Male Thrush

Male thrush is a common fungal infection, sometimes called a male yeast infection, that affects the head of the penis and the foreskin, leaving the skin red, itchy and sore. It’s easy to treat, and most men clear it within a week or two with an antifungal cream or a single oral capsule. At Click2Pharmacy, you can buy penile thrush treatment online from a licensed UK pharmacy and have it delivered to your door.

How to Buy Male Thrush Medication Online

Step 1: Choose Treatment

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Step 2: Place Order

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Step 3: Quick & Discreet Delivery

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Treatment for Male Thrush

What is male thrush?

Male thrush is a fungal infection caused by an overgrowth of Candida, a type of fungus that lives harmlessly on the skin and in the body most of the time. When conditions under the foreskin become warm and damp, the yeast can multiply and cause inflammation of the head of the penis, known as candidal balanitis.

It’s very common, isn’t classed as a sexually transmitted infection (STI), and usually responds well to antifungal treatment you can buy from a pharmacy.

Symptoms of Male Thrush

Common symptoms of thrush in men include:

Redness, irritation or soreness on the head of the penis or under the foreskin
Itching or a burning feeling
A white, lumpy discharge under the foreskin
An unpleasant smell
Difficulty pulling back your foreskin
Discomfort when peeing or during sex

What causes male thrush?

Thrush happens when the balance of yeast on your skin is disrupted, giving Candida a chance to grow. Things that make this more likely include:

Having an uncircumcised penis, as moisture can collect under the foreskin
Not drying properly after washing, or wearing tight, non-breathable underwear
Washing with perfumed soaps or shower gels that irritate the skin
Taking a course of antibiotics
Having diabetes, especially if your blood sugar isn’t well controlled
A weakened immune system due to illness or medication
Having sex with a partner who has thrush

Is male thrush different from female thrush?

Male and female genital thrush are caused by the same yeast, but they present differently. In women, vaginal thrush usually causes itching, soreness and a thick, white discharge. In men, it affects the head of the penis and the foreskin, causing redness, soreness and sometimes discharge under the foreskin.

Thrush is also much less common in men than in women. Some men carry the yeast without any thrush symptoms at all, which is why it can pass between sexual partners without either person realising. The same yeast can also cause oral thrush, which affects the mouth and throat in both men and women.

How to Treat Male Thrush

Antifungal Creams

Antifungal creams are usually the first choice to treat thrush on the penis. Clotrimazole 1% Cream kills the yeast causing the infection, and you’ll apply a thin layer to the affected area two to three times a day. Keep using it for the full course, even once your symptoms start to settle, so the infection doesn’t come back.

Combination creams like Canesten Hydrocortisone pair clotrimazole with a mild steroid to calm redness and itching. Speak to one of our pharmacists before using a steroid cream on the genital area, as it isn’t suitable for everyone.

Oral Antifungal Capsules

If you’d rather not use a cream, an oral capsule containing fluconazole offers a simple single-dose option. Canesten Oral Capsule is licensed for men aged 16 to 60 with a penile yeast infection, and it works from the inside to clear the infection. It isn’t suitable for everyone, so check the patient information leaflet or ask our pharmacists if you take other medicines or have liver problems.

Self-Care Tips

Medication will work best alongside a few simple lifestyle changes:

Wash your penis daily with warm water, making sure to gently pull back the foreskin
Use an emollient or soap substitute rather than any perfumed products
Dry the area properly after washing
Wear loose cotton underwear
Avoid sex until your symptoms have cleared

When should a man see a doctor about thrush?

Most cases of male thrush can be treated at home, but you should speak to your GP or a sexual health clinic if:

It’s the first time you’ve had symptoms
You’re under 16 or over 60
Your symptoms haven’t improved after a week of treatment
You get thrush more than twice in six months
You have diabetes or a weakened immune system
You have sores, blisters, or discharge coming from the tip of your penis
Your foreskin has become very tight or you can’t pull it back

Male Thrush FAQs

Mild thrush can sometimes clear without treatment, especially if you keep the area clean and dry. However, it often lingers or gets worse if left alone, and you could pass it on to a partner in the meantime. An antifungal cream or capsule is the most effective treatment and the quickest way to clear it.

Sudocrem can soothe sore skin and act as a barrier, but it doesn’t contain an antifungal, so it won’t treat the infection. Using it on its own could leave the yeast in place and keep your symptoms going. It’s better to use a cream made for fungal infections, like clotrimazole.

Most men find their symptoms improve within a few days of starting treatment, and the infection usually clears within one to two weeks. Keep using your cream for the full recommended time, even once you feel better. If nothing has changed after a week, speak to your GP.

Wash your penis daily with warm water, dry it thoroughly, and avoid perfumed soaps and shower gels. Loose cotton underwear helps keep the area cool and dry. If your partner has thrush, it’s worth both of you getting treated at the same time so it doesn’t keep passing back and forth.

Yes, thrush can pass from a woman to a man during sex, although it’s not classed as an STI. Many men with a partner who has thrush won’t develop symptoms. If you do, you can both be treated at the same time to stop the infection being passed between you.

Complications are very rare when thrush is treated properly. Repeated infections can sometimes cause scarring that tightens the foreskin, and in people with a weakened immune system, the infection can spread further. Getting treatment early and seeing your GP if it keeps coming back helps avoid these problems.

It’s best to avoid sex until your symptoms have cleared, as it can make soreness worse and pass the infection to your partner. Some antifungal creams can also weaken latex condoms, making them less reliable. Wait until you’ve finished your treatment and feel back to normal.

Yes, several Canesten products are available over the counter and suitable for men like Canesten Oral Capsule and clotrimazole creams. Vaginal pessaries and internal creams are made for women and aren’t suitable for men.

Thrush can make your foreskin swollen and sore, which can make it difficult to pull back. This usually eases once the infection clears. If it keeps happening, repeated inflammation can lead to a long-term tight foreskin (phimosis), so speak to your GP.

Male thrush can cause an unpleasant smell, usually from discharge building up under the foreskin. Washing gently with warm water and treating the infection should clear it. A strong or fishy smell could indicate a different infection, so it’s worth speaking to a doctor or pharmacist if your symptoms don’t match those of thrush.

Thrush and some STIs can cause similar symptoms, like redness, itching and discomfort when peeing. STIs are more likely to cause discharge from the tip of the penis, sores, blisters, or pain in the testicles. If you’ve had unprotected sex with a new partner, STI testing is the best way to know for sure.

Recurring thrush is often linked to trapped moisture under the foreskin, irritating soaps, or a partner who also has the infection. It can also be a sign of an underlying condition like diabetes, which makes it easier for yeast to grow. If you get thrush more than twice in six months, see your GP to find out what’s causing it.

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