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Causes, signs and symptoms of thrush in men

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Definition of the disease

Thrush in men is the generic name for fungal infections of the mucous membranes of the male genital organs. The name of this common symptom is a white plaque resembling the look and smell storagenode sour milk. In medicine is used and another name for thrush is candidiasis. It is associated with a generic designation of microscopic fungi Candida, which under certain conditions exert a pathogenic effect on the body. In fact candidiasis is a vast group of diseases with similar etiology, which is manifested by damage of the mucous membranes, skin and its derivatives, as well as internal organs.

A wide range of people known candidiasis (thrush) mucous membranes of the external genitalia and oral cavity. They often occur in infants in the form of thrush. And in adults a yeast infection of the genitals is diagnosed more often in women as Candida vulvitis, vaginitis, colpitis or cervicitis.


Do men have a yeast infection?

Candidiasis of genital organs in men is usually manifested subclinical. The clinical picture of male genital yeast infection is detected less frequently than women. The relative resistance of men to genital candidiasis is associated with an anatomic feature of the structure of the external genitalia: a movable foreskin, the lack of deep folds. Natural immunity mucous membranes, normal flora under the foreskin, regular hygienic procedures inhibit the rapid growth of saprophytic Candida on the mucous membranes of the genital organs of men.

The clinical picture of thrush in men is accompanied by inflammatory and other effects on the mucous membranes of the external genitalia. Thrush (candidiasis) in men damage the foreskin or the glans penis, the foreskin and the head at the same time, the urethra and rarely the prostate gland.

Lesions of the urinary organs in men involving fungal infection are called:

  • Candida post – inflammationmucosa of the foreskin under the influence of various factors involving fungal microflora;
  • Candidal balanitis is an inflammation of the glans penis under the influence of various factors involving fungal microflora;
  • Candidal balanoposthitis – inflammation concomitant fungal etiology two named entities of the male external genitalia.
  • Candida urethritis – inflammation of the urethra under the influence of various pathogenic and other factors with the participation of the fungal microflora.

A yeast infection in women is often an independent disorder unrelated to deep pathologies of the body. In contrast, prolonged, chronic yeast infection in men always indicate a more threatening pathology.

The cause may be a violation of:

  • Carbohydrate metabolism;
  • Hormonal status;
  • The immune system;
  • Bacterial microflora.

Signs and symptoms of thrush in men

The disease develops a white coating on the head of the penis. Before applying to a specialized clinic, the patient finds himself the following symptoms:

  • Discomfort during urination (accompanied by a burning pain);
  • Itching continuous or intermittent nature;

  • Discomfort during sexual intercourse.

Often, having a vague idea about the nature of the pathology, the diseased himself makes a diagnosis and prescribes treatment. Perhaps even successful, because usually a yeast infection in men does not belong to the group of serious diseases. However, we must not forget that similar symptoms may accompany various infectious and non-communicable diseases.

Thrush in men is usually takes the form of balanoposthitis. Accurate diagnosis of balanoposthitis, accompanied by symptoms of yeast infection, put a doctor on the basis of history, clinical, laboratory findings:

  1. History reveals abnormalities in the hormonal status, obesity, pre-disease, antibiotic therapy, unprotected sexual acts. Characterized by complaints of unpleasant sour smell in the perineum, painful urination, thready discharge from the urethra, other subjective feelings.

  2. Whenclinical examination revealed swelling of the prepuce and glans penis. In the exposure head on her visible plaque white. In some cases, diagnosed with primary or secondary phimosis (narrowing of the foreskin). In severe cases, the pathological process involved the prepuce and the glans penis.

    On the basis of clinical, candidal balanoposthitis are divided into simple (exudative) and complicated (erosive), which occur in acute or chronic form:

    • Symptoms of exudative (simple) candidal balanoposthitis is characterized by the formation of plaque on the glans and foreskin, in some cases, phenomena catarrhal, serous, fibrinous, or purulent inflammation;
    • Erosive inflammation of the external genitalia is manifested by constant pain, ulcerations bright red, turning into the pockets of maceration and alternating with each other.

    Exudative and erosive candidiasis may have different symptoms in acute and chronic course:

    • Symptoms of acute candidal balanoposthitis are phenomena of an inflammatory nature, including, redness, tenderness, swelling, temperature rise, violation of sexual function. Often, the acute form is the result of the injury. In the acute phase increase in palpable inguinal lymph nodes;
    • Symptoms of chronic Candida balanoposthitis is often associated with the symptoms of diabetes, phimosis, dysbiosis and immunodeficiency. In chronic forms of yeast infections in men is sometimes accompanied by symptoms of lesion of urethra (urethra), bladder, and kidneys. In severe cases, the disease occurs with symptoms of internal organs.
  3. Laboratory diagnosis of candidiasis is based on visual detection of fungi-Candida and species differentiation.

    For diagnostic use:

    • Microscopy unstained smear prepucialna content. Diagnostic value of the method reaches 75%;

    • Microscopy of stained smears prepucialna content. Diagnostic value of the method reaches 92%;

    • Detachable sowing on Wednesday Saburo (similar environments) to differentiate colonies of fungi.

The presence of fungi in the investigated laboratory material is not the determining factor of diagnosis. The results of the research are interpreted in the aggregate data of the anamnesis and clinical symptoms (leading and supporting). In some cases, despite the striking clinical picture, diagnosis is difficult. Genital candidiasis in men is veryoften only a secondary disease. Basic pathology, cause of thrush, are not revealed.


Causes of thrush in men

Flexible unicellular genus Candida are commensals (symbionts) and are widely distributed in nature. Able harmless cohabitation are regular inhabitants of the human body do not have negative impact on health. Theoretically, the fungus is allocated 100% of people living on the planet. Some part of the population of candidiasis take the form of the disease, but subclinical leak. According to various sources, this condition occurs in 5-30% of people. Emergency exposure to pathogenic factors the yeast infection manifests itself clinically.

The causes of thrush associated with changes in physiological status of the mucous membranes of the genital organs:

  • In a healthy body the pH of the mucous membranes is close to neutral, change to the acid side to pH values of 5.8 to 6.5 significantly increases the pathological activity of fungal flora;
  • The high humidity of the mucous membranes caused by the effusion, transudate and exudate, is a factor that triggers the rapid growth of Candida in damp and acidic environment;
  • The English word "Candy", in tune with the Latin "Festina", which formed the basis of generic names of fungi, is used to refer to sweetness. The term "candidiasis" is a reference to the reason for the rapid growth of fungal flora by glycosuria (presence of glucose in urine);
  • Single-celled fungi rapidly multiply and grow without mechanical influence on fungal colony. Therefore, the presence of mucous membranes and skin contractions, pockets, Samokov, bedsores, ulcers, and scars also the reason is very bad.

The causes of thrush associated with changes in physiological status of the organism:

  • Dysbiosis is one of the main reasons for the clinical manifestations of thrush. Lactobacilli are the natural antagonists of fungal flora, they inhibit the rapid multiplication of the latter. The underlying mechanism of interaction is complex and still not well understood. However, it is proved that irrational use of antibiotics, especially without medical supervision and without the correction of the effects of antimicrobial therapy, is the cause of clinical aggravation of yeast infection;

  • Hormonal status changes – as the cause of thrush. Healthy human body is balanced and operates without additionalintervention. Hormonal failures can be endogenous and exogenous. Endogenous disorders, e.g., diabetes, use of hormones is often triggered by the appearance of thrush. When exogenous effect under the action of high doses of hormonal contraceptives or corticosteroids increases the risk of developing thrush. Unbalanced hormones at puberty, during pregnancy and the aging process can trigger thrush;
  • The change in the immune status of the body – the cause of thrush. The immune system plays a regulatory role in the body. Through the natural resistance of the skin and mucous membranes, as well as humoral and cellular links of immunity there are complex protective response in response to antigenic attack of fungi. The immune system is adversely affected by not only biological agents – viruses, bacteria, fungi, helminths, but also pharmaceuticals. Suppress the immune system corticosteroids, chemotherapy drugs, and ionizing radiation, infection and allergic predisposition to the metabolites of fungi;

  • Reducing the protective status of the body during subclinical course of concomitant disease. Many diseases, including sexually transmitted diseases (affecting the genitourinary system) occur at a subclinical level, however, accompanied by a candidiasis, with a bright clinical picture. Yeast infection treatment without diagnosis of the underlying disease in this case makes no sense. Genital candidiasis in men occurring on a background of venereal diseases in a subclinical form, can have severe and unpredictable consequences for the organism.

On topic: the 3 most effective means of thrush

The consequences of thrush in men

Banal candidiasis is not complicated by concomitant diseases to be treated quickly and disappears without a trace. Another thing – chronic fungal disease of the urinary organs. The consequences of candidiasis can be close and distant.

Similar effects occur during the acute course of the disease, these include:

  • Problems in intimate life. Candidiasis associated with erosion onthe mucosa of the genital organs, accompanied by pain and discomfort during sex;
  • The predisposition of patients with candidiasis to sexually transmitted diseases in the presence of an "open door for infection" – erosions, cracks in the mucous membranes of the genitals.

Long-term effects of the chronic course of the disease manifest themselves in the form of ascending infections of the genitourinary system, such as:

  • Urethritis – the pathology of inflammatory nature in the urethra;
  • Cystitis– inflammation of bladder walls;

  • Nephritis, glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis – inflammation of the tissues of the kidneys;
  • Severe forms of candidiasis go to the prostate gland, causing inflammation. Candidiasis is one of many factors in the development of impotence and infertility in men.

Treatment of thrush in men

Before to start treatment of thrush in men, you need to conduct laboratory diagnosis. Simultaneously with thrush can also occur other diseases, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), with the same symptoms. Help identify their testing to determine the causative agent of the disease. If you self-medicate candidiasis, these infections remain latent (dormant).

If men with symptoms of yeast infection you have a permanent partner, by sexual contact which he didn't use a condom, she is also in need of examination and treatment.

Healing a candidiasis with no signs of STDs, is complex – with the use of antifungal drugs and locally acting drugs (ointments and creams with anti-fungal effect). In some cases, treatment is limited to drugs local action. The choice of treatment depends on the severity of symptoms, duration of disease, intensity of the inflammatory process.

The recurrence of candidiasis that occurred after treatment indicates a reduced immunity or that the sexual partner is sick with thrush. Sex to her cure should be done only in a condom.

Chronic candidiasis in combination with a weakened immune system and ongoing therapy agents against mycoses will lead to the sustainability of strains of the fungus. In this case, antifungal drugs are ineffective.

Optimal management of recurrent candidiasis is strengthening the immune system, the rejection of the negative habits and unprotected sexcontacts, good nutrition, the transition to a healthy lifestyle.

Nutrition and herbal medicine. The improper construction of the diet is one of the major causes of thrush. Her appearance is provoking foods containing fast carbohydrates: pastries, cakes and bread made from refined flour, chocolate. Carbohydrates is the main food for fungi of the genus Candida.

Yeast infection treatment will occur in a shorter time, if you replace sweets with vegetables or dairy products. It is desirable to limit alcohol, pickles, smoked meat.

Herbal medicine for candidiasis use of herbal preparations of chamomile, cloves, calendula, barberry. Of these medicinal plants are prepared in infusion and decoction for the treatment of the genital organs, conducting of herbal applications, and therapeutic baths. Very efficient pharmacy chamomile, with its anti-inflammatory properties. Herbal tea from this plant helps in the treatment of fungal infections.

Normalization of the bowel. Intestinal dysbiosis is a factor that provokes the intensive development of thrush. Pathology of the digestive system occurs as a side effect after taking antibiotics, violations of diet, the effects of stress or toxicity.

Constipation, flatulence, dyspepsia, diarrhoea, combined with urogenital infections – a reason for the laboratory tests of stool manifestations of dysbiosis. If the assumption is confirmed, the gastroenterologist will suggest a course of reception of Pro - and prebiotics (hilak Forte, Lactulose, Zoflora immuno, Acipol, etc.).

Antifungal agents. Medicines for the treatment of candidiasis in men is produced in the form of pills, sprays and creams for local application:

    Miconazole (the price of 120 rubles) is a cream Mikosan, spray Daktarin;

  • Ketoconazole – cream Nizoral (price of 420 rubles), Pepper, ointments, Myocet, too bad (price 120 RUB.), Mycosoral (170 RUB.), tablets Oronasal, Fungames (from 150 to 180 rubles), Fungilab;
  • Econazole – cream Ivanek (price 160 rubles), cream and solution ecodes (price 160 RUB.);
  • Clotrimazol creams Imidyl, Kandizol, Canesten, Canison (price 60 RUB.), Amylon, Candibene, Candide (the price from 190 to 120 RUB.), Clortrimazole (from 30 to 90 rubles), Fungial, Fungicid, ointment Triderm, solutions of drugs Kenison and Candide.

The purpose of the drugs is undertaken by an urologist or dermatologist including contraindications and characteristics of the flow of thrush in a patient. Dosage of antifungal drugs taken orallythe duration of treatment is determined by physician individually for each patient.

Personal hygiene. Another important factor for a speedy recovery – following the hygienic rules and the observance of personal hygiene. It is important to wear cotton underwear, wipe dry after washing the genitals, so as not to create favorable conditions for breeding fungus. It is best to replace undergarments new or boil it in the wash.

Preferably at the time of treatment to abstain from sex, instead of a bath to take a shower to use for washing the genitals and the doctor recommended hygiene and not cosmetic products.


Prevention of thrush in men

In the prevention of candidiasis recommended:

  • Observe the rules of personal hygiene;
  • To comply with protection measures in private life, to eliminate promiscuity;
  • Conduct regular self-monitoring of the external genitalia, in the presence of suspected candidiasis to seek help from a qualified specialist;
  • To organize proper nutrition, reduce the content of starchy and fatty foods in the diet;
  • In the case of appointment of treatment of candidiasis strictly follow the doctor's instructions.


hD Kalyuzhny Alexei Sergeevich, doctor