Male Yeast Infection
Yeast infection is generally known to affect women. But did you know that even men suffer from yeast infections? It is extremely difficult to detect symptoms that suggest the existence of the fungal infection. In fact most men realize that they have the infection only after the occurrence of a more serious ailment as a result of the infection. Though not a very contagious disease, this infection can spread through sexual intercourse. So, if your partner is suffering from vaginal thrush, there are chances that she may transmit the fungus to you during intercourse.
Since the male urethra is exposed during intercourse, the yeast can travel up the urethra canal and deposit itself in the prostate gland. When your prostate glands do get infected, you may not observe any significant change immediately. However, the yeast can destroy the cells in your prostate, and years later, if you suffer from prostate cancer, you would know exactly why it happened. Yeast formation in men can also be attributed to excessive drinking of beer.
But why does the infection go almost unnoticed in men, whereas it is so obviously visible when it affects women? In women, the infection is very active and affects the delicate vagina and vulvas to a large extent. Inflammations, swellings, burning sensations and vaginal discharges are often experienced when the infection spreads. However, in men, the outside temperature of the skin is about 77 degree Celsius, which helps in keeping the infection largely dormant and consequently oblivious to the knowledge of the victim.
There are a lot of ways (other than intercourse) in which a man can suffer from yeast infection. Some of these include consuming alcohol, wheat products, barley, peanuts and antibiotics. Most of these products weaken the immune system and hence contribute to the overgrowth of the Candida fungus. Men with a weak immune system such as those suffering from HIV-related diseases are at a greater risk of acquiring this infection since the infection cannot be easily combated by the weak immune system.
The food products mentioned above are generally contaminated to a large extent with molds and fungus. So, when you unknowingly eat these foods, the molds and fungi penetrate the defenses of your body and cause these yeast formations. Antibiotics kill the cells of the digestive system, the way they kill bacteria. The beer that you drink helps the fungus breed. The sugar-laden foods you eat allow the infection to grow and spread rapidly. So, all these conditions in tandem help the fungus pierce the linings of the intestine and affect your physiology.
As mentioned earlier, yeast infections in men generally go unnoticed. But in some cases, they are a few clearly visible symptoms. Male yeast infection can manifest itself as a penile infection with a dry, cracked skin, which is capable of causing much pain when the penis is erect. Other common symptoms of male yeast infection include bad breath, indigestion, frequent diarrhea, mood swings, memory loss, dry flaky skin, prostate problems, sexual dysfunction and constipation. So, take the necessary steps to ensure that you do not invite this fungus and subsequently suffer from yeast infections.
