Vaginal Thrush Treatment in Holborn, London — from £4.99
Vaginal thrush is a common yeast infection that causes itching, soreness and a thick white discharge. Many women can buy thrush treatment from a pharmacy after answering a few questions. Ways Pharmacy also offers a pharmacist consultation service for women whose situation falls outside what pharmacy medicines are licensed for — most often women aged over 60. We are a GPhC-registered pharmacy (premises number 9012227) at 77 Southampton Row, Holborn WC1, around two minutes' walk from the British Museum. The consultation can be done online by phone or video, in English or Chinese (中文), and treatment is posted from Holborn or ready to collect. Treatment is supplied only if the pharmacist confirms it is suitable for you.
Thrush treatment at a glance
| Treatment options | Fluconazole 150mg capsule, clotrimazole 500mg pessary and/or clotrimazole 1% cream, as decided by the pharmacist |
|---|---|
| Price | Fluconazole capsule £4.99 · clotrimazole pessary £14.99 · clotrimazole cream from £4.99 |
| Who it is for | Women aged 16 and over who have had vaginal thrush before and have typical symptoms again — including women over 60 |
| How it works | Online questionnaire and ID check, then a phone or video consultation with a pharmacist |
| Pharmacist assessment | Always required. If thrush treatment is not right for you, we will tell you where to go next |
| Where and when | 77 Southampton Row, London WC1B 4ET · Monday to Friday, 9:00am–6:00pm |
| Language | English and Chinese (中英文服务) |
Start your free online assessment or call 020 8106 7084.
If the medicine you choose is not suitable for you, the pharmacist may suggest another option; you only pay once a suitable treatment is confirmed.
Treatment options and prices
| Option | What it is | Price | More information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clotrimazole 500mg pessary | A single antifungal pessary inserted into the vagina, preferably at night. An option if you prefer not to take a tablet, or if fluconazole is not suitable. | £14.99 | Canesten Thrush Soft Gel Pessary |
| Clotrimazole 1% cream | Applied thinly to the external area 2 to 3 times a day to ease itching and soreness. Can be used with a capsule or pessary. | From £4.99 | Canesten Antifungal Cream |
| Fluconazole 150mg capsule (pharmacy medicine) | A single antifungal capsule taken by mouth. Women aged 16 to 60 who meet the conditions on the pack buy it after the usual pharmacy questions; women over 60 are assessed by the pharmacist through the consultation service first, at the same price | £4.99 | Fluconazole 150mg capsule |
There is no separate consultation fee — the price shown is the price of the medicine. Clotrimazole pessaries and creams are pharmacy medicines and can also be bought on their own.
Who can use this service
You may be able to get thrush treatment through our consultation service if all of these apply:
- You are a woman aged 16 or over. There is no upper age limit for this service, so women over 60 — who cannot use the pharmacy-medicine fluconazole pack without seeing a doctor — can be assessed.
- You have had vaginal thrush diagnosed before, and your symptoms are typical: itching and soreness around the vagina, a thick white discharge with little smell, and sometimes discomfort when passing urine or during sex.
- You have not had thrush 4 or more times in the last 12 months, and your symptoms have not come back within 4 weeks of your last treatment.
- You are not pregnant, or, if you are, the pharmacist agrees a cream or pessary is suitable (fluconazole is not given in pregnancy).
If you are aged 16 to 60 and the pharmacy-medicine pack advises you to see a doctor because you have had thrush more than twice in 6 months, the pharmacist can check whether treatment through this service is suitable or whether you should see your GP.
This service does not cover girls under 16, women with recurrent thrush (4 or more episodes a year) or women with a weakened immune system. These situations need assessment by a GP or sexual health clinic. This service is for vaginal thrush; men with symptoms of thrush can speak to our pharmacist about suitable pharmacy medicines.
If you are 16 or 17, you can use the online service in confidence — a parent or guardian does not need to be present.
When you should see a GP or get urgent help instead
The pharmacist will refer you to your GP or a sexual health clinic if:
- This is the first time you have had these symptoms.
- You have had thrush 4 or more times in a year, or it has come back within 4 weeks of treatment.
- You have a discharge that is coloured, smells unpleasant or looks unusual — see our BV treatment page if you have had BV before.
- You have sores, blisters or ulcers around the genitals.
- You have pain in the lower tummy or pelvis, unusual vaginal bleeding, or a fever.
- You think you may have a sexually transmitted infection — see STI testing.
- You have a weakened immune system, for example because of chemotherapy, steroid tablets or HIV.
- Your symptoms have not improved within 7 to 14 days of treatment.
Get urgent medical help — call NHS 111, or 999 in an emergency — if you have severe tummy pain, heavy bleeding, a high temperature, or signs of a serious allergic reaction such as swelling of the face or difficulty breathing.
How it works
- Start your free online assessment. Answer questions about your symptoms, previous episodes, health and medicines, and confirm your identity (upload photo ID, or show it on a video call).
- Pharmacist reviews and speaks with you. By phone or video, the pharmacist confirms your symptoms match thrush, checks your medicines for interactions and agrees the right treatment with you.
- If suitable, choose and pay. The pharmacist confirms which treatment is suitable; you then order and pay on the product page for that treatment, or call 020 8106 7084. If it is not suitable, including if you are given advice only and no medicine, you pay nothing — the pharmacist explains your other options. If you have already paid and treatment is not suitable, you get a full refund.
- We post your medicine or you collect it. Orders approved by the pharmacist before 3:00pm on a working day are posted the same day — see our shipping information for delivery options and costs. You can also collect from our Holborn pharmacy once your order is approved.
Why choose Ways Pharmacy
- A consultation route for women over 60, who are outside the age range of pharmacy-medicine fluconazole
- Pharmacy-medicine options available too, so you only use the consultation service when you need it
- Free online assessment — you only pay once the pharmacist confirms treatment is suitable
- Consultation in Chinese (中文) or English with registered pharmacists
- GPhC-registered pharmacy (premises 9012227), near Holborn and Russell Square stations
Frequently asked questions
Why would I need a consultation if I can buy fluconazole in a pharmacy?
Most women aged 16 to 60 with familiar symptoms can buy pharmacy-medicine fluconazole or clotrimazole after a few questions. The consultation service is mainly for women over 60, who are outside the age range on the pharmacy pack, and for women who would like a pharmacist to assess their symptoms first.
I am over 60. Can I get fluconazole?
Possibly. Through this service the pharmacist can assess you and, if suitable, supply fluconazole or a clotrimazole treatment. Thrush can be less common after the menopause, so the pharmacist will also check whether your symptoms could have another cause.
Can I use this service for recurrent thrush?
Not if you have had thrush 4 or more times in the last year, or if it has come back within 4 weeks of treatment. Recurrent thrush needs a GP assessment, as it may need tests or longer treatment.
Can I use this service if I am under 16?
No. Please see your GP or a sexual health clinic.
Which is better, the capsule or the pessary?
Both are single-dose treatments. The capsule is taken by mouth; the pessary is inserted into the vagina. The pharmacist will help you choose based on your preference, health and medicines. The cream can be added if you have external itching or soreness.
Can fluconazole interact with my other medicines?
Yes, it can interact with some medicines, including warfarin and other blood thinners, some diabetes tablets, some statins and medicines that affect heart rhythm. Tell the pharmacist about everything you take.
What if I am pregnant?
Fluconazole is not given in pregnancy under this service. A clotrimazole pessary or cream may be suitable, or the pharmacist may advise you to speak to your GP or midwife.
How quickly will it work?
Symptoms usually start to improve within a few days and may take up to 7 to 14 days to clear completely. If they have not improved by then, or they come back, please contact us or your GP.
Is this an NHS service?
No. Ways Pharmacy Holborn is a private pharmacy and does not provide NHS services.
Suspected side effects can be reported through the MHRA Yellow Card Scheme.
This page gives factual information about pharmacy services and medicines. Any medicine is supplied only after a pharmacist has assessed that it is suitable for you.
Ways Pharmacy
77 Southampton Row, Holborn, London WC1B 4ET
Telephone: 020 8106 7084
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9:00am–6:00pm, closed Saturday and Sunday
Around 2 minutes' walk from the British Museum, near Holborn station
GPhC-registered pharmacy premises: 9012227 · About Ways Pharmacy
