Thrush is often thought of as a women’s problem, but men get it too. It’s a common yeast infection, usually caused by Candida, that affects the head of the penis and foreskin. It’s easy to treat once you know what it is.
Imagine noticing redness, itching and a white, cottage-cheese-like discharge under your foreskin after a course of antibiotics. Too embarrassed to ask, you ignore it for two weeks and it gets worse. A pharmacist recommends an antifungal cream, and it clears within days.
Symptoms
- Redness, soreness or itching on the head of the penis or under the foreskin
- A white, lumpy discharge
- An unpleasant smell
- Difficulty pulling back the foreskin
- Burning when peeing
Common causes
- Recent antibiotics
- Diabetes, especially if blood sugar is poorly controlled
- Weakened immune system
- Being uncircumcised, with warm, moist conditions under the foreskin
- Irritating soaps or shower gels
- Sex with a partner who has thrush
Treatment and prevention
Antifungal creams such as clotrimazole, available from pharmacies in many countries, usually clear it within one to two weeks. Sometimes a single antifungal tablet is used. Wash gently with water and an emollient instead of soap, dry carefully and wear loose cotton underwear. Avoid sex until symptoms clear.
But could it be something else?
Some sexually transmitted infections and skin conditions look similar. See a doctor or sexual health clinic if it’s your first time, it doesn’t clear with treatment, it keeps coming back, or you have sores, blisters or a discharge from the tip of the penis. Repeated thrush can be a sign of undiagnosed diabetes, so a blood sugar test may be recommended.
Your next step: If you have these symptoms, speak to a pharmacist today. They see this often, and you don’t need to feel embarrassed.
Sources: NHS (Thrush in men and women), Cleveland Clinic (Balanitis), US CDC (Candidiasis), British Association for Sexual Health and HIV.
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