Thrush Symptoms In Men, Plus Treatment And How To Prevent It

Many people think of thrush as an infection only women get. But, in reality, men can be affected too.

Thrush (or candidiasis) is a yeast infection. Developing it can become very uncomfortable or, even worse, affect your sex life.

Here, we spoke to Family Planning Association's (FPA) director of health and wellbeing, Natika Halil, to find out about symptoms, treatment and prevention in men.

What is thrush?

Thrush is an infection that is usually caused by the yeast fungus candida albicans. This yeast lives harmlessly on the skin and in the body and is normally kept under control. Occasionally, however, conditions change and signs and symptoms can develop.

What are the symptoms for men?

Some men will not have any signs or symptoms at all and may not be aware they have thrush. But symptoms you might notice include:

• Irritation, burning or itching under the foreskin or on the tip of the penis.

• Redness, or red patches, under the foreskin or on the tip of the penis.

• A thin or thicker discharge, like cottage cheese, under the foreskin which sometimes smells yeasty.

• Difficulty in pulling back the foreskin.

How do men develop thrush?

Most men do not get thrush but having certain conditions can make it more likely, including HIV and diabetes.

Candida tends to grow in warm and moist conditions. Therefore, you may develop thrush if you do not dry your penis carefully after washing.

It can also occur if you are run down and your immune system is weak.

How can thrush affect your sex life?

Thrush is not a sexually transmitted infection but can sometimes develop after you have had sex. There is no need for your partner to have any treatment unless they have symptoms, but it is best to avoid having sex until you’ve completed a course of treatment and the infection has gone.

How can men prevent thrush?

You can help prevent thrush by cleaning your penis regularly and drying it properly. Avoid wearing tight clothing (such as tight jeans) or synthetic clothing (such as nylon underwear) that prevents ventilation.

Men should also try to avoid medicated and highly perfumed soap, bubble bath, genital sprays and deodorants, and any other irritants such as disinfectants and antiseptics.

If you suspect thrush for the first time, the NHS suggests seeing your GP for a diagnosis. This is because the symptoms can be similar to those of a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Your GP will be able to tell the difference.

6 Women's Health Conditions Health Conditions That Men Get

Anorexia And Other Eating Disorders(01 of06)

The rate of women to men with eating disorders is about 9 to 1, but in other respects, anorexia and other such conditions are fairly similar in the way they affect men’s and women’s health, says Emmett Bishop, MD, founding partner and medical director of adult services at the Eating Recovery Center in Denver. The main difference? Risk factors.“Men generally have different motives in terms of their weight loss,” Dr. Bishop explains. “Sometimes weight loss is prompted by athletic activities such as losing weight for sports performance. Men will also often develop anorexia nervosa more from an ‘orthorexic’ standpoint — by eliminating certain foods or food groups in an attempt to eat more healthfully. On the flip side, with bulimia nervosa, men’s motivation is the same as it is with women, a set of behaviors used in an attempt to manage emotions.” (credit:Shutterstock)

Breast Cancer (02 of06)

Breast cancer, perhaps more than any other condition on this list, is considered primarily a women’s disease. Yet, it can affect men’s health, too. Though it’s 100 times less common in men than in women, more than 2,000 new cases of male breast cancer are diagnosed each year.Many of the risk factors for breast cancer in men are similar to those in women, such as age, family history, heavy alcohol use, and obesity. But men have some unique risks as well, including testicular disorders, liver problems, certain occupations that cause risky exposures, and Klinefelter syndrome (having an extra X chromosome). They also may fare worse in terms of survival: According to a recent study presented at the meeting of the American Society of Breast Surgeons, male breast cancer patients tend to have lower survival rates, larger and higher-grade tumours, and more lymph node metastasis. (credit:Shutterstock)

Osteoporosis(03 of06)

Some 80 per cent of people with the bone disease osteoporosis are women, but low bone mass can negatively affect men’s health, too. In fact, men with or at risk for osteoporosis in 2002 totalled more than 14 million — a number that’s expected to grow to more than 20 million by 2020.The impact of osteoporosis on men’s health and women’s health is similar: If left untreated, the condition can increase the risk of fractures, cause severe pain, and even lead to a loss of mobility. The big difference with this classic women’s disease in men is its timetable. Men don’t experience the rapid loss of bone mass in their fifties that women do, typically after menopause sets in. But between the ages of 65 and 70, risk factors for both sexes become more equal — men and women lose bone mass and experience a decrease in calcium absorption at the same rate. (credit:Shutterstock)

Male Menopause (04 of06)

Though menopause is unquestionably a rite of passage for women, men also go through some hormonal changes as they age — a phase sometimes referred to as “male menopause” — that play a parallel role in men’s health.“Men have similar hormonal changes as women,” says Gregory David Albert, MD, a cosmetic surgeon in Miami. “As men get older, their testosterone level decreases compared to other hormones, namely estrogen. This will increase a man’s risk for developing gynecomastia [breast enlargement] and osteoporosis.” Staying active and eating healthy foods may help delay the change, Dr. Albert adds. (credit:Shutterstock)

HPV(05 of06)

HPV, or human papillomavirus, has serious implications for women’s health because of certain strains’ link to cervical cancer. However, studies have found that men get this so-called women’s disease just as much as women do. In fact, almost all sexually active people of both sexes will get it at some point. And while men can’t get cervical cancer, they’re vulnerable to several other HPV-linked cancers, even moreso than women. Specifically, studies done at Ohio State University found a link between HPV and throat cancer in men. These findings have led to recent recommendations for boys as well as girls to get the HPV vaccine to protect men’s health. (credit:Shutterstock)

Lupus (06 of06)

Lupus is an autoimmune disorder — your body’s immune system attacks its own organs and tissues. Ninety percent of people affected are women, but the impact of lupus on men’s health is significant — the symptoms, prognosis, and treatment are largely the same. The unique challenges that men may face stem from the fact that it’s thought of as a woman’s disease — some doctors may not be looking for lupus as the cause of a man’s symptoms, so getting a diagnosis might not happen as quickly as it could. Also, it may be more difficult to find lupus support groups just for men. (credit:Shutterstock)

Health News uk men uk lifestyle news thrush mens health

What is thrush?

What are the symptoms for men?

How do men develop thrush?

How can thrush affect your sex life?

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