Recurrent vaginal thrush (vaginal candida). How can this be prevented?

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2006 May 9;

Clinical aspects and luteal phase assessment in patients with recurrent vulvovaginal candida.

Spacek J,Buchta V,Jilek P,Forstl M.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital, Sokolska 581, Hradec Kralove 500 05, Czech Republic.

Objectives:

This study was undertaken to characterize the patients with recurrent vulvovaginal candida.

Study Design:

Basic data of personal history and history of recurrent vulvovaginal candida, lower genital tract symptoms and signs in 50 patients were analyzed in this longitudinal follow-up study including the determination of midluteal serum progesterone and urinary pregnanediol levels during the luteal phase in 84 cycles (recurrent vulvovaginal candida) and 60 cycles (healthy controls).

Results:

All patients suffered primary idiopathic form of recurrent vulvovaginal candida. Frequently, there was a striking discrepancy between severe symptoms and clinical finding, which was often negligible or normal. There was no redness and no or minimum discharge in 52% of culture documented attacks. In contrast to the healthy controls, the patients had significantly lower levels of progesterone (p<0.01) as well as those of urinary pregnanediol (p<0.05).

Conclusion:

Culture positive attacks in patients with recurrent vulvovaginal candida represented rather a form of vulvovaginal discomfort than attacks of vulvovaginal candida with typical inflammatory changes. Significantly lower progesterone levels in the RVVC patients as compared to the healthy controls suggest a link between an altered hormonal status and one of possible causes of RVVC in these women.