Complications of candidiasis in men. Thrush in men: causes, symptoms and consequences. Damage to internal organs

Diseases, which are popularly called thrush, are caused by Candida fungi. Thrush (candidiasis) develops in case of an excessive increase in the number of fungi. Normally, Candida is present on the mucous membranes and skin of even a healthy person and belongs to a conditionally pathogenic environment. Most often, candidiasis is diagnosed in women, but the stronger sex is also prone to this disease. In them, candidiasis usually occurs with less severe symptoms, and therefore remains untreated. As a result, the question arises, is thrush dangerous for men?

Why is thrush dangerous for men?

First, let's figure out what thrush is dangerous for men. Urogenital candidiasis in men is a more dangerous disease than in women. At the same time, a man may not even be aware of the time when the infection entered the body, because how long after infection a thrush appears depends on the state of immunity. Symptoms of the disease may appear due to:

• weakening of the immune system;
• smoking and alcohol abuse;
• you can get sick with thrush due to malnutrition;
• signs of a fungal infection appear against the background of some chronic and endocrine diseases.

It is not important how long the thrush appears after infection, but how quickly and effectively the treatment of this disease was carried out. If there was no therapy, it was incorrect, or the infected person was self-medicating, then the pathology takes on a chronic course. It is in the chronic stage that the disease is dangerous for men.

If we talk about what is dangerous for a man, thrush, then it leads to the following pathologies:

• the fungus spreads from the foreskin and head to the urethra, causing candidal urethritis (the chronic course of this disease causes urethral stricture - narrowing of the canal);
• there is also a high risk of candidal vesiculitis - inflammation of the seminal vesicles;
• if the infection penetrates the prostate gland, prostatitis will begin;
• cystitis is another dangerous complication of untreated thrush;
• sometimes accompanying fungal infections (inguinal epidermophytosis and mycosis of the feet) join.

Important! Any complication of a fungal infection in men is dangerous by weakening erectile and sexual function.

If a man is a carrier of thrush, women can become infected from him, in whom this disease causes more unpleasant and painful symptoms. If you list what is dangerous for thrush in men, then it is worth considering the situation when a male carrier infects a pregnant wife. It is undesirable for a woman to become infected with thrush while carrying a baby. Such infection in the initial stages of pregnancy sometimes leads to miscarriage, and before childbirth is the cause of congenital infection of the baby.

Attention! Thrush carriers - men are dangerous for sexual partners planning a pregnancy.

Why do men get sick less often?

The answer to the question of whether a man can be a carrier of thrush is obvious. Of course it can. However, the stronger sex is less likely to get candidiasis than women. This is due to the anatomical features of the male body.

Favorable conditions for fungi develop in the female vagina. The vaginal mucosa is inhabited by many microorganisms, including opportunistic pathogens. Any hormonal fluctuations, age-related changes, pregnancy sometimes lead to disruption of healthy microflora and the growth of fungi.

Unlike women, the genitals of men are located outside. There are practically no folds in them, where favorable conditions for mushrooms could be created. The foreskin is quite mobile, which does not allow fungi to linger on the surface. Even if the infection enters the urethra, it is washed out fairly quickly by the flow of urine.

Worth knowing! Men are 4 times less likely than women to suffer from thrush.

Methods of infection

How long thrush manifests itself depends largely on the method of infection, the form of the disease and the state of immunity. You can get infected with candidiasis in the following ways:

1. If one of the sexual partners is a carrier of candidiasis, then he is very likely to infect the second. Most often, the infection is transmitted sexually.
2. If a person has other forms of candidiasis (foot mycosis, intestinal candidiasis, skin, nails, mouth, etc.), then infection occurs when hygiene rules are not followed.
3. Active growth of fungi provokes long-term treatment with antibacterial drugs. This is not due to the suppression of the immune system, but due to the suppression of the number of beneficial human microflora. Against this background, conditionally pathogenic microorganisms develop more actively.
4. Smoking, alcohol abuse and an unbalanced diet provoke the disease.
5. Chronic pathologies of the genitourinary system in men create conditions for the reproduction of Candida.
6. Work in hazardous industries, prolonged exposure to a humid environment and at high temperatures is also a trigger for the development of fungal pathologies.
7. Diabetes mellitus, hereditary and acquired immunodeficiency states, oncological pathologies, diseases of the endocrine system also create a favorable background for the pathological increase in the number of fungi.
8. You can become infected not only through sexual contact, but also through household items, bedding and underwear.

It is also worth remembering that for the appearance of thrush, you do not need to look for the culprit of infection, because Candida fungi live on the skin and mucous membranes of any person. But their increased growth is associated with various reasons. Sometimes it’s enough just to eat wrong (an abundance of sweet and starchy foods) so that the fungus constantly bothers a person.

Many have heard about a fungal disease caused by Candida microorganisms, but few people have thought about the question of what complications the disease has, whether thrush is dangerous, including during pregnancy, and what are its consequences for the child. The issue of the troubles awaiting male patients is also rarely covered.

A small amount of Candida fungi is always present in human mucous membranes. They usually do not interfere with the body's normal functioning. But under certain circumstances (decreased immunity, delayed menstruation in girls, infectious diseases), fungi begin to multiply, affecting the mucous membranes and internal organs.

Signs of infection

The consequences of thrush can be very serious, which is why it is so important not to postpone going to the doctor at the first sign of illness. This may be a delay in menstruation with negative pregnancy test results or discomfort in the genital area:

• whitish discharge from the genital tract;
• bad smell.

Even if candidiasis does not manifest itself clearly, it can be dangerous. Such a sign as a delay in menstruation or an irregular cycle in women and girls indicates hidden chronic diseases. Timely treatment will help prevent such consequences of thrush as:

1. The transition of the disease to the chronic stage.
2. Frequent relapses.
3. Weakened immunity.
4. Spread of the fungus to the urinary system and kidneys.
5. Inflammation of internal organs.
6. Cervical erosion.
7. Infertility.

What can cause candidiasis in pregnant women

Women during pregnancy are prone to candidiasis more often than others, but it is also necessary to be treated at this time with caution. Complications may appear due to the following factors:

• weakened immunity;
• hormonal changes in the body;
• changes in the microflora of the vagina.

Is thrush dangerous during pregnancy? Undoubtedly! In addition to the harm done to the pregnant woman herself, a fungal infection threatens the unborn child.

Consequences of thrush in pregnant women:

1. Vaginal candidiasis leads to a loss of tissue elasticity. This is the cause of severe tears during childbirth, which entails a long and painful treatment.
2. Candidiasis during pregnancy usually does not directly threaten the baby while the fetus is inside the uterus. But during childbirth, dangerous fungi get on his skin, mucous membranes of the mouth and eyes, which can be the beginning of complex diseases in children in the future.
3. If not only the vagina is affected, but also the oral mucosa and internal organs of a woman, the likelihood of candidiasis in an unborn child increases. This can lead to premature termination of pregnancy.

Miscarriage due to infection with thrush is rare and, as a rule, is observed only in cases of complete indifference of the pregnant woman to her own health. Basically, with a timely visit to the doctor and compliance with all his recommendations, the complications of thrush are successfully eliminated. There are ways to delicately affect the vaginal mucosa in pregnant women.

Methods of treatment: candles

One of the safest methods of getting rid of candidiasis is the one where candles are used: dissolving, the drug penetrates into the tissues without disturbing the microflora of the mucosa. Despite the absence of serious contraindications (for example, a slight delay in menstruation), suppositories are not recommended for use without a prescription. This is especially important for pregnant women, as uncontrolled self-medication can harm the fetus. Candles are selected and prescribed by a doctor, taking into account individual indicators and the degree of the disease, this will prevent possible complications.

Doctors also warn girls who have a periodic delay in menstruation: the root cause of this may be fungi of the genus Candida. But in this case, candles by themselves do not solve the problem. Irregular menstruation is a sign of chronic internal diseases that require additional examination.

What threatens a fungal infection for men

The problem of the consequences of thrush can concern not only girls and women, but also children and men. Candidiasis is dangerous for all categories and groups of the population, because it can bring serious problems if there is no treatment. Thrush in men is not as common as in women, but that is why it is dangerous: many members of the stronger sex are not serious about this problem.

Candidal urethritis, if timely therapy is not started, can lead to complications:

• inflammation of the prostate gland;
• chronic prostatitis;
• inguinal epidermophytosis;
• infertility.

Often, chronic candidiasis in men manifests itself in mycosis (leg disease), which is difficult to cure, therefore, when a fungus appears, it is necessary to be examined by a doctor. Such a disease is treated quite quickly with the help of topical agents and drugs to increase immunity.

What is terrible candidiasis for children

If during the pregnancy of a woman the fetus was infected with a fungus, this becomes dangerous with the following consequences for infants:

• Candidiasis of the oral mucosa.

It can cause a child to refuse food and lose weight. Fungal foci cause burning and pain while sucking on the mother's breast or bottle.

• Inflammation of the mouth and larynx.

If you do not start treatment, this can lead to dangerous diseases of the child's respiratory tract.

• Skin candidiasis.

Especially dangerous is the so-called diaper dermatitis, during which the fungus spreads to the genitals. In a person who has had thrush at an early age, reproductive functions may be impaired.

Treatment of the disease in children must be carried out under the supervision of a qualified doctor.

In general, the sooner a person begins to be treated, the sooner the reproduction of the Candida fungus and its spread in the body will stop. This means that the likelihood of complications and consequences, as well as the transition of the disease to a chronic state, will decrease.

Thrush is a fungal disease that is thought to be more common in women than in men. In fact, many men are carriers of the fungus that causes this disease, but do not have any pronounced symptoms of the disease.

In medical theory, thrush is called candidiasis.

Candidiasis develops due to an increase in the number of Candida fungi. There are a great many species of this fungus, but most often the development of the disease in men and women is caused by fungi of the species candida albicans, which are found in large numbers in the environment.

More recently, it was found that in most women, Candida fungi cause thrush due to the presence of failures within the body, that is, dysbacteriosis or reduced immunity. The causes of candidiasis in men do not depend much on internal factors, which is why thrush with pronounced symptoms is very rarely observed in the stronger sex. Do not underestimate the danger of developing this disease, since a man, even if he is not sick with thrush, but is a carrier, is able to infect a woman - his sexual partner. In addition, there may be consequences for the health of the man himself, who has been suffering from thrush for a long time.

The main causes of thrush in men

The appearance of candidiasis in men has a slightly different etiology than in women, which is associated with the specific characteristics of the organism. At present, it is still not entirely clear why some men immediately develop symptoms of the disease, while others can remain only carriers all their lives, but some predisposing factors are still known.

Thrush in men can develop as a result of improper hygiene or the use of antibacterial agents that can completely change the microflora of the genital mucosa. In most cases, it is very difficult to determine what exactly led to the appearance of thrush, since there can be many factors that contribute to the activation of the growth of the fungus. It is worth noting that infectious diseases are often hidden behind the symptoms of thrush. In some cases, the infection causes the reproduction of the fungus, while in others, infection of the mucous membranes is observed against the background of an already existing thrush.

Symptoms of thrush in men

The main ones are observed in the area of ​​the glans penis. First of all, candidiasis causes dryness of the mucous membranes, which brings obvious discomfort. Further, the mucous membranes begin to itch strongly, slight painful sensations appear when touching the head. In some cases, there is a burning sensation in the head and a feeling of tightness of the mucosa. Often, painful sensations appear only at the time of sexual intercourse, while in a calm state, only itching can be observed.

Fungal infection develops extremely rapidly, therefore, after a few days, accumulations of white plaque appear under the foreskin, which has a very unpleasant putrefactive odor. Notable for this disease is the fact that a mushy white coating appears very quickly after hygienic measures have been taken to remove it. Over time, the fungal infection of the mucous membrane completely destroys local immunity, which leads to the appearance of other symptoms, including obvious redness of the glans penis, slight swelling of the tissues, and even more accumulation of curd white masses under the foreskin. During sexual intercourse, all symptoms are significantly increased.

It is worth saying that the mucous membrane is a natural barrier to microorganisms, but with candidiasis, a pathogenic fungus leads to the destruction of its protective properties, and the genitals become completely vulnerable to other viruses and infections. The presence of candidiasis several times increases the chances of contracting many sexually transmitted diseases through unprotected sexual contact. If the immune system of a man is weakened and adequate treatment was not prescribed at the first symptoms of the appearance of thrush, more distinct symptoms may develop, including bubble formations filled with exudate and pronounced tissue erosion. It is extremely difficult to diagnose thrush, which is asymptomatic, without a series of tests, so if a sexual partner has signs of this disease, then a man must be examined.

The main complications and consequences of thrush in men

Thrush in men is much easier than in women, and getting rid of it is much easier, but this does not mean that the disease can be treated negligently. Under favorable environmental conditions for fungi, a number of consequences for men's health are quite possible. There are a number of the most common problems caused by long-term carriage of candidiasis, all of them are quite serious.

The most adverse effects of candidiasis include the effect of fungal infection on the ability to have children. Statistics show that approximately 12% of men suffering from chronic candidiasis become infertile, which is associated with the entry of candida into seminal fluid. In addition, a male who is a carrier can transmit candidiasis to a woman, which is especially dangerous if this process occurs during pregnancy. Fungi are very resistant microorganisms, so there is a high probability of damage to the fetus both during pregnancy and during childbirth, which will significantly reduce the innate immunity of the baby. These consequences of thrush in men do not develop immediately, but with prolonged absence of treatment.

How to properly treat thrush with medication

Thrush is a serious disease that can have consequences for men's health, so it should be treated only under the supervision of a doctor. The thing is that many drugs sold in pharmacies without a prescription are important to use in a scheme to destroy the fungus, otherwise you can only drive the thrush into an asymptomatic form, but not completely get rid of it.

The use of antibiotics for thrush is not justified, since all fungal infections are resistant to them, with the exception of those cases when antibiotics are needed to suppress the concomitant infection of candidiasis. As a rule, if a man has thrush for the first time, he can be prescribed topical preparations, that is, creams and ointments containing a significant dose of antifungal agents. If we are talking about the chronic form of thrush, the use of tablets with a high content of antifungal substances is recommended.

The use of antibiotics, a passion for fatty foods with a high hidden sugar content, as well as stressful situations are favorable conditions for the spread of thrush.

If the disease manifested itself in a partner, then the likelihood of infection increases significantly.

How can a man get infected?

A fungal disease, called candidiasis by doctors, can affect any part of the skin folds and mucous membranes. The groin and genitals, the interdigital spaces, the oral cavity are ideal places for the spread of thrush.

There are 2 most common ways of infection with thrush in men.

Important: both partners must undergo treatment for any manifestations of candidiasis in order to exclude sequential transmission of the infection to each other.

What is the main danger?

Proper treatment of the first symptoms will save a healthy man from a fungal infection. Therefore, to the question of whether thrush is dangerous for men, dermatovenereologists and urologists answer in the affirmative only about the advanced form.

Most often, in men, balanoposthitis develops as a complication - a process in which the fungus affects the genitals.

The initial signs of such candidiasis in most cases are weak, and the visit to the doctor is constantly postponed.

In order for the disease not to go into a neglected form, it is important to immediately consult a specialist with the following symptoms:

Launched candidiasis poses a serious danger to various systems of the body of a man:

• damage to the urogenital canal, bladder and kidneys;
• problems with erection and ejaculation.

Spread of infection in the genitourinary system

In the absence of drug treatment, the rate of reproduction of the fungus increases rapidly. Pathogenic microorganisms penetrate deep into the urethra and reach the bladder.

At this stage, the thrush turns into candidal urethritis. Symptoms become pronounced and intolerable:

Irritation, swelling of the urethra and urogenital canal leads to a violation of the natural outflow of urine and the reproduction of other pathogens.

In case of further development of the process, the infection can reach the kidneys and lead to fungal pyelonephritis. At this stage, inpatient treatment with intravenous administration of drugs will be required.

Important: when the urinary system is affected by candidiasis, the inguinal lymph nodes can increase and become painful, which pass toxins produced by harmful microorganisms through themselves.

Problems with ejaculation

Burning and inflammation of the foreskin causes pain during erection and attempts at sexual intercourse. Puffiness affects the natural process of ejaculation, causing problems with sperm permeability.

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When running thrush, there is a decrease in the intensity of urination and disruption of the endocrine glands, which ultimately can lead to prostatitis. Fungal infection of the prostate gland is diagnosed by tissue biopsy or mycological examination of the composition of the secretion of the prostate.

Symptoms of candidal prostatitis:

• urination disorder;
• discomfort in the pelvis;
• mild fever.

In the complicated course of a fungal infection of the prostate, urinary incontinence develops.

Consequences of a running form

Inaction or self-treatment for candidiasis can lead to serious trouble. The main consequences of thrush in men:

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If in women the cause of the disease is the state of her own body (decreased immunity, intestinal dysbacteriosis, pregnancy), then in men thrush usually occurs after sexual contact. Decreased immunity, of course, plays a role, but not so significant. With HIV infection, diabetes mellitus, treatment of tumor diseases (when drugs that depress the activity of the immune system are prescribed), the frequency of thrush in men increases slightly. Another male feature is the independence of thrush from intestinal dysbacteriosis.

Symptoms of thrush in men

Symptoms of thrush in men include itchy pain, burning, in the area of ​​​​the glans penis, aggravated after intercourse. Sometimes pain can appear only during sexual intercourse and not disturb the rest of the time. On the head of the penis, the foreskin, a light, film-like plaque is usually noticeable, which is precisely the accumulation of fungi in the surface layer of the mucous epithelium. This plaque is easily removed during intercourse, leaving the mucous membrane of the genital organs without a protective layer. Hence the discomfort. No matter how thrush proceeds in men, its symptoms should be alerted, if only because the damaged mucous membrane is not able to retain pathogenic bacteria and there is a risk of damage to the genital organs with a pustular infection. But not only in the form of a light plaque, thrush can appear, symptoms in men can be in the nature of reddening of the penis, including without a clear connection with sexual intercourse. Also, thrush in men can be manifested by burning during urination.

Often thrush in men occurs during the wife's pregnancy. This is due to the fact that more favorable conditions for the fungus in the female genital organs, provide active reproduction of the causative agent of thrush. Accordingly, more of it is transmitted to a man during sexual intercourse.

The consequences of thrush

Even in the absence of signs of thrush, a man may be a carrier of the Candida fungus. When treating thrush in women, it is imperative to simultaneously treat thrush in men, otherwise the desired effect will not be achieved. With a long-lasting thrush that recurs, especially if it is a so-called “family” disease (maintained by one of the sexual partners), a fungal infection can spread upward through the urethra. This can lead to cystitis, prostatitis, even infertility. Therefore, no matter how “frivolous” the thrush may seem, treatment in men is also necessary, as in women.