Thrush, men

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Thrush is a yeast infection caused by the Candida species of fungus. Thrush is also called candida or candidosis. It happens when a fungus called candida albicans grows too much.

Candida occurs naturally in the body, especially in warm, moist areas such as the mouth and genitals. It normally doesnâ€™t cause any problems because it is kept under control by the immune system and other bacteria in the body. However, some factors can cause the fungus to multiply (grow), leading to infection.

Thrush infections usually appear in the mouth (oral thrush) or genitals. Candida is commonly found in the vagina, making thrush more likely to develop in women. However, the infection can also appear in men, too. Men with a foreskin are more likely to get thrush because the warmth and moisture underneath encourages the fungus to grow.

Thrush isnâ€™t a sexually transmitted infection (STI) because many people already have a small amount of it in their bodies. It is actually more common in men who are not sexually active. The infection can, however, be passed on through sex.

For more information about oral thrush, please see the separate encyclopaedia topic.