With symptoms that include itching and burning, vaginal thrush is no fun. Many women are understandably reluctant to talk about it, although medical experts say that three out of four get it at least once in their lifetime. Also called vaginal yeast infection or vulvovaginal candidiasis, vaginal thrush is caused by an overgrowth of candida, a type of yeast, which is a type of fungus. The most prevalent microorganisms in a healthy vagina, lactobacilli, create a mildly acidic environment that inhibits the proliferation of pathogens. When the natural balance of bacteria and yeast is disrupted, in…