Speaking the naked truth about thrush with Canesten

Let me get right in there and ask you a blunt question: How much do you know about the intimate health conditions? In particular, I’m thinking about thrush and how it affects men.

I think we all know thrush is a common intimate, health condition. I think what’s less well known is that men can get it. It seems to be a taboo subject for women, but for men it’s unheard of for them to discuss the situation.

I once joked that if it were acceptable for men to meet up in the pub and compare thrush outbreaks, they’d probably try and outdo each other to see who had it worse. While I don’t think there’s any need to go quite that far, thrush should be treated like any health condition and us men should not feel awkward about discussing it.

#thenakedtruth about thrush

Intimate health specialist Canesten has launched a campaign called #thenakedtruth to get men and women discussing intimate health. The aim is to primarily raise awareness of thrush in men and women.

There are various reasons why us guys should be more open to talking about thrush. One of the most compelling is that it can be a sign of a more serious health condition. It can, for instance, be a sign of foreskin constriction or that you have a weakened immune system. If you were to get thrush, you’d be well advised to find out what the underlying cause was.

What causes thrush?

The cause of thrush in both men and women is the same. It’s an imbalance of a yeast-like fungus called candida albicans. This fungus is naturally found on the skin of healthy people, however, when the natural balance of the skin flora is disturbed, the fungus can multiply excessively triggering the typical signs of the infection.

Symptoms for both men and women include itching, reddening of the intimate area and possibly discharge. There’s lots more information about thrush and how it affects men on the Canesten website.

Foreskin constriction is a particular issue because the narrowing of the foreskin provides better conditions for the fungi to multiply. It also makes cleaning more difficult.

Tips for avoiding thrush

There are steps you can take to avoid getting thrush. They include:

• For men, wearing loose fitting cotton underwear to prevent moisture build up is particularly important
• Avoiding very hot baths
• Avoid using deodorants or scented products in and around the intimate area
• Avoid stress and lead a healthy lifestyle, which will keep the immune system strong
• Avoid high-sugar foods
• Changing underwear after swimming and working out.

Treating male thrush

Treating male thrush can be straightforward. Over-the-counter medication such as Canesten Thrush External Cream, fluconazole based oral capsules, like Canesten Thrush Oral Capsule or Canesten Thrush Duo can help.

What do you know about thrush and other intimate health conditions?

I hope this blog post has proven to be useful to you. Were you aware that thrush could affect men or that it could be a sign of a more serious underlying health condition? Feel free to comment below.

For information on Women’s intimate health, including issues such as thrush in women, BV and Cystitis visit the Canesten website.

Disclosure:  This advertising feature is sponsored by Canesten but all thoughts are my own.

Canesten Thrush External Cream contains Clotrimazole. Canesten Thrush Oral Capsule contains Fluconazole. Canesten Thrush Duo Oral Capsule & External Cream contains Fluconazole and Clotrimazole. Always read the label.