“Suffering from a Male Yeast Infection?”

Next to "jock itch", an infection of primarily the groin area of men caused by Tinea cruris, a Male Yeast Infection caused by Candida, particularly the penis, is the most common fungal infection involving the male genitals. It can affect any man and is more common in men who are sexually active.

When a given Candida Infection is part of a systemic or "total body" disease, it can be extremely severe. On average, however, a Male Yeast infection is localized to the glands of the penis or to the foreskin and is called Candida Balanitis or Balanoposthitis.

Generally, a man suffering from a Male Yeast Infection or Balanitis due to Candida species experiences a painful redness, swelling or a weepy, wet eruption of the end of the penis or of the foreskin. There can be patchy areas of whitish discharge. Usually it itches severely. Occasionally, the head of the penis can be covered with blisters. If the infection spreads up into the urethra, it can cause urethritis, resulting in painful urination and an increased frequency of urination, similar to a bladder infection.

While it can happen to anyone, Yeast Infections occur more often in those who suffer from Diabetes. Because Candida species live on sugar, conditions causing an elevated blood sugar like diabetes cause the Candida to proliferate.

A Male Yeast Infection caused by Candida is also technically a sexually-transmitted disease. Having intercourse with a woman who has a yeast infection or with a man with anal Candidiasis can cause the infection to pass to the male penis causing a Male Yeast Infection.

Incidentally, recent research out of London determined that the finding of Male Yeast Infections caused by Candida on the penis by means of a swab and cultures was equal among gay and heterosexual men and showed up on the culture medium in 16% of all men. Only about 7% of men seeking treatment for an STD actually had a clinical infection related to Candida.

Antibiotics, when used for long periods of time, can increase the risk of developing a Male Yeast Infection caused by Candida. Because our skin, including that of the penis, carries normal, healthy bacteria on it, antibiotics used to destroy an infection can also destroy our healthy bacteria, allowing excess growth of Candida species. Candida Balanitis can become the result of that overgrowth.

There is some controversy around whether or not Candida causes Candida Balanitus more in uncircumcised men (those who still have a foreskin) than in those who are circumcised. Certainly, in a Male Yeast Infection, Candida is more likely to grow beneath the foreskin because that area is warm and generally moist-perfect conditions for Candida growth.

One investigational study examined normal men who were either circumcised or not and checked for Male Yeast Infections and prevalence of Candida species. They found the same rates of Candida colonizing the penis (about 15%) in all men and that circumcision status made no difference. The study did note, however, that uncircumcised men had far more symptoms from Candida than did men who were colonized with Candida species but were circumcised.

The use of nonoxynol-9, which is found in spermicidal jellies and in the lubricant from some condoms, may contribute to Candida Balanitis. Nonoxynol-9 is also known to cause Vaginal Yeast Infections in women who use it.

Treatment of Candida Balanitis is somewhat controversial. Some believe that using a topical fungal preparation is sufficient while others insist that, for faster and more complete treatment, a more systemic approach may be necessary.

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