Male Yeast Infection
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It is not uncommon to hear women say that they have a yeast infection. Many men may not realize, though, that they can get a yeast infection as well. A male yeast infection may also be called a penile yeast infection. A male yeast infection can be very painful, as the most common symptom is a rash and irritation at the head of the penis. Urination may be painful and the head or base of the penis may itch. There may also be a cheesy or milky discharge that comes out of the penis. Some men also report having blisters on the head of their penis.
There are a few different ways that a man can get a penile yeast infection. One is through the use of antibiotics. Prolonged antibiotic use can cause the body to kill off good bacteria, allowing bad bacteria to grow. This is a common problem for women, but is not seen quite as often for men. Diabetes often causes high sugar levels in the urine, which is a breeding ground for yeast, so men that have diabetes need to make sure that they monitor their sugar on a regular basis. The most frequent way a man gets a penile yeast infection is through his partner.
A woman who has a yeast infection and has unprotected sex with him can transmit the yeast infection to the man. What often happens in a long-term relationship is that the woman gives the man a yeast infection and treats her infection, only to get re-infected by him when they have sex again. It is very important that both partners recognize the signs and symptoms of a yeast infection, so that they know how to stop infecting each other.
Treatment for a penile yeast infection is generally either through medication or over-the-counter creams. If a yeast infection is bad enough, a doctor will put a man on drugs to help kill the fungus. Some doctors go the conservative route and tell the man to purchase some over-the-counter cream, such as Monistat, and to apply it twice a day for a week. If the symptoms have not disappeared after that time, a doctor should be consulted. Most doctors recommend that sexual intercourse is put on hold while the treatment is in process.
