Male Yeast Infection Symptoms

While it is commonly known that women are prone to vaginal yeast infections, many people don’t realize that men can also get male yeast infection symptoms.  In addition to this commonly known type of acute yeast infection, both men and women can suffer from generalized yeast overgrowth, also called chronic candidiasis.

While the symptoms of acute yeast infection and chronic candidiasis are very different, they result from the same cause – overgrowth of yeast in the human body.  Yeast usually resides harmlessly in the body, until the natural balance is upset, resulting in unchecked growth of yeast organisms.

Yeast overgrowth can be caused by a variety of factors including diet, stress, medications and illness.  Moldy foods, excessive sugar consumption, and consumption of yeast containing foods like bread and beer can help cause yeast overgrowth, or exacerbate an existing problem.  People with chronic illnesses that decrease immune function are also prone to yeast overgrowth.  Stress can also powerfully weaken the immune system, leaving the body to yeast infections.

Yeast infections can also be transmitted between sexual partners.  A woman with a vaginal yeast infection can easily transmit this to her male partner during sex, since the male uretha is open and vulnerable to pathogens.  Yeast infections of the penis can also result from oral sex with someone who has oral thrush.

Both men and women experience the same general symptoms of chronic candidiasis.  These can include symptoms ranging from respiratory ailments to gastrointestinal upsets and generalized fatigue.  The most common of these symptoms are fatigue, a sense of feeling muddled or lacking focus, and stomach ailments like diarrhea, cramping, and abdominal pain.

Other general symptoms may include sexual dysfunction, irritability, mood swings, dry flaky skin, “jock itch”, athlete’s foot, and prostate issues.  Men with yeast overgrowth also commonly experience cravings for sugars and refined carbohydrates, since these foods tend to “feed” a yeast infection.

Symptoms of acute male yeast infection are similar to vaginal yeast infection.  These include itching, burning, and a white, malodorous, cream-cheese like discharge from the penis.  These symptoms are actually quite rare in men, so if a man’s female partner has a vaginal yeast infection, chances are very high that he has contracted it too; even in the absence of obvious symptoms.  It’s important to treat this latent infection for a variety of reasons.

Penile yeast infection is actually more common in non-circumcised men, since the glans is covered by foreskin, which can provide a moist, warm environment in which yeast thrives.  In addition to discharge and itching, penile yeast infection can also cause the skin of the penis to harden, resulting in painful cracking when a man has an erection.

In rare cases, male yeast infection can travel through the penis and infiltrate the prostate gland.  While science has yet to make any discovery regarding a connection between male yeast infection and prostate cancer, the possibility remains that yeast overgrowth could be a contributing cause to an enlarged prostate, which is a precursor to prostate cancer.

Depending on the severity and type of symptoms, a doctor may prescribe Diflucan or other antifungal treatment for acute male yeast infection.  For gastroinstinal upsets caused by yeast overgrowth, a change in diet accompanied by a good probiotic supplement can help restore the proper balance of gut flora.  There are a variety of other over-the-counter products and natural remedies that may be used to treat male yeast infection.