Thrush In Men - Causes, Signs And Symptoms Of Thrush In Men. How To Treat Thrush In Men?

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 17:49

Symptoms and treatment of thrush in men

Thrush in men is the generalized name for fungal infections of the mucous membranes of the male genital organs. The name is given by a common symptom - a white bloom that looks and smells like curdled sour milk. In medicine, another name for thrush is used - candidiasis. It is associated with the generic designation of microscopic Candida fungi, which, under certain conditions, have a pathogenic effect on the body. Candidiasis itself is an extensive group of diseases with a similar etiology, manifested by damage to the mucous membranes, skin and its derivatives, as well as internal organs.

A wide range of people are aware of candidiasis (thrush) of the mucous membranes of the external genital organs and the oral cavity. They are common in newborns as candidal stomatitis. And among adults, genital thrush is diagnosed most often in women as candidal vulvitis, vaginitis, colpitis or cervicitis.

Content:

• Do men have thrush?
• Signs and symptoms of thrush in men
• Causes of thrush in men
• The consequences of thrush in men
• Treatment of thrush in men
• Prevention of thrush in men

Do men have thrush?

Genital candidiasis in men is usually subclinical. The clinical picture of male genital thrush is detected less often than female. The relative resistance of men to genital candidiasis is associated with the anatomical structural features of the external genital organs: mobile foreskin, the absence of deep folds. Natural mucosal immunity, normal microflora under the foreskin, and regular hygiene procedures inhibit the rapid growth of saprophytic candida on the mucous membranes of the male genital organs.

The clinical picture of thrush in men is accompanied by inflammatory and other phenomena on the mucous membranes of the external genital organs. Thrush (candidiasis) in men damages the foreskin or the glans penis, the foreskin and glans at the same time, the urethra and rarely the prostate gland.

Lesions of the genitourinary organs in men with the participation of a fungal infection are called:

• Candidal postitis - inflammation of the mucous membrane of the foreskin under the influence of various factors with the participation of fungal microflora;
• Candidal balanitis - inflammation of the mucous membrane of the glans penis under the influence of various factors with the participation of fungal microflora;
• Candidal balanoposthitis is a combined inflammation of the fungal etiology of the two named formations of the male external genital organs.
• Candidal urethritis - inflammation of the urethra under the influence of various pathogenic and other factors with the participation of fungal microflora.

Thrush in women is often an independent disease that has nothing to do with deep pathologies of the body. On the contrary, a protracted, chronic course of thrush in men always indicates a more formidable pathology.

It may be caused by violations:

• Carbohydrate metabolism;
• Hormonal status;
• The immune system;
• Bacterial microflora.

Signs and symptoms of thrush in men

The disease manifests itself as a white coating on the glans penis. Before going to a specialized clinic, the patient discovers the following symptoms:

• Discomfort during urination (accompanied by burning sensation, pain);
• Itching of a continuous or intermittent nature;
• Unpleasant sensations during intercourse.

Often, having a distant idea of the nature of the pathology, the sick person diagnoses and prescribes treatment for himself. Perhaps even successful, because usually thrush in men does not belong to the group of serious diseases. However, we must not forget that such symptoms can accompany various infectious and non-infectious diseases.

Thrush in men usually takes the form of balanoposthitis. An accurate diagnosis of balanoposthitis, accompanied by symptoms of thrush, is made by a doctor based on anamnesis, clinical, laboratory studies:

1. In the anamnesis, hormonal disorders, obesity, antibiotic therapy preceding the disease, and unprotected intercourse are found. Complaints of an unpleasant sour odor in the perineum, painful urination, filamentous discharge from the urethra, and other subjective sensations are characteristic.

2. On clinical examination, edema of the prepuce and glans is revealed. When the head is exposed, a white bloom is visible on it. In some cases, primary or secondary phimosis (narrowing of the foreskin) is diagnosed. In severe cases, the prepuce and the head of the penis are involved in the pathological process.

   Based on the clinical picture, candidal balanoposthitis is divided into simple (exudative) and complicated (erosive), which proceed in an acute or chronic form:

   • Symptoms of exudative (simple) candidal balanoposthitis are characterized by the formation of plaque on the head and foreskin, in some cases by the phenomena of catarrhal, serous, fibrinous or purulent inflammation;
   • Erosive inflammation of the external genital organs is manifested by constant pain, ulceration of a bright red color, passing into foci of maceration and alternating with each other.

   Exudative and erosive candidiasis have different symptoms in acute and chronic course:

   • Symptoms of acute candidal balanoposthitis are inflammatory phenomena, including redness, soreness, swelling, fever, and sexual dysfunction. Often, an acute course is a consequence of trauma. In the acute phase, an increase in the inguinal lymph nodes is palpable;
   • Symptoms of the chronic course of candidal balanoposthitis are often combined with symptoms of diabetes mellitus, phimosis, dysbiosis and immunodeficiency. In chronic forms, thrush in men is sometimes accompanied by symptoms of damage to the urethra (urethra), bladder and kidneys. In severe cases, the disease proceeds with symptoms of damage to internal organs.

3. Laboratory diagnosis of candidiasis is based on the visual detection of Candida fungi and their species differentiation.

   For diagnostics use:

   • Microscopy of an unstained smear of preputial content. The diagnostic value of the method reaches 75%;
   • Microscopy of a stained smear of preputial content. The diagnostic value of the method reaches 92%;
   • Sowing of the separated on Sabouraud's medium (other similar media) for the differentiation of fungal colonies.

The presence of fungi in the investigated laboratory material is not a determining factor in the diagnosis. The research results are interpreted according to the totality of the history data and clinical symptoms (leading and auxiliary). In some cases, despite the vivid clinical picture, the diagnosis is difficult. Genital candidiasis in men is very often only minor diseases. The main pathologies that caused thrush remain undetected.

Causes of thrush in men

Single-celled bends of the genus Candida are commensals (symbionts) and are widespread in nature. In a state of harmless cohabitation, these are permanent inhabitants of the human body, which do not have a negative impact on health. Theoretically, the fungus is secreted in 100% of the people living on the planet. In some part of the population, candidiasis takes the form of the disease, but the course is subclinical. According to various sources, this course occurs in 5-30% of people. With extreme exposure to pathogenic factors, thrush manifests itself clinically.

The causes of thrush associated with a change in the physiological status of the mucous membranes of the genital organs:

• In a healthy organism, the pH of the mucous membranes is close to neutral, its change to the acidic side to pH 5.8-6.5 significantly increases the pathological activity of the fungal flora;
• The increased humidity of the mucous membranes caused by the effusion of transudate and exudate is a factor provoking the rapid growth of candida in a humid and acidic environment;
• The English word "Candy", consonant with the Latin "Candi", which formed the basis of the generic name for fungi, is used to denote sweetness. In the very term "candidiasis" there is an indication of the reason for the rapid growth of fungal flora in glucosuria (the presence of glucose in the urine);
• Single-celled fungi proliferate and grow under conditions that exclude mechanical action on fungal colonies. Therefore, the presence of narrowings, pockets, inflows, bedsores, ulcers and scars on the mucous membranes and skin is also the cause of thrush.

The causes of thrush associated with a change in the physiological status of the body:

• Dysbacteriosis is one of the main causes of the clinical manifestation of thrush. Lactobacilli are natural antagonists of the fungal flora, they inhibit the rapid reproduction of the latter. The underlying mechanism of interaction is complex and not yet fully understood. However, it has been proven that the irrational use of antibiotics, especially without medical supervision and without correcting the consequences of antimicrobial therapy, is the cause of the clinical exacerbation of thrush;
• Changes in hormonal status are also the cause of thrush. The body of a healthy person is balanced and functions without additional intervention. Hormonal disruptions can be endogenous and exogenous. In endogenous disorders such as diabetes mellitus, the use of hormones is often the trigger for thrush. With exogenous influence under the influence of high doses of hormonal contraceptives or glucocorticosteroids, the risk of developing thrush increases sharply. An unbalanced hormonal system in adolescence, pregnancy and aging can provoke thrush;
• Changes in the body's immune status are the cause of thrush. Immunity plays a regulatory role in the body. Due to the natural resistance of the skin and mucous membranes, as well as the humoral and cellular links of immunity, complex protective reactions occur in response to the antigenic attack of fungi. The immune system is negatively affected not only by biological agents - viruses, bacteria, fungi, helminths, but also by pharmaceuticals. Suppress immunity by glucocorticosteroids, chemotherapy drugs, as well as ionizing radiation, past infections and allergic predisposition to fungal metabolites;
• Decrease in the protective status of the organism during the subclinical course of the concomitant disease. Many diseases, including sexually transmitted diseases (affecting the organs of the genitourinary system) occur at the subclinical level, but are accompanied by candidiasis, which has a vivid clinical picture. Treatment of thrush without diagnosing the underlying disease in this case does not make sense. Genital candidiasis of men, occurring against the background of sexually transmitted diseases in a subclinical form, can have a severe course and unpredictable consequences for the body.

On the subject: 3 most effective remedies for thrush

The consequences of thrush in men

Banal candidiasis, not complicated by concomitant diseases, is treated quickly and disappears without a trace. Another thing is chronic fungal diseases of the genitourinary organs. The consequences of candidiasis can be close and distant.

The early consequences appear during the acute course of the disease, these include:

• Problems in intimate life. Candidiasis associated with erosions on the genital mucosa, accompanied by pain and discomfort during sex;
• Predisposition of patients with candidiasis to venereal diseases in the presence of "open doors for infection" - erosion, cracks in the mucous membranes of the genital organs.

Late consequences in the chronic course of the disease are manifested in the form of ascending infections of the genitourinary system, such as:

• Urethritis is an inflammatory pathology in the urethra;
• Cystitis - inflammation of the walls of the bladder;
• Nephritis, glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis - inflammation of the kidney tissue structure;
• Severe forms of candidiasis spread to the prostate gland, causing inflammation. Candidiasis is one of the many factors in the development of impotence and infertility in men.

Treatment of thrush in men

Before starting the treatment of thrush in men, you need to carry out laboratory diagnostics. Other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) with similar symptoms can occur simultaneously with thrush. To identify them will help conducting tests to determine the causative agent of the disease. If you self-medicate candidiasis, these infections will remain latent (latent).

If a man with signs of thrush has a regular partner, with whom he did not use a condom during sexual intercourse, she also needs examination and treatment.

Treatment of candidiasis only, without signs of STDs, is carried out in a complex way - using antifungal drugs and topically acting agents (ointments and creams with an antifungal effect). In some cases, treatment is limited to topical drugs. The choice of treatment tactics depends on the severity of the symptoms, the duration of the disease, and the intensity of the inflammatory process.

Antifungal agents. Medicines for the treatment of candidiasis in men are produced in the form of tablets, sprays and topical creams:

Miconazole (price up to 120 rubles) - Mycozon cream, Dactarin spray;

Ketoconazole - Nizoral creams (price 420 rubles), Dermazole, Mikoket ointments, Sebozol (price 120 rubles), Mycozoral (170 rubles), Oronazole tablets, Fungavis (from 150 to 180 rubles), Fungistab;

Econazole - Ifenek cream (price 160 rubles), cream and Ekodas solution (price 160 rubles);

Clotrimazole - creams Imidil, Kandizol, Kanisten, Kanizon (price 60 rubles), Amiclon, Kandibene, Candide (price from 190 to 120 rubles), Clortrimazole (from 30 to 90 rubles), Funginal, Fungitsip, Terbinafin or Triderm ointment, solutions of drugs Kanizon and Candide.

Prescription of drugs is carried out by a urologist or dermatovenerologist, taking into account the contraindications and features of the course of thrush in the patient. The dosage of antifungal drugs taken orally, and the duration of the course of treatment are determined by the doctor individually for each patient.

Relapse of candidiasis that occurs after treatment indicates low immunity or that the sexual partner is sick with thrush. Sexual intercourse until it is cured should be carried out exclusively in a condom.

Personal hygiene. Another important factor in a speedy cure is adherence to hygiene rules and intimate hygiene. It is important to wear cotton underwear, wipe the genitals dry after washing, so as not to create favorable conditions for the growth of the fungus. It is best to replace your underwear with new ones, or to boil them while washing.

It is advisable to refrain from sexual intercourse during treatment, take a shower instead of a bath, and use hygiene products recommended by a doctor for washing the genitals, and not cosmetic products.

Nutrition and herbal medicine. Improper structure of the diet is one of the most important causes of thrush. Its appearance is provoked by products containing fast carbohydrates: confectionery, baked goods and bread made from refined flour, chocolate. Carbohydrates are the main food for Candida fungi.

Treatment of thrush will occur in a shorter time if you replace sweets with vegetables or dairy products. It is advisable to limit alcohol, marinades and pickles, smoked meats.

For phytotherapy of candidiasis, plant preparations are used from pharmacy chamomile, cloves, calendula, barberry. From these medicinal plants, infusion and decoctions are prepared for treating the genitals, carrying out herbal applications and healing baths. Pharmacy chamomile is very effective with its anti-inflammatory properties. Herbal tea from this plant is excellent for treating fungal infections.

Normalization of bowel function. Intestinal dysbiosis is a factor that provokes the intensive development of thrush. Digestive system pathology occurs as a side effect after taking antibiotics, eating disorders, the effects of stress or poisoning.

Constipation, flatulence, dyspepsia, diarrhea in combination with genitourinary infections are a reason for laboratory studies of feces for manifestations of dysbiosis. If the assumption is confirmed, the gastroenterologist will suggest taking a course of pro- and prebiotics (Khilak Forte, Lactulose, RioFlora Immuno, Acipol, etc.).

Prevention of thrush in men

As a prophylaxis for candidiasis, it is recommended:

• Observe the rules of personal hygiene;
• Observe protective measures in intimate life, exclude promiscuous sex;
• Conduct regular self-monitoring of the external genital organs, if you suspect candidiasis, seek qualified help from a specialist;
• Organize proper nutrition, reduce the content of flour and fatty foods in the diet;
• In the case of prescribing treatment for candidiasis, strictly follow the doctor's recommendations.

Author of the article: Lebedev Andrey Sergeevich | Urologist

Education: Diploma in the specialty "Andrology" received after completing residency at the Department of Endoscopic Urology of the Russian Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education in the urological center of the Central Clinical Hospital No. 1 of JSC Russian Railways (2007). Postgraduate studies were completed here by 2010.