The Underlying Causes of Yeast Infections in Men

The Underlying Causes of Yeast Infections in Men

There are a variety of yeast infections to which men are susceptible, including thrush, the oral yeast infection, yeast infections of the skin, and penile yeast infections. While male yeast infection symptoms are often similar to those of female yeast infections (itching, redness, burning), and a man may treat his yeast infection in a similar way that women treat theirs, there are other considerations. First of all, any male yeast infection symptom may also be a symptom of another disease, such as herpes. If the symptoms do not disappear with treatment, a doctor’s visit is definitely in order. Secondly, a man may wonder what caused the overgrowth of Candida that caused the infection in the first place.

Causes of Male Yeast Infection Symptoms

• Sexual transmission – there seems to be some controversy over how likely, or unlikely, it is that a man may get a yeast infection from his partner. No matter the percentages, it’s definitely possible. Once the yeast infection is transmitted to the man, he may cause a repeat infection in his partner, even if she (or he) has been cured of her infection. There may be a yoyo effect of infection until both partners are cured.
• Diabetes – men with diabetes are usually more susceptible to yeast infections than men who do not suffer from diabetes. This is probably because men with diabetes have a higher blood sugar level than men than men who don’t have diabetes. Yeast loves sugar!
• Antibiotic Use – antibiotics can’t tell good organisms from bad so that when they are busy destroying the reason you’re taking them, they’re also destroying the organisms that keep yeast at bay, giving the yeast an “open playing field” to start to grow out of control.
• Condoms – condoms? There is some consideration that condoms with nonoxynol-9 in the lubricant may cause anal yeast infections in gay men.

What to Do?

First of all, if you have a problem with male yeast infection symptoms that won’t go away, or that reoccur, you need to take into consideration that you may have something other than a yeast infection.

• Is there a possibility that you may have contracted a sexually transmitted disease?
• Have you been taking antibiotics?
• Have you been very thirsty and felt the need to urinate often? These are symptoms of diabetes.
• Have you checked your condoms to see if they contain nonoxynol-9?

If you’ve been using condoms with nonoxynol-9, change to another type. If any of the other conditions might exist, you should….

See Your Doctor

Your doctor can switch your antibiotic to another one and perhaps help you find a cure for your male yeast infection symptoms. If you have symptoms of diabetes, you can be tested and, if necessary, start receiving treatment. If you have a sexually transmitted disease, your doctor should be able to test and treat for that as well.