Thrush, also known as candida, or candidosis, is a yeast infection that is caused by a fungus called Candida albicans, which lives in the body.
Both men and women can get thrush. In women, thrush causes:
- itching,
- irritation,
- discharge,
- redness, and
- soreness and swelling of the vagina and vulva.
In men, thrush causes:
- itching,
- irritation,
- redness,
- soreness, and
- discharge underthe foreskin, or on the tip of the penis.
How thrush is passed on
Although rare, it is possible for thrush to be passed on through sexual intercourse.
A man is more likely to get thrush if he has a weak immune system, or poor personal hygiene. Men with a foreskin are more likely to get thrush because the warmth and moisture underneath the skin encourages the yeast infection to grow.
Thrush is not a sexually transmitted infection (STI)
Thrush is not a sexually transmitted infection (STI) because many people already have small amounts of the candida fungus in their bodies. The fungus does not usually cause any harm because the body's immune system keeps it under control.
However, anything that weakens your immune system, such as an illness, like depression, or antibiotic medication, may cause the candida fungus to multiply, increasing your likelihood of developing thrush.
If you have thrush, it is best to avoid having sex until you have completed a course of treatment and the infection has cleared up.
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