The wet season’s hot and humid weather can be tough enough, without battling one of the most common conditions facing women across the country.

Thrush will affect most women, with figures suggesting 75 per cent of women having at least one episode of it in their lifetime, however the hot and humid weather of North Australia can make things extra steamy ‘down there’.

Katherine-based GP Sarah Hurley has seen her fair share of cases and said thrush was a yeast infection caused by the candida species, with the most common of species to cause vaginal thrush called Candida albicans.

“As it is a yeast, it’s the same as your sourdough starter in that it likes warm, moist conditions so it makes sense that you are more likely to get thrush in the sweaty season,” she said.

“Common things to do to try to prevent thrush infections when it starts getting hot revolve around keeping your vagina cool and dry.”

Dr Sarah’s top tips include wiping from front to back, wearing breathable underwear of natural fibres and avoiding wearing underwear to bed.

“Make sure you only wash with water, avoid vaginal douches, dry well after showering, and try not to spend time in wet bathers or underwear for extended periods of time,” she said.

“Common things that can trigger thrush other than hot sweaty conditions are a recent course of antibiotics, high dose oestrogen oral contraceptives, menstrual cycle changes, pregnancy or breastfeeding, and health conditions such as diabetes or immune system disorders.”

The main symptoms to look out for include vaginal itch and burning sensation, a thick white or cream discharge from the vagina, redness, swelling and irritation of the vulva-vaginal area, painful, burning or stinging on urination (dysuria) or pain when having sex.

“Thrush can usually be treated with over the counter medications, most commonly with vaginal anti-fungal creams or pessary’s like Canesten, or there is a once off oral medication that can be requested over the counter which is fluconazole,” she said.

“You should see a doctor if this is your first time you think you have thrush, if you are not sure if it is thrush, if it is not responding to over the counter medications, recurrent episodes, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you have associated pelvic or abdominal pain, have abnormal vaginal bleeding or you are worried that this could be a sexually transmitted infection,” she said.