It is not always clear or simple to identify the causes of yeast infections in men, women or even children. The first thing those suffering from recurring yeast infections do is to look for what the cause is. After all once you know that you can better defend yourself as with any other illnesses.
Yeast Infection is a Candida fungal infection. Whoever it has infected it is painful, uncomfortable and for adults embarrassing too. Children can get it from diapers not being changed frequently enough or can suffer from Thrush, an infection of the mouth, from bottles not being adequately cleaned.
When a yeast infection infects a man’s penis (penile yeast infection) there are several symptoms. Itching which can be tolerable to intolerable, pain, lesions and blisters along the shaft, difficulty performing sexually and problems when he urinates. The man is infected usually because he has had sex with an infected female partner. If the woman has a vaginal yeast infection there is yeast in her opening and as the man penetrates this yeast can enter the opening at the head of his penis. From there it moves to the urethra.
Women have the misfortune to be at a much higher risk of yeast infections particularly to the vagina where the environment of warm, wet and dark is perfect for the yeast to grow. Women face a lot of hormonal changes, whether it is her period each month, on birth control pills, going through the menopause, or pregnancy. These hormonal changes make a woman more likely to get a yeast infection. Clothing is an important factor too. Women have a tendency to wear tight, synthetic underwear and tight clothing. The material does not allow air to circulate around the vagina and so keeps it wet down there.
When you believe you have a yeast infection, male or female, you need to stop having sex unless you are using a condom. Otherwise you are infecting your partner and even if you are treating yourself, the yeast is being passed back and forth between you so you are never clear of it. It just becomes a nasty yeast cycle. Also if you are not exclusive to each other you are passing on the infection to other unfortunate sexual partners.