Thrush in women is a fairly common phenomenon, which cannot be said about thrush in men, so it often confuses the stronger sex. At the same time, they often start to panic and do not assume anything: herpes, syphilis, gonorrhea - and this is not a complete list of sentences that men pass on themselves, not forgetting to accuse their soulmate of infidelity.
However, respected men and especially guys need to know that thrush, although it is sometimes transmitted through sexual intercourse, does not necessarily indicate a betrayal of a partner and in general can develop in men and guys through no fault of a woman. Indeed, thrush in men is not as common as in women. The main reason for this is the structure of the genitals: the male genitals are a less favorable environment for the reproduction of the fungus Candida, which is the cause of thrush.
It must be taken into account that a weakened immunity of a man is one of the main causes of thrush in men, because a healthy and protected body is able to fight this fungus, preventing it from spreading. Therefore, men who have been diagnosed with thrush need to pay attention to their health and see a doctor who will identify possible problems.
The following causes of thrush in men can be distinguished:
- taking antibacterial drugs for a long time;
- diseases associated with hormonal imbalance (especially diabetes mellitus);
- weakened immunity;
- violation of the flora of the ureter, head of the penis and other organs;
- sexual contact;
- genital trauma;
- poor personal hygiene.
It should be noted that thrush in men is often asymptomatic. Therefore, if this disease is detected in one of the partners, both partners must undergo treatment.
Symptoms of thrush in men:
- pain and burning during urination, erection, during and after sexual intercourse;
- swelling and redness of the foreskin and the entire head of the penis;
- grey-white coating with a sour smell.
It is necessary to consult a doctor after the onset of the initial symptoms of the disease, since the untimely resolution of thrush in men can lead to the development of the following diseases:
- balanitis (infection of the outer surface of the penis by the fungus Candida), which manifests itself in small wounds, rashes or skin changes. Other symptoms of balanitis include swelling of the head of the penis and a whitish-gray coating.
- balanoposthitis develops as the Candida fungus spreads both to the glans penis and the foreskin, which leads to its narrowing.
- Urethritis, often confused with gonorrhea or other STIs, is an infection of the urethra by Candida. The main symptom of such a lesion is the release of a small amount of whitish fluid and itching.
- Cystitis occurs when Candida manages to get to the bladder. Cystitis is characterized by heaviness in the pubic area, burning during urination, which becomes more frequent, and the urine becomes cloudy, sometimes there are blood impurities in it.
Diagnosis of thrush in a man
Thrush in men is diagnosed in the same way as in women - examination of a smear from the urethra and penis under a microscope. If there are symptoms of Candida infection of the bladder, urine microscopy should also be performed.
Treatment of thrush in men
Treatment of thrush in men depends on the severity of the disease. If the fungus affects only the head of the penis and the foreskin, the doctor may prescribe a local treatment with a cream containing clotrimazole, as well as a single dose of fluconazole, diflusol, flucostat tablets.
The doctor prescribes treatment depending on the duration of the disease, its severity, symptoms and affected organs.
Often, along with thrush, other diseases also appear, the diagnosis of which is also handled by a doctor. Therefore, self-medication is strongly discouraged.
If the thrush occurs frequently in men, it indicates the presence of untreated thrush in the partner or a health problem in the patient, such as a weakened immune system. In this case, the doctor issues a referral to the appropriate specialist and issues recommendations for lifestyle changes, incl. exclusion of unprotected sexual intercourse, correction of the diet, rejection of bad habits, etc.
Prevention of thrush in men
Prevention of thrush in men is largely the same as prevention of thrush in women:
- taking probiotics during antibiotic treatment;
- timely treatment of chronic diseases, incl. STD;
- elimination of intestinal dysbacteriosis;
- compliance with intimate hygiene;
- replacement of linen with cotton;
- avoidance of unprotected sex;
- proper nutrition and strengthening of immunity.
Doctors emphasize that when symptoms of thrush (or any other diseases) are detected, men, like women, should immediately seek help from a specialist. And since the representatives of the stronger sex are often embarrassed to show their weakness, including in case of health problems, thrush in men sometimes takes on simply terrible forms.
In this regard, dear men, do not consider thrush as an exclusively female disease, do not be ashamed of it and do not expect that "it will pass by itself" - it is better to contact a urologist who will make the correct diagnosis, identify the cause of the disease and prescribe an effective treatment.
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