If you've noticed thrush popping up more often since you started trying to conceive, you're not imagining it. Hormonal shifts and more frequent sex can both tip the balance in your body and make thrush more likely.¹

It's an uncomfortable, unwelcome guest at the best of times. But when you're already navigating the ups and downs of TTC, it can feel like one more thing to worry about. The good news is that thrush is common, treatable, and doesn't get in the way of your fertility. This guide walks you through why it happens, how to avoid it, and how to treat it safely while you're trying for a baby.

What is thrush?

Thrush is a yeast infection caused by a fungus called candida. It lives in your vagina naturally, usually kept in check by the normal bacteria there. Symptoms include a thick, white discharge that can look like cottage cheese, itching and soreness around the vulva and vagina, and stinging when you pee or have sex.

Thrush isn't classed as a sexually transmitted infection, though sex can sometimes trigger it or make it more noticeable. For most people it's more of an irritation than a serious health issue.

Why does thrush show up more when you're trying to conceive (TTC)?

Several things linked to trying to conceive can shift the natural balance of bacteria and yeast in your body, including:

Hormonal changes: Thrush is more common when your hormones are in flux, including if you're pregnant or on hormone replacement therapy (HRT). 

More frequent sex: Trying to conceive often means more sex around ovulation, and sex can occasionally irritate the vagina and trigger symptoms.² 

Soaps and douches: Some soaps, shower gels, and douches disrupt your natural balance. NHS guidance specifically advises against these.³ 

Antibiotics: If you've recently taken a course of antibiotics for an unrelated infection, this can also increase your risk.² How to avoid thrush when trying to conceive

You can't eliminate the risk of thrush entirely, but a few simple habits make it much less likely to flare up. NHS guidance recommends the following.³

Doing these consistently, especially around ovulation when you're likely to be more active, can meaningfully cut your risk.

Treating thrush while trying to conceive

Thrush usually clears up quickly once you start treatment. While you're trying to conceive, it's worth knowing which treatment options are the right fit and which are best discussed with your GP first.

Most cases of thrush respond well to antifungal cream, a pessary (a tablet you insert into the vagina), or both together. Clotrimazole, sold under brand names like Canesten, is the most common option. It usually clears symptoms within seven days, though it's best used for a full two weeks to stop it coming back. If you've had thrush before and recognise the symptoms, a pharmacist can recommend the right product and talk you through how to use it.⁴

Antifungal creams can weaken latex condoms and diaphragms, so if you're using barrier contraception for any reason, bear this in mind.⁴

Why the tablet form needs a chat with your GP first?

If you're trying to conceive, fluconazole isn't the right choice to reach for first. This single oral antifungal tablet is a convenient option in general, but NHS guidance is clear: if you're trying to get pregnant, are pregnant, or are breastfeeding, talk to your doctor before taking it; not because fluconazole is unsafe for fertility, though: there's no evidence it reduces fertility in men or women. The caution is simply about which treatment route to take while you're actively trying, not a sign that thrush or its treatment threatens your chances of conceiving.⁵

If you're getting thrush more than four times a year, or a course of treatment hasn't worked, it's worth seeing your GP rather than repeating the same pharmacy treatment. They can check it's actually thrush and not something else, and help identify what might be causing it — such as your period or sex. They may also recommend a longer maintenance course.

Does thrush affect your chances of conceiving?

This is one of the most common worries: thrush does not affect your chances of getting pregnant.⁶ It's uncomfortable and can be frustrating to deal with on top of everything else, but it isn't linked to fertility, and it doesn't need to pause your plans for the month. Treating it promptly and comfortably is really about your wellbeing, not your chances of conceiving.

When to see a GP?

Most thrush clears up quickly with the right treatment, but NHS guidance recommends seeing a GP if:³

• It's your first time experiencing thrush symptoms 

• You're pregnant or breastfeeding and thrush keeps coming back (more than four times in twelve months) 

• A course of treatment hasn't worked 

• You have a weakened immune system, for example due to diabetes

Your GP can rule out other causes, such as skin conditions or other infections that can look similar, and get you on the right treatment plan.

Trying to conceive at home with twoplus

Thrush is one of many small, manageable things that can crop up on the path to trying for a baby, and it shouldn't stand in the way of your plans. Once symptoms have settled, many couples using at-home insemination want a comfortable, low-stress way to keep trying without adding extra pressure to the process.

The twoplus Applicator is designed with exactly that in mind. It's an at-home intracervical insemination (ICI) kit that deposits sperm close to the cervix, giving couples a comfortable, private way to try for a baby in their own space and on their own schedule. 

Trying to conceive can quickly start to feel like a chore. Timed sex, misaligned schedules, and even performance pressure often add up. The twoplus Applicator Extra takes that pressure off, so every fertile window becomes an opportunity again, not an obligation.

The twoplus Applicator Extra is a self-assisted artificial insemination kit that can be used from the comfort of your home. In just 3 simple steps, the Applicator Extra helps deposit sperm close to the cervix, giving nature a helping hand.

• No medical help or clinic visit needed

• Deposits semen close to the cervix, giving sperm a more direct path

• Designed for comfort with soft tip made of 100% medical grade silicone 

• Make your fertile window count

• Affordable alternative to try now: 3 steps. 15 minutes

Frequently asked questions

1. Can thrush stop me from getting pregnant?
   No. Thrush doesn't affect your chances of getting pregnant.⁶ It's uncomfortable, but it isn't linked to fertility.

2. Is it safe to use an ovulation test kit if I have thrush?
   Yes. Ovulation tests work by measuring a hormone (LH) in your urine, not by examining vaginal symptoms, so having thrush doesn't get in the way of testing. If you're ever unsure how to use your kit, the instruction leaflet or a pharmacist can help.

3. Can thrush treatment affect my ovulation tracking or timing?
   Antifungal creams and pessaries treat thrush locally and aren't designed to change your hormone levels, so they shouldn't interfere with ovulation tracking. If you notice anything unusual with your results, it's worth checking with a pharmacist or GP.

4. How soon after treating thrush can we try to conceive?
   There's no set waiting period. Thrush usually clears up within 7 to 14 days of starting treatment,² and since it doesn't affect your chances of getting pregnant,⁶ many couples carry on trying as soon as they're comfortable. If you'd rather wait until symptoms have fully settled, that's fine too.

Sources: 

1. NHS, Thrush (pregnancy symptoms) https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/common-symptoms/thrush/  

2. NHS, Thrush in men and women https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/thrush-in-men-and-women/ 

3. NHS, Thrush in men and women (prevention and when to see a GP) https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/thrush-in-men-and-women/ 

4. NHS, About clotrimazole for thrush https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/clotrimazole-for-thrush/about-clotrimazole-for-thrush/ 

5. NHS, Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility while taking fluconazole https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/fluconazole/pregnancy-breastfeeding-and-fertility-while-taking-fluconazole/ 

6. Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (thrush) https://doclibrary-rcht.cornwall.nhs.uk/GET/d10362940