranes or preterm delivery, so you should go to the doctor if you are experiencing any symptoms which you believe could be thrush or another vaginal infection.

Thrush can sometimes recur during pregnancy. If you think you have another thrush infection, you should see your doctor: they will be able to prescribe different treatments such as “maintenance” therapy, where you use a pessary once a week to prevent thrush coming back.⁵

Are home remedies ever useful or advised?

Home remedies and natural treatments for thrush abound, but very few have been scientifically assessed or proven to be effective. Almost all come with a warning not to use when pregnant. Below is a list of options you can commonly find, along with why they are thought to work, and what evidence, if any, there is to back up that claim.

Yoghurt

Live yoghurt contains Lactobacillus, so is sometimes suggested as a treatment for thrush, either by eating it, applying it to the vulva, or inserting it into the vagina. However, there have not been any experimental trials comparing yoghurt with other treatments for thrush.⁶ Furthermore, the small studies which do exist have not shown any significant benefit.⁷

Even if it is not effective against thrush, eating yoghurt will not cause any harm unless you are intolerant to lactose. However, NICE advise against applying yoghurt to the vulva or vagina.⁸

Your doctor will never knowingly give you a medication that has not been extensively tested to prove its safety in pregnancy – and that’s important

Tea tree oil

Tea tree oil is sometimes advocated because it is an essential oil with anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.

However, clinical guidance from the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV is that there is currently insufficient evidence to recommend the use of tea tree oil in the management of vulvovaginal candidiasis.⁹ NICE also advise against using tea tree oil for thrush symptoms.¹⁰

Probiotics

Probiotics usually come in the form of tablets or drinks, but can also be inserted as a vaginal pessary. Probiotics contain ‘good’ bacteria – often Lactobacillus – but not necessarily the same type of Lactobacillus found in the vagina. There is currently insufficient evidence to suggest that either oral or vaginal probiotics can treat or prevent vulvovaginal candidiasis.¹¹ This is because many different types of probiotic and treatment regimes have been used in the existing studies, and many of these studies are of poor quality.¹²

Other alternative treatments

Other essential oils, such as oil of oregano, are sometimes suggested as anti-fungal treatments. However, although in a laboratory such oils have anti-fungal properties, there is no evidence to recommend they should be used to treat thrush.¹³

You may have seen vaginal douching recommended as a treatment for thrush as it “cleans the vagina”. However, the vagina is self-cleaning – and studies have shown that douching can actually increase your risk of Candida infection.¹⁴ Vaginal douching should therefore be avoided.

If in doubt, ask your doctor

Thrush is a common problem in pregnancy, and concerns about medications being safe to use are very real. Your doctor will never knowingly give you a medication that has not been extensively tested to prove its safety in pregnancy – and that’s important.

The temptation to try a natural solution makes sense, as thrush can be so distressing. Healthy eating and lifestyle changes form the bedrock of medical advice, but in our eagerness to pursue non-pharmacological treatments to real clinical problems we can forget that many medications actually do come from the natural world (think of aspirin from tree bark or certain chemotherapy agents from sea sponges, to name just two).

The bottom line is anything invasive (being put inside your body), especially in pregnancy, should have some sort of testing and evidence before use, so, even if you are desperate, go and discuss the best treatment for you with your doctor.

Featured image is of a pregnant woman checking her phone while sitting on a train. She is visible from the shoulders down

Last updated October 2023
Next update due 2026

Author’s disclaimer: This content is designed to provide general information and is not a substitute for medical advice. Medical opinion, practice and routine may vary from country to country and may change from time to time. The author is not liable for the results of misuse or inappropriate application of the information. If you are an individual who chooses to access this information, you should not rely on the information as professional medical advice or use it to replace any relationship with your doctor or other qualified healthcare or social care professional. For medical concerns, including decisions about medications and other treatments, individuals should always consult their doctor or, in serious cases, seek immediate assistance from emergency personnel. Individuals with any type of medical condition are specifically cautioned to seek professional medical advice before beginning any sort of health treatment. Individuals with specific queries or concerns should seek appropriately qualified medical advice. Clinicians must use their own judgement when interpreting this information and deciding how best to apply it to the treatment of patients.