Male thrush
Visit your GPif youhave the symptoms of thrush (either onyour penis or skin) and you donot have ahistory of the condition.
If you have a previous history of thrush that has been diagnosed, you do not usually need another diagnosis unless it fails to respond to treatment (see recurring thrush, below).
Thrush can be diagnosed at:
Thrush is diagnosed by a physical examination ofthe head of your penis or the affected area of skin.
It's important to get thrush diagnosed in case the symptoms are caused by a different condition, such as a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or a bacterial skin infection.
Further testing is usually only required if:
Testing usually involves using a swab (a small plastic rod with a cotton ball on one end) to obtain a small tissue sample from the affected body part. The tissue will be tested for the presence of any infectious agents, such as the Candida albicans fungus.
You may also be referred for a series of blood and urine tests to check whether an underlying condition, such as diabetes, is making you more vulnerable to thrush.
If you have had thrush in the past and you recognise your symptoms, over-the-counter treatments from your pharmacist can help clear up the infection.
If you keep getting thrush, or it does not clear up with treatment, visit your GP so they can investigate and recommend appropriate treatment.
If you are a heterosexual man andhave thrush, it is likely that your partner may also have the condition. This is because the candida fungus often lives inside the vagina. It is therefore a good idea for both of youto get treatment to prevent the infection being passed back and forth between you.
Thrush is a yeast infection caused by a fungus called Candida albicans. Both men and women can get thrush, though it is more often associated with women.
If you have balanitis thrush, you will have a number of distinctive symptoms, such as red skin around the head of your penis and pain and swelling.
Thrush is caused by the Candida albicans fungus.
Visit your GP if you think you have the symptoms of thrush (either on your penis or skin) and you do not have a history of the condition.
The recommended treatment for thrush in men depends on which area of the body is affected.
If you have a weakened immune system there is a risk that the candida fungus will spread into your blood. This is known as invasive candidiasis.