The Biology Behind Male Yeast Infections
Perhaps the most well known yeast infection in the world today is thrush, which generally affects a females genital area. It is rare for a man to contract the disease but by no means impossible. Yeast infections by their very nature are not gender specific. They just affect areas of the human body.
Yeast infections are found on the skin or on mucous-like membrane. It is caused by a fungi called Candida. In laboratories it can be cultured on agar plates and it appears as large round colonies, in white, cream or pale grey. The most famous species of Candida is candida albicans, although this is not the only species to infect humans.
Under normal circumstances candida albicans resides with the other flora in the body and causes no problems, due to its growth being kept in check by other bacteria such as acidophilus. Candida albicans likes warm wet dark areas of the body, which is why it is found in such places as the ears, mouth, blood, the gut (large and small intestine) and the vagina in women, the penis, scrotum and anus in men. Skinfolds and armpits can also make good breeding grounds for the bacteria.
Candida albicans’ form is a single oval yeast cell. When in yeast form, it uses the form of budding to multiply itself. The cells create clones of themselves through bulbs that grow out of them. The bulbs eventually let go of the parent cells.
What causes a yeast infection? Temperature has much to do with it. The temperature has to be at a specific level, also the ph levels must be balanced, thus enabling the candida albicans and acidophilus to grow without disturbing other bacteria in the area.
When the temperature changes however, the bacteria die. This means the candida albicans cells are able to change into fungi and to start replicating. There is nothing to keep them in check.
Candida albicans start reproducing rapidly, and this causes burning, itching, soreness or tingling. Scratching the area can lead to soreness and infection.
There are other symptoms of a candida albicans boom, and the signs include fatigue, drowsiness, muscle aches, swelling or pain in the joints, dizziness, fluid retention,tissue swelling, loss of balance, lack of coordination, lack of concentration, poor memory, mood swings, depression, anxiety,
irritability, and cravings for sugars, carbohydrates and alcohol.
Although these are symptoms for candida, they are also indicators of other conditions. They must be taken into consideration with other factors.
The overgrowth of the candida causes the side effects we are all aware of. White or cream coloured patches in the mouth. Whitish discharge from the vagina. Patchy, itchy sores on the penis on the head or foreskin. Oozy discharge is also likely. You can reduce the itching with some treatments from our free ebooklet, Stop The Itch Now.
For long term management of candida albicans you must take a look at Yeast Infection No More, a fantastic resource for the elimination of yeast infections permanently.
While yeast infections can be easily treated, sometimes they can be serious, even fatal. This is of greatest concern to sufferers with compromised immune system, such as diabetics, those with HIV+ and AIDS, and cancer sufferers. Sufferers can be cured though, if immediate and correct diagnosis and medication are taken.
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