Male Yeast Infection: Symptoms, Treatment, and More

Penile yeast infections can create a range of uncomfortable symptoms, but are often treated quickly by OTC medications, and can be reduced by taking certain steps, such as practicing proper hygiene.

A yeast infection is often thought of as a female health problem, but it can affect anyone, including people with a penis.

A penile yeast infection can lead to a wide range of painful and uncomfortable symptoms if not treated. It can also lead to serious complications if the infection spreads to your bloodstream.

Over-the-counter (OTC) medications can often clear up a yeast infection, and some basic prevention steps can help you avoid this fairly common condition.

Some of the most common symptoms of a penile yeast infection include:

• redness, soreness, or swelling of the penis
• white, shiny patches at the top of the penis
• small red spots at the top of the penis
• cracked foreskin
• thick, white discharge under the foreskin or other folds of skin
• difficulty pulling back the foreskin
• itchiness
• burning sensation during urination
• pain or discomfort during sex

Redness, itchiness, and pain in the penis can be signs of other more serious conditions, like some sexually transmitted infections (STIs), so do not ignore symptoms once they appear.

A urologist or primary care doctor can diagnose the condition, often in a single appointment.

A yeast infection is usually caused by a fungus called candida. A small amount of candida is usually present in the body. All it takes is an overgrowth of candida to develop a yeast infection.

A moist environment is ideal for candida to spread, according to 2018 research.

Having sex with a person who has a vaginal yeast infection without using a condom can also cause a penile yeast infection. However, you can also develop an infection without sexual activity.

Aside from sex with a partner who has a yeast infection, several other risk factors can increase your odds of developing a penile yeast infection, such as:

• not cleaning your genitals or bathing regularly
• having a weakened immune function due to certain medications or health conditions
• using antibiotics long term
• wearing wet clothing or tight-fitting underwear
• using skin products or soaps that cause skin irritation
• having diabetes
• using lubricated condoms
• being uncircumcised
• having obesity

Once you make an appointment, a doctor will ask you about your symptoms and likely examine your genitals. Some of the white substance that forms on the penis may be examined under a microscope to confirm the type of fungus causing the symptoms, according to 2022 research.

If you cannot get in to see a doctor or a urologist, consider a visit to an urgent care center or the emergency room. The earlier the problem is diagnosed and treatment begins, the more likely it is you can avoid complications.

It’s not recommended for a person to diagnose themselves and start treatment on their own. If symptoms of a yeast infection are present, contact a doctor. If symptoms are allowed to persist, complications can become very uncomfortable.

In most cases, topical antifungal ointments and creams are enough to clear up an infection. Some of the antifungal creams recommended for a yeast infection include:

• miconazole (Lotrimin AF, Cruex, Desenex, Ting Antifungal)
• imidazole (Canesten, Selezen)
• clotrimazole (Lotrimin AF, Anti-Fungal, Cruex, Desenex, Lotrimin AF Ringworm)

Most of these are available as OTC medications, which means you will not need a prescription. More serious or long-term infections may require prescription-strength medication.

Oral fluconazole (Diflucan) and hydrocortisone cream may be advised in serious infections, like those that have developed into a potentially serious condition called balanitis.

Most antifungal creams are well tolerated and unlikely to cause any serious side effects. Check the label, however, and ask a doctor and pharmacist what to look out for in case you have a bad reaction.

Recurrent yeast infections

Yeast infections sometimes return after they seem to have been cured. If this happens, your doctor will likely recommend a few weeks of daily treatments followed by a few months of weekly treatments.

In some cases, treatment for recurrent yeast infections can last up to 6 months.

If your infection does not respond well to an antifungal ointment and you are uncircumcised, you may be advised to have an adult male circumcision, according to 2016 research. Though this surgical procedure is usually done on infants, it can be done safely on people of any age.

Diabetes and yeast infections

Factors like diabetes and a suppressed immune system may contribute to your yeast infection risk, according to 2019 research.

If you have diabetes, work with a healthcare professional to make sure your blood sugar levels are well-managed. If you have a suppressed immune system, a doctor can recommend ways to help keep your immune system as healthy as possible.

If left untreated, a penile yeast infection can lead to some serious complications.

Balanitis

One of the potential complications of a penile yeast infection is balanitis. Balanitis is an inflammation of the foreskin or head of the penis. Diabetes can increase your risk for balanitis.

If balanitis is not treated effectively, scarring of the foreskin can occur. It can also cause adhesions on the penis.

Balanitis can be painful and make urinating more difficult. If untreated, it can cause swollen and painful glands as well as weakness and fatigue.

Invasive candidiasis

A yeast infection may enter the bloodstream. This is known as candidemia or invasive candidiasis.

This is most common in people who wait to receive treatment until the infection has spread beyond the penis. It is also more common in those with weakened immune systems.

If you’ve been in a hospital and used a catheter to urinate, you may be more likely to face invasive candidiasis. This advanced form of yeast infection is very serious.

Oral antifungal medications may be needed for several weeks. In some cases, the drugs are administered intravenously.

If your infection is treated early and responds well to antifungal medication, it can clear up within 7 to 14 days.

If you are sexually active, your partner should also be treated for a yeast infection to avoid passing the infection on to them, or back to you.

If you get repeated yeast infections and can rule out causes like hygiene and sexual contact, talk with a doctor about other possible causes. You may have an underlying health condition, such as diabetes.

You can help prevent a penile yeast infection by avoiding sexual contact with a partner who has a yeast infection.

You should also avoid having sex with anyone while you have an active yeast infection, as you could pass the infection back to your partner. This could cause the two of you to pass an infection back and forth.

To lower the risk of getting a yeast infection or passing one along, do the following:

• Wear an external condom each time you have sex to help reduce your chances of developing a yeast infection.
• Practice good hygiene, and keep your penis and genitals clean and dry.
• If you are uncircumcised, clean under the foreskin with soap and water, and return your foreskin to its usual position after you have sexual intercourse.

Penile yeast infections are not as common as vaginal yeast infections, but they do occur. They may result from poor hygiene or sex with a partner who has a vaginal yeast infection without using an external condom.

Symptoms include small white patches and redness on the skin as well as itchiness or burning. If left untreated, it can also cause other conditions and complications.

Topical antifungal ointments and creams can typically treat the infection and reduce the risk of long-term complications.

Male Yeast Infection: Symptoms, Treatment, and More

Penile yeast infections can create a range of uncomfortable symptoms, but are often treated quickly by OTC medications, and can be reduced by taking certain steps, such as practicing proper hygiene.

A yeast infection is often thought of as a female health problem, but it can affect anyone, including people with a penis.

A penile yeast infection can lead to a wide range of painful and uncomfortable symptoms if not treated. It can also lead to serious complications if the infection spreads to your bloodstream.

Over-the-counter (OTC) medications can often clear up a yeast infection, and some basic prevention steps can help you avoid this fairly common condition.

Some of the most common symptoms of a penile yeast infection include:

• redness, soreness, or swelling of the penis
• white, shiny patches at the top of the penis
• small red spots at the top of the penis
• cracked foreskin
• thick, white discharge under the foreskin or other folds of skin
• difficulty pulling back the foreskin
• itchiness
• burning sensation during urination
• pain or discomfort during sex

Redness, itchiness, and pain in the penis can be signs of other more serious conditions, like some sexually transmitted infections (STIs), so do not ignore symptoms once they appear.

A urologist or primary care doctor can diagnose the condition, often in a single appointment.

A yeast infection is usually caused by a fungus called candida. A small amount of candida is usually present in the body. All it takes is an overgrowth of candida to develop a yeast infection.

A moist environment is ideal for candida to spread, according to 2018 research.

Having sex with a person who has a vaginal yeast infection without using a condom can also cause a penile yeast infection. However, you can also develop an infection without sexual activity.

Aside from sex with a partner who has a yeast infection, several other risk factors can increase your odds of developing a penile yeast infection, such as:

• not cleaning your genitals or bathing regularly
• having a weakened immune function due to certain medications or health conditions
• using antibiotics long term
• wearing wet clothing or tight-fitting underwear
• using skin products or soaps that cause skin irritation
• having diabetes
• using lubricated condoms
• being uncircumcised
• having obesity

Once you make an appointment, a doctor will ask you about your symptoms and likely examine your genitals. Some of the white substance that forms on the penis may be examined under a microscope to confirm the type of fungus causing the symptoms, according to 2022 research.

If you cannot get in to see a doctor or a urologist, consider a visit to an urgent care center or the emergency room. The earlier the problem is diagnosed and treatment begins, the more likely it is you can avoid complications.

It’s not recommended for a person to diagnose themselves and start treatment on their own. If symptoms of a yeast infection are present, contact a doctor. If symptoms are allowed to persist, complications can become very uncomfortable.

In most cases, topical antifungal ointments and creams are enough to clear up an infection. Some of the antifungal creams recommended for a yeast infection include:

• miconazole (Lotrimin AF, Cruex, Desenex, Ting Antifungal)
• imidazole (Canesten, Selezen)
• clotrimazole (Lotrimin AF, Anti-Fungal, Cruex, Desenex, Lotrimin AF Ringworm)

Most of these are available as OTC medications, which means you will not need a prescription. More serious or long-term infections may require prescription-strength medication.

Oral fluconazole (Diflucan) and hydrocortisone cream may be advised in serious infections, like those that have developed into a potentially serious condition called balanitis.

Most antifungal creams are well tolerated and unlikely to cause any serious side effects. Check the label, however, and ask a doctor and pharmacist what to look out for in case you have a bad reaction.

Recurrent yeast infections

Yeast infections sometimes return after they seem to have been cured. If this happens, your doctor will likely recommend a few weeks of daily treatments followed by a few months of weekly treatments.

In some cases, treatment for recurrent yeast infections can last up to 6 months.

If your infection does not respond well to an antifungal ointment and you are uncircumcised, you may be advised to have an adult male circumcision, according to 2016 research. Though this surgical procedure is usually done on infants, it can be done safely on people of any age.

Diabetes and yeast infections

Factors like diabetes and a suppressed immune system may contribute to your yeast infection risk, according to 2019 research.

If you have diabetes, work with a healthcare professional to make sure your blood sugar levels are well-managed. If you have a suppressed immune system, a doctor can recommend ways to help keep your immune system as healthy as possible.

If left untreated, a penile yeast infection can lead to some serious complications.

Balanitis

One of the potential complications of a penile yeast infection is balanitis. Balanitis is an inflammation of the foreskin or head of the penis. Diabetes can increase your risk for balanitis.

If balanitis is not treated effectively, scarring of the foreskin can occur. It can also cause adhesions on the penis.

Balanitis can be painful and make urinating more difficult. If untreated, it can cause swollen and painful glands as well as weakness and fatigue.

Invasive candidiasis

A yeast infection may enter the bloodstream. This is known as candidemia or invasive candidiasis.

This is most common in people who wait to receive treatment until the infection has spread beyond the penis. It is also more common in those with weakened immune systems.

If you’ve been in a hospital and used a catheter to urinate, you may be more likely to face invasive candidiasis. This advanced form of yeast infection is very serious.

Oral antifungal medications may be needed for several weeks. In some cases, the drugs are administered intravenously.

If your infection is treated early and responds well to antifungal medication, it can clear up within 7 to 14 days.

If you are sexually active, your partner should also be treated for a yeast infection to avoid passing the infection on to them, or back to you.

If you get repeated yeast infections and can rule out causes like hygiene and sexual contact, talk with a doctor about other possible causes. You may have an underlying health condition, such as diabetes.

You can help prevent a penile yeast infection by avoiding sexual contact with a partner who has a yeast infection.

You should also avoid having sex with anyone while you have an active yeast infection, as you could pass the infection back to your partner. This could cause the two of you to pass an infection back and forth.

To lower the risk of getting a yeast infection or passing one along, do the following:

• Wear an external condom each time you have sex to help reduce your chances of developing a yeast infection.
• Practice good hygiene, and keep your penis and genitals clean and dry.
• If you are uncircumcised, clean under the foreskin with soap and water, and return your foreskin to its usual position after you have sexual intercourse.

Penile yeast infections are not as common as vaginal yeast infections, but they do occur. They may result from poor hygiene or sex with a partner who has a vaginal yeast infection without using an external condom.

Symptoms include small white patches and redness on the skin as well as itchiness or burning. If left untreated, it can also cause other conditions and complications.

Topical antifungal ointments and creams can typically treat the infection and reduce the risk of long-term complications.

How to Recognize and Treat Yeast Infections in Men

If left untreated or treated incorrectly, a commonplace infection can lead to surgery!

Tags:

Health

Diseases

longread

Man’s health

Getty Images

The so-called “thrush” – an infection caused by the yeast “Candida” – is considered a predominantly female ailment. Three-quarters of all adult women experience it at least once in their lifetime. However, men can also become infected with this unpleasant infection. We tell you what you need to know about candidiasis in men.

Do not self-medicate! In our articles, we collect the latest scientific data and the opinions of authoritative health experts. But remember: only a doctor can diagnose and prescribe treatment.

Can men get a yeast infection?

Yes, men, like women, are quite susceptible to this infection, but due to the fact that men go to doctors less often, preferring to ignore symptoms or try to treat themselves, it is difficult to determine exactly how many men catch “thrush” every year.

Candida fungi, the causative agents of infection, are present in trace amounts on the skin of every person. Generally, good bacteria provide a natural defense against them by maintaining a healthy pH level. However, in a warm and humid environment (for example, it often forms on our genitals), the yeast actively multiplies, and we experience all the “charms” of candidiasis.

In men, this infection most often leads to balanitis, a disease in which the glans penis becomes inflamed. It is important to consult a doctor immediately when the first symptoms appear – then the treatment will be easy and short, and the likelihood of a recurrence of the disease is minimal.

Symptoms of thrush in men

If you have noticed all the symptoms described below, or at least some of them, do not tolerate, do not wait until it goes away on its own, and even more so do not self-medicate – immediately contact a doctor.

ADVERTISING – CONTINUED BELOW

• Itching;
• Irritation;
• White cheesy discharge;
• Swelling or swelling;
• Redness;
• Hypersensitivity;
• General pain in the groin area.

Who is at risk?

Sometimes the cause of infection can be a general decrease in immunity. But most often the cause of infection or a factor that dramatically increases its likelihood are:

Poor hygiene

The more dirt and bacteria accumulate in the groin area, the better yeast fungi feel – after all, this is their breeding ground. Thoroughly clean the groin area and pay special attention to the foreskin area, thoroughly clean every fold of skin.

Cuts, wounds and other skin lesions

Even chafing from too tight clothes or prickly heat from too warm weather can cause infection. Try to wash yourself especially carefully on warm and hot days, and disinfect all small wounds and cuts thoroughly.

Unprotected intercourse

Candidiasis, like most sexually transmitted infections, is easily transmitted to a partner through sexual contact, especially unprotected. If your partner has candidiasis, it is better to give up sexual intimacy altogether until complete recovery.

Diabetes

If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, your personal risk of developing thrush increases dramatically.

Antibiotics course

If you have recently taken antibiotics, you are also at increased risk: the medicine destroys the beneficial bacteria that inhibit the growth of yeast, and infection is very likely to develop.

Why are yeast infections dangerous in men?

If you take timely measures, consult a doctor and carefully follow all his recommendations – almost nothing. The symptoms of the disease are unpleasant, but with proper treatment they pass quite quickly and without consequences. But if the disease is ignored or the treatment is not completed, very unpleasant consequences are possible:

• The skin of the penis becomes hard and rough, making it difficult to urinate;
• Scars form on the penis, which can strongly compress the foreskin, making it less mobile;
• Chronic inflammation of the foreskin may develop;
• In the most severe cases, infections can become chronic and require surgical intervention – a circumcision procedure.

Candidiasis in men – diagnosis of the disease

• home

• Blog

• Candidiasis in men – diagnosis of the disease

Many people believe that candidiasis is a purely female disease, but this is not so. The disease can manifest itself in both sexes, only in men candidiasis is most often asymptomatic.

Many believe that candidiasis is a purely female disease, but this is not so. The disease can manifest itself in both sexes, only in men candidiasis is most often asymptomatic. The occurrence of thrush is due to the reproduction of microscopic yeast-like Candida fungi. In a small amount they are present in every organism, but with a fall in immunity and under the influence of many other factors, their number can increase to a visual manifestation.

Manifestation of candidiasis in the stronger sex

Due to the special structure of the male organ, as well as a healthy lifestyle, regular hygiene and a culture of sexual relations, candidiasis in the stronger sex, if it happens, is asymptomatic. When symptoms appear, the patient may find:

• sensation of pain when urinating, during sexual intercourse;
• the appearance of redness on the head of the penis and the foreskin, swelling is possible;
• constant feeling of itching and burning;
• cheesy plaque on the mucous membrane of the penis, feeling of a sour smell.

All this is a reason to contact a specialist. Perhaps thrush is only an indirect sign of another disease.

Chronic candidiasis in men

If candidiasis has passed into the chronic stage, then it will be very difficult to recover from it. He receives the so-called “immunity” to certain medications, and also penetrates deep into the body. For treatment, you need to take a course of antifungal drugs in the form of tablets.

It should be noted that if candidiasis has nevertheless become chronic, then it can go in addition to more serious hormonal diseases, problems with immunity or carbohydrate metabolism. In this case, a full and extended diagnosis is necessary.

Treatment of candidiasis in men

To treat candidiasis in men, a number of tests are needed to understand the big picture. If a disease is diagnosed, then the partner is also examined. What does the treatment process look like?

• Use appropriate antifungals.
• Increase the culture of personal hygiene.
• Change their diet to normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

What drugs are used to treat the disease?

To overcome this disease, the patient is prescribed antifungal drugs. They can be in the form of ointments or tablets, ingestion or external use of which is able to regulate the number of pathogenic microorganisms.

The most commonly used preparations are based on the following substances:

• Miconazole. It comes in the form of a spray or cream. When applied, it violates the integrity of various pathogenic microorganisms.
• Ketoconazole. Presented in the form of creams, sprays, tablets. The decrease in the fungal population occurs due to the destructive effect on the biosynthesis of some components of the fungal cell membrane.
• Econazole. It comes in the form of creams. It acts on the lipid structure of the membrane of fungi, having a bactericidal and fungicidal way.
• Clotrimazole. Presented in the form of creams, ointments and solutions. It has a positive effect on yeast and mold fungi, kills gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, dermatophytes.

Diagnosis and treatment of disease

When the first signs of thrush appear, a man should consult a urologist. It is he who treats this disease in the stronger sex. To establish the diagnosis, a smear should be taken for bacterioscopic examination and bakposev. Additionally, the patient can be assigned tests:

• for genital infections;
• take a blood test for sugar;
• for the Wasserman reaction;
• take a general blood and urine test.

If the appearance of thrush has causes (sugar, infection of the genital organs, etc.), then appropriate treatment is carried out by narrow specialists. If only one thrush is found, the treatment is symptomatic with local preparations.

To reduce the risk of candidiasis, it is necessary to adhere to preventive measures, namely: observe personal hygiene, exclude promiscuous and unprotected sexual intercourse, do regular self-examination of the genital organs for various changes, maintain a high level of protective functions of the body. Be healthy!

Other articles

Rules for the safety of adults and children in the sun

Rules for the safety of adults and children in the sun

UV rays are most harmful at noon, and on hot sunny days – from 10:00 to 16:00. Therefore, it is better to stay indoors during this period of time, and plan a walk in the fresh air in the morning or evening hours.
Regardless of the time of day, try to avoid direct sunlight and stay in the shade.
Be careful near surfaces that reflect the sun’s rays or heat up quickly, such as sand or water.
Select…

Reading time: 3 min

Tantrums in children as a functional disorder of the nervous system

Hysteria is a state of strong nervous excitement of a child, which is manifested by screaming, crying, wallowing on the floor, waving arms and legs, in some cases the child can even hit his head and bite.

Reading time: 3 min

Genital polyp

Recently, the percentage of women diagnosed with “genital polyp” has increased. Therefore, it is necessary to shed some light on this problem.

Reading time: 2 min

Edema syndrome in clinical practice: simple about the complex

Edema is a fairly common reason for seeking medical help in outpatient and inpatient settings. Patients with this problem most often get a consultation with cardiologists, internists, family doctors, phlebologists or vascular surgeons, and sometimes with nephrologists or urologists as first-line specialists.