Wunderlich

A yeast infection is not limited to one gender or the other, it can occur just as easily in a man or a woman. Although vaginal yeast infections are more common, penile yeast infection is also a possibility. What exactly is a yeast infection?

The human body can contain certain healthy amounts of different microorganisms. However, sometimes this balance can be disrupted, for instance by poor hygiene or other factors. Bodily changes or changes in the bodily environment may favor the growth of one microorganism over another, resulting in imbalance. Such is what happens with yeast infections.

Physical changes in the genital environment can make it more conducive to the growth and proliferation of yeast. These changes can be caused by different things. For instance, pregnant women experience hormonal changes that help to make the vaginal area a more fertile ground for yeast. This is why yeast infections are a common symptom among pregnant women, especially near midterm.

Other possible causes include diabetes and the taking of antibiotics. Diabetics have greater amounts of sugar in their urine and sugar is what yeast likes to feed on. Antibiotics, on the other hand, when used for prolonged periods, may kill off the other microorganisms that compete with yeast. This would yield to the faster growth of yeast, and thus the beginnings of a yeast infection.

Vaginal yeast infections can also be transmitted to males through sexual intercourse. Physical contact is enough to transmit the yeast. In some cases, sexual partners may pass the yeast infection back and forth. Cleanliness and hygiene is important to make sex safer. But cleaning up and clearing up the yeast infection before engaging in further sexual activity may be a safer bet.

How are yeast infections treated? A common natural cure involves yogurt. Yogurt contains a bacterium that occurs naturally in healthy vaginas called Lactobacillus acidophilus. This bacterium produces hydrogen peroxide, which kills yeast. Thus, introducing more of this bacterium into the infected area, either by eating more yogurt or applying it topically, will help control the yeast population.

Another natural substance that can kill yeast is garlic. Garlic actually contains some antifungal components that can target yeast and help curb the infection. These remedies are easy and cheap to implement, but they may not be able to handle more severe yeast infections. These natural remedies may prove sufficient for cases where the infection is still small and undeveloped, but may fail for more advanced infections.

For severer infections, medications in the form of topical creams or suppositories (obviously, not for the males) may be better choices. Over the counter drugs are available mostly for female patients of yeast infections, but they may also work for male infections.

If self-treatment does not work, doctors can prescribe antibiotics to clear a yeast infection in man or woman out effectively. These antibiotics are usually taken orally, meaning that they are equally applicable for both sexes. In addition to being able to prescribe these antibiotics, a doctor would also be able to determine with certainty whether or not some other infection may be causing the symptoms. These other infections may turn out to be more serious than yeast infections, and require immediate medical assistance.

However many men do find the chemical methods of treating a yeast infection can be quite harsh on the body, especially their skin. There are many very effective natural methods out there for treating yeast infections, which are far more gentle on the body and often more effective also.