Fluconazole to treat thrush (150mg tablet)

What are the benefits of using fluconazole in pregnancy?

Fluconazole treats the unpleasant symptoms associated with vaginal thrush, which is a common pregnancy problem. While fluconazole is generally not recommended in pregnancy, it is sometimes prescribed to treat severe thrush that has not responded to other medicines.

Are there any risks of using fluconazole during pregnancy?

Some studies have suggested that miscarriage may be more common following fluconazole use in early pregnancy, and it has also been suggested that babies exposed to fluconazole may have a slightly higher chance of having rare heart defects. These findings need to be confirmed with further research. Fluconazole use in later pregnancy would not be able to cause these problems as the risk of miscarriage has passed by 20 weeks and the baby’s heart is fully developed by 12 weeks.

There are no concerns that fluconazole use in pregnancy affects the chance of stillbirth, preterm delivery, or low infant birth weight.

Are there any alternatives to using fluconazole?

Yes. Another medicine called clotrimazole, which is used in the form of creams or pessaries, can be used to treat thrush in pregnancy. Women are generally only prescribed fluconazole in pregnancy when clotrimazole has not worked.

What if I prefer not to take medicines to treat thrush during pregnancy?

Thrush can be very unpleasant and can be safely treated in pregnancy, but if untreated, it does not pose a serious health risk to the mother or baby.

Your doctor will be happy to talk to you about any concerns that you might have when considering use of a medicine in pregnancy.