Many people believe that thrush, or candidiasis, is an exclusively female disease. In fact, this is not so at all. Representatives of both sexes suffer from thrush: both women and men. The erroneous opinion was formed because in representatives of a strong part of society this disease often goes away without any symptoms, and the patient does not even suspect that he has candidiasis. The causes of the disease and how to treat thrush in men will be discussed in this article.
Causes
There are several factors that can cause a disease such as thrush in men. These include:
- hormonal disruptions in the body;
- prolonged or frequent use of antibacterial drugs;
- pathological changes in the functioning of the endocrine glands;
- disturbances in the work of the digestive tract, dysbiosis;
- endocrine system diseases;
- various stressful conditions;
- mechanical genital injuries;
- sexual contact with an infected partner.
It should be noted that most often thrush appears as a result of illegible sexual intercourse.
Symptoms of thrush in men
Signs of this pathology are:
- Pain during urination or sexual intercourse.
- Itching and burning of the penis. They appear as a result of the formation of ulcers. The process can extend to the scrotum, inguinal folds and inner thigh.
- Redness and swelling of the head and foreskin of the penis, on the surface of which cracks may appear.
- A white coating of curdled consistency under the foreskin, with a sour smell. Just the color of plaque is a determining factor in the presence of thrush in men and women.
- Enlarged lymph nodes.
- An increase in body temperature in the acute stage of the disease.
From the description it is clear what thrush looks like in men. How to treat her, the doctor will tell you after contacting the clinic.
Thrush therapy in men
Before treatment, a man must undergo laboratory diagnostics. In addition to thrush, other pathologies that are sexually transmitted with similar symptoms are sometimes found. Self-treatment of candidiasis is dangerous because the infection will remain in the body in a latent form. When confirming the diagnosis of thrush in a man, his constant sex partner also needs to be examined and treated. The patient is prescribed complex therapy using antifungal medications and topical agents in the form of ointments and creams with an antifungal effect. In some cases, the doctor believes that it is enough to use only funds that have a local effect. How and how to treat thrush in men? The choice of treatment depends on the severity of symptoms, the duration of the period of the disease and the intensity of the inflammation process. The return of the disease after treatment indicates a reduced immunity or illness of the sexual partner. With relapses of candidiasis, immunity should be strengthened, sexual intercourse without condoms should be abandoned, nutrition and a healthy lifestyle should be improved.
Problems with thrush: which doctor should I go to?
Thrush is a disease that is caused by a fungus called Candida. In a normal state, such fungi are always present in the intestinal microflora, genitals, and oral cavity. For the first time, a person can get thrush in infancy as a result of non-compliance with hygienic standards by the mother.
Candidiasis can occur in various parts of the body, and in men it usually appears on the genitals. And if so, then it becomes clear which doctor treats thrush in men - this is a urologist. In addition, candidiasis may well be caused by a completely different sexually transmitted disease. In this case, you must also contact a venereologist. It should be noted that a man must honestly answer questions from a doctor so that the latter can correctly assign the type of examination to determine the exact cause of the disease. In a chronic or acute form of the disease, when conventional methods of treatment no longer help, an infectious disease doctor is involved in this problem.
Therapy of candidiasis in men
Many men are interested in the question, is it necessary to treat a thrush to a man if he has no signs of the disease, and the partner is undergoing antifungal treatment? The absence of symptoms does not mean at all that the partner is not a carrier of candidiasis. In some men, and their number is approximately 15%, thrush occurs without any symptoms. Treatment carried out only by the partner will be useless, because at the next sexual intercourse the man will infect her again. This will continue until both partners are treated.
Why is thrush less common in men than in women?
This fact is also confirmed by doctors, and it can be explained as follows:
- The environment on which Candida mushrooms fall is acidic in women, which contributes to their easy reproduction, and in men - alkaline. The presence of fungi on the skin and mucosa does not receive further development and does not give a clinical picture.
- The genitals of the man are located outside, so the fungi do not receive favorable conditions for development, and in women, a warm and humid environment contributes to their rapid reproduction.
- Only against the background of poor health and stressful situations, the symptoms of the disease in a man are pronounced. It was previously described what thrush looks like in men. How to treat it, in each case, the doctor decides after a laboratory test. Signs of candidiasis in healthy men often go away without appropriate treatment.
- The development of the disease in women is affected by a constant change in the hormonal background. This is due to the monthly menstrual cycle and pregnancy.
- Men, even with the appearance of symptoms of thrush, rarely go to the doctor, trying not to notice the inconvenience, or prefer self-medication.
In fact, the manifestation of candidal balanoposthitis (inflammation of the glans penis and foreskin) is an alarming signal for a man. Firstly, he may have problems with the immune system. And secondly, this may indicate hidden infections that are transmitted sexually: trichomoniasis, gonorrhea, mycoplasmosis, chlamydia and others. Is it possible to treat thrush in men? There is only one answer to such a question - not only possible, but necessary. And you should not waste precious time on self-diagnosis and self-medication.
The consequences of candidiasis in men
Improper treatment of thrush and its transition to a chronic form can lead to serious consequences. In medical circles, they are divided by the time of onset:
- Close - a predisposition to the occurrence of sexually transmitted pathologies, the likelihood of cracks and erosion on the mucous membrane of the penis, discomfort in the intimate area, problems with sexual life.
- Remote - often an infection occurs in the genitourinary system, cystitis, nephritis, inflammation of the prostate gland, urethritis develops. In addition, rarely, but there is a violation of reproductive functions.
Chronic form of the disease
Chronic thrush in men, how to treat? The process continues for a long time, and the result is not always successful. In this case, both local and general antifungal medications are also used, but according to a different scheme. After each exacerbation of the disease, ointments are changed, and the drug "Fluconazole" is prescribed for a longer period. Together with the treatment of pathology, the immune system is also strengthened. For this, various immunomodulators are used. The constant use of antifungal agents often develops resistance to them in the infection, and it becomes powerless in the fight against it. Therefore, before prescribing a drug, laboratory tests are carried out on the sensitivity of fungi to it.
Using traditional medicine methods
It is possible to treat thrush in men at home with simple and effective means, using different folk methods. So, using ordinary soda, the symptoms disappear quite quickly, the microflora in the genitals changes to healthy. It is necessary to prepare two basins. Pour cold in one, hot water in the other.
In each put soda, at the rate of one tablespoon per liter of liquid. Further, alternately sit in each basin, the penis should be in the water. Duration about a minute. Continue the procedure until the water cools down. Such treatment will help to quickly cope with the problem and restore self-confidence. Consider a few more recipes.
Laundry soap in the treatment of thrush
The components that make up this cleanser adversely affect the pathogenic microflora, including the Candida fungus. Before going to bed, take the soap, wash it to a thick foam. With the resulting composition, lubricate the glans penis and go to bed. After waking up, take a shower and wash off the soap. Repeat this procedure until the symptoms of the disease are eliminated.
The use of herbal teas
Herbalists advise men to use medicinal teas in monthly courses in addition to traditional methods of therapy or soda baths.
Medicinal tea recipes:
- Anise ordinary, oregano, hawthorn taken in equal parts and pour boiled water. Insist for at least fifteen minutes, then filter. Take several times a day instead of the usual green or black tea.
- Mix taken in equal parts: calendula, wheat grass, goldenrod, yarrow, walnut (leaves). Pour one tablespoon of this herbal mixture with a glass of water and leave for about twenty minutes. Then use as a tea leaves. It is recommended to drink at least half a liter of this therapeutic mixture per day.
How to treat thrush in men at home with garlic?
This bulbous plant is actively used to treat fungal diseases. For a quick cure, it is recommended to eat one clove each day. This must be done before eating thirty minutes. The treatment period is two weeks. Another way is as follows. Crush the garlic using a special tool and mix it with olive oil. Put the resulting mixture in the refrigerator for three days. Next, lubricate the head of the penis twice a day (morning and evening). As soon as burning and tingling begin, rinse immediately. Repeat the procedure until the signs of the disease disappear.
Prevention
How to treat thrush in men, you already know, and now we will get acquainted with preventive measures, the implementation of which will help prevent the development of this unpleasant disease:
- During intercourse, to lubricate the penis, use water-based gels.
- Pay attention to the material from which the condom is made. For example, latex products can cause allergic reactions.
- Bring the weight back to normal. Include sour-milk and vegetable products in the diet.
- Engage in any sport.
- Maintain immunity. If necessary, take vitamin complexes.
- For casual relationships, a condom must be used.
- Do not use synthetic products to wash genitals. The ideal option is a regular soap.
- When choosing underwear, give preference to cotton or natural fabrics. They let air through, do not cause excessive sweating, do not overheat the body. It should be remembered that bacteria develop in a humid environment.
- After taking a shower or bath, thoroughly wipe the genitals.
- Wear dry clothes immediately after bathing in a pool or pond.
How to treat thrush in men: drugs
Before trying any means for the treatment of this disease, it is necessary to examine and consult a doctor for both women and men. They treat this ailment on an outpatient basis, i.e. at home, using:
- folk methods that are very effective and affordable;
- antibacterial agents (antibiotics);
- ointments, creams.
How to treat thrush in women and men? The treatment approach is the same for both sexes - this is taking the drugs inside and using the drugs externally. If the disease is in a chronic stage, then the number of drugs prescribed by the doctor increases. The most commonly used medications are:
- "Nystatin";
- "Irunin";
- Pimafucin;
- Diflucan
- "Nizoral";
- Lamisil
- Econazole
- "Natamycin."
It is important to remember that if a woman has thrush, then the other half should be treated. Otherwise, during sexual intercourse, re-infection will occur. A man, even with slight discomfort - the appearance of secretions, itching, redness, it is advisable to consult a doctor and undergo a diagnosis to confirm or exclude the infection. And how to treat thrush in men, the doctor will tell you based on the results of the tests.