fungus in the genital area are harmless but can be cumbersome as it usually itch and sting. It is common to get fungus in the vagina. fungus on the penis, on the other hand, is unusual. It is often possible to treat the fungus with non-prescription drugs.
Symptoms of fungus in the vagina
The most common signs of fungus in the vagina are that itch and sting around the vagina opening and on the labia.
Sometimes you get a white, grainy flow from the vagina. But the floats can also be thin and sometimes the floats do not change at all.
The mucous membranes of the vagina swell and become brittle. It can sting in the vagina when you pee and often it hurts in the case of slit joint. The shy lips can become red, swollen and fragile.
You can get a white film in the folds between the inner and outer lips. The membrane is usually harder to wash away than smegma. Smegma is a type of sebum found between the labia to protect against bacteria.
Symptoms of fungus on the penis
The most common signs of fungi on the penis are that the oblong on the penis is red, dry and gnarled. Sometimes the penis shaft, scrotum or groin may also become red, dry and flabby.
You can get a white film on or around the eyelid, under the foreskin if you have one or on the penis shaft. The membrane is usually harder to wash away than smegma. Smegma is a type of sebum found under the foreskin to protect against bacteria.
You do not usually need to treat fungus on the penis.
What can I do for myself?
Mushrooms in the vagina often go away by themselves within a few days. Sometimes the fungus does not go over or itch and burn it so much that you want quick relief. You can use non-prescription drugs if all of this is right for you:
- It scratches sharply in the vagina.
- Shy lips are red.
- The movements from the vagina are white and grainy.
Treatment with non-prescription drugs
There are non-prescription medicines for fungi that are used directly in the vagina. They usually work well. You can choose from the following medicines:
- A cream that is injected into the vagina with a plastic syringe.
- Wear tablets or capsules that you insert into the vagina with the help of an insert.
- Vagatories that you insert into the vagina with a finger.
The drugs melt or dissolve inside the vagina. The drugs can cause short-term side effects that cause it to burn, itch, become red and irritated.
You who are pregnant should talk to your midwife or doctor about how to do it.
After completing treatment with a non-prescription drug, the symptoms usually disappear. It is important to find out if it really is fungus you have if the treatment does not help. There are other diseases that cause itching and burning in the genital area and that require other types of treatment.
Do not use prescription antifungal medicines too often
It is important that you do not use prescription antifungal medicines too often or unnecessarily. Use non-prescription antifungal medicines no more than twice in six months. It can be more difficult to get rid of the fungus if you use them more often than that. It can also make the mushroom come back after a short while.
It can also dry out the mucous membranes in the vagina and make them fragile. Fragile mucous membranes can cause it to hurt and you get small wounds in the vagina. The wounds make bacteria and viruses more easily caught and you can get an infection.
Avoid sex when you have a fungus in your genital area
It can be painful to have slit or other types of sex when you have a fungal infection because the mucous membranes in the vagina or the earlobe are irritated. Therefore, you should not have wearing sex as long as you have the infection and it hurts or otherwise feels uncomfortable.
There is a risk that you may have recurring pain in vaginal intercourse if you have intercourse even though it hurts.
In addition, the risk is greater that you will have or transmit a STD if you have an abrasive joint while you have a fungus. This is because you have small cracks in the mucous membranes, and the cracks make it easier to get or transmit infections.
Do not wash the abdomen with soap
You should not use regular soap in the abdomen as it wipes out the mucous membranes of the abdomen. Instead, use oil when washing your abdomen if you have a fungus, or if you often get a fungus. It reduces the irritation of the mucous membranes. Apply the oil and wipe it off before showering. Then you become clean while the water does not dry out the mucous membranes as easily.
You can try for example children’s oil or intimate oil which is available at pharmacies. Also oils used in cooking, such as olive oil or sunflower oil work well.
Whether you have a fungus or not, washing your genital area once a day with lukewarm water.
When and where should I seek care?
Contact a health care center if any of the following is true of you:
- It does not help with treatment with a prescription drug in the vagina.
- You have a fungus on the penis that does not go off by itself within a few days.
- You get mushrooms more than twice in six months.
- You are not sure if you have fungus.
If you are young you can contact a youth reception. The age limit may be different at different youth centers.
In order for you to be involved in your care and treatment, it is important that you understand the information you receive from the healthcare staff. Ask questions if you don’t understand. For example, you should receive information about treatment options and how long you may have to wait for care and treatment .
Children should also be involved in their care. The older the child, the more important it is.
How can I prevent fungus in the genital area?
It is difficult to give advice on how to avoid fungal infections, because there is not enough knowledge about the causes of them.
Sugar, yeast and yogurt do not affect mushrooms
There are many myths about what causes fungus in the genital area and what treatment methods help. These myths do not support research results, but can be found in magazines, health food stores or as tips from friends.
The research done on the relationship between sugar and yeast intake and fungal infection has not shown any connection.
You do not get rid of mushrooms if you lubricate the abdomen with yogurt. However, it can feel cooling and therefore relieve itching.
Fungal infections usually do not infect
A fungal infection of the genital area is not transmitted during toilet visits or oral sex. It is uncommon for a fungal infection to be transmitted at sex from vagina to penis, from vagina to vagina or from penis to penis.
What happens in the body?
A fungal infection of the abdomen is due to a yeast fungus, usually Candida albicans. The fungus is usually found in the intestine of all people. In some, the yeast fungus is even in the vagina without causing any trouble. The fungus can cause symptoms if it multiplies and causes inflammation of the mucous membrane.
It is common to get fungus in the vagina, but unusual to get it on the penis.
Various factors increase the risk of a fungal infection
The root cause of a fungal infection of the genital area, and that it causes symptoms, is unknown. But there are some factors that increase the risk of fungal infections:
- An antibiotic treatment can affect the necessary bacteria in the vagina, which can help you get a fungal infection.
- Fungi may be due to the immune system being impaired for some reason. For example, if you are getting sick or have a lot of stress.
- The hormones in the body affect the mucous membranes and thus the immune system in the genital area. Therefore, it is common to have a fungal infection just before or during pregnancy.
- Sometimes mushrooms can come from something that has been rubbing against the vagina or pubic lips, for example if you have cycled a lot or had a lot of wear sex. This is to make the fungus easier to attach if there are small wounds or cracks.