How to cure candida in men and women

Three out of four women suffer from it at least once in their life. It is caused by a fungus and its symptoms are itching and whitish discharge. Is it true that the cure works better if he does it too?

Vaginal candida is one of the most frequent female ailments. Three out of four women suffer from it at least once in their life and eliminating it completely is not so easy, as relapses are very frequent and the infection can remain latent for a certain period.

It is caused by Candida albicans, a fungus naturally present within the vaginal mycotic flora which in non-pathological conditions coexists with the other bacteria present, 90 percent of which are lactobacilli , which make up the physiological microflora.

However, if the vaginal environment or its microflora are altered, candida can begin to grow uncontrollably.

The woman can be a carrier of an infection without having symptoms, such as the classic thick whitish discharge that causes itching, scaling, burning and pain while peeing, swelling of the genitals and, sometimes, painful sexual intercourse.

In the most serious cases, the infection can also cause urinary tract diseases (urethritis and cystitis ). Finally, the infection can become chronic, with vaginal dryness, scaling and redness.

The causes of vaginal candida

Candida albicans is only the most common of the species of this fungus that can cause infections in the human body. There are more than 190 strains and they can also trigger problems in other areas of the body, for example in the mouth or throat (where they can cause so-called thrush), or on the skin (where they can cause skin candidiasis ) . This fungus is in fact physiologically present, as well as in the vaginal flora, also on the skin and mucous membranes.

Candida infection isn’t just a problem for women. In men this microorganism can cause balanitis and balanoposthitis: in the first case the infection affects only the glans, while in the second also the foreskin. Both are characterized by the formation of microvesicles and micropustules, redness, itching, burning and, sometimes, whitish discharge.

If these pathologies are not treated adequately, they can lead to the appearance of complications: the inflammation associated with balanitis can, for example, extend to the foreskin, triggering the so-called postitis. However, balanoposthitis can cause phimosis (i.e. a narrowing of the foreskin).

Although candidiasis cannot be considered a sexually transmitted disease, to date the “ping-pong effect” remains a matter of debate, the advice is to abstain from intercourse during treatment and experts recommend carrying out a candida test even in man  and to extend therapy to the partner only if symptoms are present.

Useful remedies to fight vaginal candida

There are a number of remedies for vaginal thrush . In some cases, these are treatments that can be used even before having spoken to the doctor, simply by going to a pharmacy. Treatments of this type may be sufficient, for example, if the symptoms are mild and are not associated with pain in the lower abdomen or fever, if it is not the first time you are dealing with vaginal candida (but you this is a common problem) and if you are not pregnant.

In the case of women, the local treatment of the infection can be carried out with creams, gels, ovules or soft vaginal capsules based on antifungals . Even men in case of balanitis or balanoposthitis can rely on topical therapies with creams based on active ingredients with an antifungal action.

In any case, before using them both women and men should carefully read the instructions in the package leaflet . It is also very important to complete the entire treatment: interrupting it just because the symptoms seem to have disappeared can compromise its effectiveness, nullifying every effort made and causing the infection to reappear.

During pregnancy, in case of recurrences and if the losses continue for more than a week, however, it is necessary to consult your doctor.

An accurate gynecological examination, with sampling of vaginal secretions and, possibly, blood and urine tests, allows for a certain diagnosis. The examination will be aimed at looking for possible signs of infection in the body, in particular swelling and redness of the vulva, vagina and cervix, presence of white and dry spots on the vaginal walls and wounds at the level of the vulva.

Finally, a sampling of vaginal secretions can eliminate any doubts about the diagnosis of a candida infection, confirming or denying the presence of the fungus. To do this, a simple vaginal swab is sufficient, but the subsequent analysis under the microscope will allow to verify the presence of mycosis . A very common laboratory test is the one with potassium hydroxide , which allows you to easily visualize and recognize candida and thus eliminate any doubt that another microorganism was the trigger of the infection.

The rules of prevention

To prevent candida infection it is advisable to avoid wearing synthetic (for example nylon) or tight clothing, not to exchange towels and to take care of one’s intimate hygiene. In fact, to avoid this mycosis it is important to keep the genital area clean and dry. From this point of view, using underwear made with cotton fabrics is useful because it limits perspiration, which can create a humid environment in which the fungus can proliferate more easily.

For this same reason, it is also advisable to avoid wearing wet bathing suits or sweat-soaked sports clothing for a long time.

However, too much attention to hygiene can be counterproductive. In particular, it is important to avoid the use of douches: even if they help many women feel cleaner, they can actually promote the loss of “friendly” bacteria, i.e. those that help defend against infections and prevent the proliferation of candida and which, therefore, should be safeguarded.

Avoiding the use of sprays, powders (such as talcum powders), and products containing perfumes in the genital area also helps reduce the risk of candida.

Finally, even nutrition can lend a hand to the body to prevent candida. There are no miraculous foods that help defeat this annoying intimate infection, but it seems that avoiding , for example, the consumption of simple sugar (and therefore sweets or sugary drinks), white flour (especially that contained in leavened products, such as bread and pizza) and of milk and dairy products can prevent the proliferation of this fungus. Furthermore, in case of antibiotic treatments it is advisable to take food supplements based on probioticswhich may help reduce the risk that antibiotic therapy promotes candida overgrowth. Probiotics can also be used locally, through vaginal ovules, which can prevent the adhesion of candida to the vaginal epithelium.

If you suffer from diabetes , it is advisable to pay particular attention to carbohydrates taken in with food (starches and sugars, abundant for example in foods such as sweets and baked goods and also present in fruit). Keeping your blood sugar under control is also important to avoid problems with candida.

All these precautions can be useful not only to prevent its appearance, but also when you are already dealing with the losses typically associated with candida. Following them during therapy can help defeat the fungus and prevent it from bothering married life again.