It is often believed that yeast infections affect only women and the only condition that results from yeast infections is vaginitis or vulvitis. While vaginitis is the most common condition that is caused by yeast infections, it is not the only one.
A preponderance of Candida albicans can result in thrush (an infection in the mouth), skin rashes and fungal toenail and finger nail infections. To add to this, yeast infections have been found in the genital areas of men too.
The common causes of male yeast infections are:
Sexual transmission –While Candidiasis is not considered to be a sexually transmitted disease, the transmission of yeast can occur during sexual intercourse.
Antibiotics – Antibiotics can disrupt the balance of flora in the human system leading to higher levels of Candida in the body as compared to the good bacteria that fight it.
Diabetes – Higher levels of sugar in the blood can also lead to male yeast infections.
The symptoms of male yeast infections are not as easy to identify and associate with yeast infections as they are in women. Some of the common male yeast infection symptoms that have been noticed are:
- Dry flaky skin, acne and signs of aging skin
- Chronic fatigue
- Bad breath
- Digestion problems, constipation, bloating, flatulence, frequent diarrhea and poor appetite
- Sexual dysfunction, painful urination and other urinary disorders
- Hip and knee pain, aching shoulders, headaches and migraines
Yeast infections can also cause other psychological conditions like:
- Depression
- Mood swings
- Memory issues
- Lack of focus and short attention span
- Hyperactivity
- Autism
Even when you are aware of various symptoms of male yeast infections, associating them with yeast infections is not easy because these are common symptoms that can be due to other medical conditions as well. Though these symptoms exist among women too, they are almost always accompanied with inflammation in the vaginal area; something that can indicate that the cause of the symptoms is yeast or Candida infection.
There is a small self test that men can perform to assess whether they have a yeast infection or not. This involves spitting in a glass of water as soon as you wake up and before you do anything else. Spit twice into a glass of water and watch the spit for the next 15 minutes. If the spit dissolves in the water, all is fine. However, cloudy water and spit begins to develop strings and sinks to the bottom is a clear indication of an yeast infection. Once this is confirmed, you can start to look at the various symptoms that you have been facing in a new light.
Since male yeast infetions is not a condition that has been researched too well, there are only a few conventional cures like Diflucan that exist. However, it is known that Candida can develop immunity toward the medicine very quickly. It is therefore pertinent that men turn to natural remedies for treatment of Candida infections.
A holistic cure is the only option that should be considered if the yeast infection is to be cured completely and forever. A holistic natural cure for yeast infections will include diet management details, natural and herbal remedies for every kind of yeast infection, exercises and breathing techniques to ensure that the good bacteria can fight and win over Candida yeast.