Imani
Imani experienced recurrent thrush for two years. She visited a general practitioner and found their advice very helpful in reducing thrush. After learning to avoid perfumed soaps and shower gels, Imani is able to self-manage the condition. She encourages others to ask for help and not be ashamed.
Imani is a straight woman. She has a 15-year-old daughter and works as a social worker. Her background is Black South African. Interview clips read by an actor.
More about me...
Imani experienced recurrent thrush for two years, with episodes three to four times a year. Her symptoms included itching, burning, and discomfort.
Unaware what was causing her symptoms, Imani went to see a healthcare professional. Originally from South Africa, Imani had seen a clinic nurse who identified thrush through an examination and provided a cream which offered some relief.
After moving to England, Imani consulted with a general practitioner who said that using perfumed soaps and shower gels could be a trigger for thrush. Learning this, Imani changed her hygiene products and noticed less thrush episodes. Imani did an STI test which came back negative, but was not offered a test for thrush.
Recurrent thrush occupied Imani’s thoughts, saying "It will be always in your mind thinking 'what is this?'”. However, she does not believe that recurrent that has significantly impacted her mental health, as she has always sought treatment early to prevent it from becoming a larger issue.
Imani appreciates the help from healthcare professionals who informed her that thrush could also be caused by pH imbalances and hormonal changes. She felt the doctors were great and did not pass judgement. If thrush recurred in a few months, Imani was encouraged to visit the GP again.
To manage recurrent thrush, Imani uses prescription creams, wearing cotton underwear, and drying off well after bathing. Through online research, Imani found that semen could also trigger thrush, although she was unsure about the accuracy of this information.
Imani said that a lack of knowledge made people ashamed to talk about thrush. She said that some people mistake it for being an STI which leads to feelings of judgment.
In the last year, Imani has had thrush twice and felt that things are improving.
After her experience, Imani feels comfortable discussing it with friends and encouraged others to seek medical advice. If recurrent thrush returns, Imani plans to revisit the GP and learn more.
Imani said that discomfort from recurrent thrush “affects your mind”(read by an actor)
Imani said that discomfort from recurrent thrush “affects your mind”(read by an actor)
“I think it... it’s something which can affect you emotionally in a way that when you don’t feel... when you feel that it’s... you have a discomfort, it’s something which you... in your mind, and you end up thinking... visiting a GPs. It’s much easier because I feel like if something is not right on my body, I’m someone who really recognise a difference, so yeah, it will be always in your mind thinking, ‘what is this?’ You know? I might be different from other but when I’m... I don’t have that outcome or ability in me, something is itching or something is... is just a discomfort, yeah, I felt like it affects your mind, something like that.”
Imani said that lack of awareness about thrush contributed to feelings of shame (read by an actor)
Imani said that lack of awareness about thrush contributed to feelings of shame (read by an actor)
I can say sometimes it’s shame. It might not be lack of... yeah, it can be lack of knowledge, maybe thinking though people will just think maybe thrush is... it’s a sexually transmitted disease and sometimes they are ashamed to talk about it, and however it can be triggered with different aspects which might not be what they are thinking, so I feel like sometimes people they don’t want to talk about it feeling that how people are going to pursue or judge them, so... yeah.
Going to the GP helped Imani identify thrush (read by an actor)
Going to the GP helped Imani identify thrush (read by an actor)
I think for the first time I think I wasn’t aware what was that. So, went to see the GP it helped me because you see if you have something that you... you don’t understand and you have a discomfort, it... you know, it’s there... what can I say, down there it’s really sensitive, so the moment you feel that something is not right, you won’t be well and you feel very stressed, so going to see a GP, it helped me to identify that it was thrush.
Imani found that her symptoms were triggered by a scented shower gel (read by an actor)
Imani found that her symptoms were triggered by a scented shower gel (read by an actor)
I can say maybe I think I didn’t realise that it was triggered with the soap which I was using, the shower gels and soap with the perfume, so I was just going to the pharmacy and buying the over-the-counter creams, and the moment you keep on using this shower gel, I think that why it was really occurring more often because I didn’t know, but when I visited the clinic, that’s when I realised that it was triggered with the soap which I was using and the shower gel.