This is a condition which is often overlooked and widely misunderstood. But unless the right action is taken to clear the condition, complications can often follow.

Most women are aware of yeast infections and have a basic understanding of what they are about. However we tend to hear about Candida infections in men far less often – almost as if this is a women-only problem.

Actually the condition in men can be almost as common as it is in women. When a woman is unfortunate enough to contract a Candida infection the symptoms are usually pretty obvious.

Many men do not realise they have Candida infection

Because men are built differently to women it can be far more difficult to detect. Many men may, in fact, go through life not even knowing that they have an infection until other health problems come to light.

Beer drinking, even in moderation, can be a cause of yeast on the surface of the male genitals. The yeast can remain dormant until it is inadvertently passed to the man’s wife or girlfriend during intercourse.

Conditions inside the vagina (temperature and moisture) can allow the infection to develop into a full blown Candida infection and before the female notices any symptoms she can give it back to her partner.

Often men can be informed by their wives or girlfriends that she may have contracted Candida from them and that their doctor has prescribed an anti fungal that they should both take to avoid re-infection.

In this situation men may believe that they do not need to take the anti fungal because they have no obvious signs of infection. However, during intercourse, the male urethra is vulnerable to receiving the infection from the infected female. Infection can then pass along the urethra and into the prostate gland.

There may be no obvious problems for years but most males do unfortunately become affected by prostate problems of one sort or another at some point in their lives.

Male Candida is normally viewed as only physical, although there can also be knock-on effects emotionally and socially, especially for younger men and teenage boys.

In addition to the above, men are also subject to all the other, better known causes of this condition in men, such as:

• The use of antibiotics

• The consumption of alcohol

• Too many refined carbohydrates in the diet

• A weakened immune system

Some of the more obvious symptoms of male yeast infection may include the following:

• Itching and redness of the penis and genital area.

• Possible well defined smaller rashes close to the main rash.

• Possible white cottage cheese-like discharge.

Other symptoms may include:

• Infection of the mouth and throat (oral thrush). This is likely to be thick white lacy patched on top of a red base. These can form on the tongue, palate or elsewhere inside the mouth and may cause pain when eating and swallowing.

• A red and itchy skin rash – particularly in the folds of the skin. This may have slightly raised edges.

• Damaged, discoloured, thickened or broken nails is also an indication of probable Candida.