Yeast Infection in Men

While yeast infections in men aren't as common as female yeast infections, they do occur regularly. The yeast Candida albicans lives naturally in the vagina, and it causes an uncomfortable infection when its growth is out of control. Many yeast infections in males are caused by sexual contact with a woman experiencing this overgrowth of yeast, but the resulting yeast infection isn't considered an STD.

Male yeast infections come with uncomfortable symptoms that can interfere with your quality of life, so its important to understand the causes, symptoms and most effective treatments. You should put your sex life on hold once you notice yeast infection symptoms, but the condition typically clears up quickly with the application of yeast infection medication.

Contents

• 1 Signs and Symptoms of Yeast Infection
• 2 Penile Yeast Infection Causes
• 3 Risk Factors
• 4 Yeast Infection Diagnosis
• 5 Yeast Infection Treatment for Men
• 6 Yeast Infection Complications
• 7 Outlook
• 8 Prevention
• 9 FAQs

Signs and Symptoms of Yeast Infection

Yeast grows naturally on moist skin, which is why as many as 75 percent of women experience vaginal yeast infections at least once in their life. Male yeast infections don't occur that often, but yeast overgrowth is possible on the tip of the penis or on the scrotum.

The most common symptoms of yeast infections include:

• White patches on the skin
• Thick, white substance collecting in skin folds
• Itching
• Burning
• Redness or irritation

Most male yeast infections start on the penis and then spread to the scrotum if not treated immediately. The infection may even spread to the inner thighs and other areas if left untreated too long. That is why it's important to take immediate action if you experience signs or symptoms of penile yeast infection.

Penile Yeast Infection Causes

What causes yeast infections in men? In most cases, the cause is sexual contact with a vagina that has an overgrowth of yeast. Many women believe that yeast infections are female problems only, so they may not tell their sexual partners when experiencing minor symptoms. Yeast infections may also spread if a woman resumes sexual contact before completing treatment for a yeast infection. She may no longer experience the symptoms, but there's still a risk if the treatment isn't followed to completion.

Since yeast naturally grows on the skin and can get out of control in any warm, moist environment, it's possible to develop a yeast infection on the penis or scrotum with no female involved. That usually occurs as a result of poor hygiene, which includes wearing dirty underwear or not washing thoroughly after workouts and other events that cause a lot of sweating between the legs.

Risk Factors

You're at greater risk of developing a penile yeast infection if you have any of the following risk factors:

• Type II diabetes
• HIV/AIDS
• Taking antibiotics
• Uncircumcised penis
• Unprotected sex
• Infrequent or inadequate bathing
• Obesity
• Impaired immune system

Yeast Infection Diagnosis

There are over-the-counter creams and lotions that treat vaginal yeast infections, but men should never use these products to self-diagnose and treat a suspected yeast infection. Call your doctor for an immediate appointment or visit your local urgent care center. You can even go to the emergency room if you can't get an appointment with your doctor and your symptoms are growing worse.

Doctors diagnose a male yeast infection by visually inspecting the penis, scrotum and other infected areas of skin. They will take samples of the white substance collecting on the skin and analyze it under a microscope to verify that it is Candida albicans.

It's not difficult to diagnose a penile yeast infection, so you should expect a quick appointment with treatment following immediately after. Your doctor may spend more time with you if complications are suspected.

Yeast Infection Treatment for Men

Once you're diagnosed with a male yeast infection, your doctor will likely recommend yeast infection medicine. In most cases, you will buy an over-the-counter cream that contains one of the following ingredients proven to cure yeast infections:

• Clotrimazole
• Miconazole
• Imidazole

In the case of a severe or recurring penile yeast infection, your doctor may prescribe Diflucan and possibly a hydrocortisone cream. While most men are relieved of all symptoms after a short period of yeast infection treatment, others may spend months taking medication to prevent recurring episodes. This is more likely to happen in men with a compromised immune system.

Recurrences may also occur if you're sexually active with a woman who hasn't treated her own yeast infection properly. If you struggle to get rid of a yeast infection, you may want to ask your partner to see her doctor for testing and treatment.

While most doctors use medication when treating yeast infections in men, some will also suggest some natural remedies to speed up the healing process. Some of the most common natural yeast infection treatments include:

• Eating more yogurt to introduce healthy bacteria into the body
• Consuming oregano essential oil diluted with coconut oil or another carrier oil for the antifungal properties
• Massaging coconut oil onto the infected skin to soothe irritation and fight yeast
• Taking probiotics for the healthy bacteria
• Applying tea tree oil to the infected skin

While many of these natural yeast infection treatments are suggested for women, the yeast that infects the penis and scrotum is often the same as that infecting the vagina. Men should still use caution when using any type of home remedy. You may want to talk to your doctor first, especially if you take prescription medication or have diagnosed medical conditions.

Yeast Infection Complications

There are some known complications that may come with a yeast infection in men. You can prevent many of these problems by seeing your doctor for diagnosis and treatment soon after you notice the first signs of a yeast infection. Some men may delay treatment because they don't know that men can experience yeast infections or they're embarrassed to go through the physical examination that is required for diagnosis.

Some of the most common male yeast infection complications include:

• Balanitis – inflammation of skin on the head of the penis that is often incredibly painful and may lead to scarring
• Candidemia – infection enters the blood stream and may spread to other areas of the body
• Invasive Candidiasis – an extreme infection that is more difficult to cure

Outlook

Most male yeast infections are resolved within a week. You may notice improvement in symptoms within a day or two, but it's important to complete your treatment to lower the risk of a repeat infection. The risk of complication is low for men who have strong immune systems, healthy hygiene habits and responsible sexual behaviors.

Complications and chronic yeast infections may increase the risk of long-term illness and longer rounds of treatment. In most cases, yeast infections aren't fatal.

Prevention

Most men get serious about preventing penile yeast infections once they experience the discomfort the first time. Taking the following actions could save you from repeat infections:

• Always use a condom
• Keep your penis and scrotum clean and dry
• Change your underwear daily
• Don't wear tight pants
• Clean under and around the foreskin after sex if you're not circumcised
• Ask your partner to warn you if they ever have symptoms of a yeast infection
• Don't have sexual intercourse until you have fully cured a known yeast infection, and your partner has also completed treatment
• Wear cotton underwear
• Wash your genitals or wipe down with sanitary wipes after sweaty workouts