This is a condition which is often unnoticed and usually misunderstood. But unless the correct action is taken to erradicate the condition, complications can frequently result.
Most women are aware of yeast infections and have a basic awareness of what they are about. But we tend to hear about Candida infections in men significantly less often – almost as if this is a women-only problem.
In reality the condition in men can be just about as widespread as it is in women. When a woman is ill-fated enough to get a Candida infection the symptoms are typically pretty clear.
A lot of men do not appreciate they have Candida infection
As men are built in a different way to women it can be far more difficult to uncover. Many men might, in fact, go through life not even knowing that they have an infection until other health troubles come to light.
Beer drinking, even in moderation, can be a source of yeast on the surface of the male genitals. The yeast can stay inactive until it is accidentally passed to the man’s wife or girlfriend during intercourse.
Conditions within the vagina (warmth and dampness) may permit the infection to advance into a full blown Candida infection and before the female is aware of any symptoms she can give it back to her partner.
Frequently men may be told by their wives or girlfriends that he might have contracted Candida from her and that their doctor has prescribed an anti fungal that they must both take to avoid re-infection.
In this situation men may believe that they do not need to take the anti fungal because they have no evident signs of infection. But, during intercourse, the male urethra is vulnerable to receiving the infection from the infected female. Infection can afterward pass down the urethra and into the prostate gland.
There could be no obvious problems for years but most males do unfortunately turn out to be affected by prostate problems of one sort or another at some point in their lifetimes.
Male Candida is normally seen as just physical, even though there may in addition be knock-on effects emotionally and socially, especially for younger men and teenage boys.
In addition to the above, men are furthermore subject to all the other, better known triggers of this condition in men, such as:
The use of antibiotics
The consumption of alcohol
Too many refined carbohydrates in the diet
A weakened immune system
Some of the more noticeable symptoms of male yeast infection may perhaps include the following:
Itching and redness of the penis and genital area.
Probable well defined smaller rashes close to the main rash.
Potential white cottage cheese-like discharge.
Other symptoms might include:
Infection of the mouth and throat (oral thrush). This is expected to be thick white lacy patches on top of a red base. These may form on the tongue, palate or somewhere else inside the mouth and could cause pain whilst eating and swallowing.
A red and itchy skin rash – principally in the folds of the skin. This possibly will have slightly raised edges.
Damaged, discoloured, thickened or broken nails is furthermore an sign of probable Candida.