What should you know about yeast infection after miscarriage?

Vaginal thrush is an overgrowth of yeast and often causes vulval itching, redness, soreness, and thick white discharge. It does not usually explain fever, increasing lower abdominal pain, faintness, or a strong unpleasant smell. After a miscarriage, bleeding and cramping may be part of recovery, but their pattern should gradually settle rather than become heavier or more painful.

Symptoms can overlap with infection in the uterus or vagina, retained pregnancy tissue, or irritation from pads and medicines. A clinician may need to examine you and decide whether testing or an ultrasound is appropriate. Avoid assuming that every change is thrush.

Contact the service that cared for you or a pharmacist before using an antifungal, especially if you are still bleeding, may be pregnant again, or have been given other medicines. Keep the vulva clean with water, pat it dry, and avoid perfumed products or vaginal washing. Use pads as advised and change them regularly.

Do not put anything into the vagina, including tampons or sex toys, until your clinician says it is safe after the miscarriage. Rest, drink fluids, and follow your aftercare instructions. A swab may be useful when symptoms are new or do not fit thrush.

Seek urgent medical care for heavy or rapidly increasing bleeding, severe or one-sided abdominal pain, fever or chills, dizziness or fainting, shoulder-tip pain, or discharge with a strong unpleasant smell. These warning signs can indicate a complication after miscarriage and should not be treated as thrush at home.

Arrange a review for persistent itching, discharge, or vulval pain, particularly if treatment does not help. Prompt assessment is also sensible if you are unsure whether bleeding is settling.

Ask whether your symptoms match thrush or another post-miscarriage problem, when internal products and sex are safe, and which antifungal is suitable with your recovery plan and medicines.