You may believe you're immune to yeast infections just because you're male. In fact, MayoClinic.com reports that yeast infections can occur in both men and women. Men can get yeast infections through sexual transmission, though this is uncommon. Prolonged antibiotic use and diseases that compromise immunity are more common factors that can result in the reddish rash and itchy, burning penis that characterize male genital yeast infections.
Probiotics have been investigated as a therapeutic treatment for these infections, and may be as effective in men as in women. These are friendly bacteria that live within your intestinal tract. They're also present in a number of food products and supplements, and have been touted for possessing various benefits to human health.
Lactobacillus Acidophilus
The probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus acidophilus is found in several food products, such as yogurt, miso and tempeh. Like other probiotics, it is also available in capsules, granules and liquid preparations sold by natural foods retailers. This friendly bacterium exists naturally in the intestines of healthy individuals, but may be depleted during a course of antibiotic therapy, since antibiotics do not discriminate between healthy bacteria and those that cause disease. If you've been undergoing antibiotic therapy, the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) suggests taking probiotics such as Lactobacillus acidophilus may help replenish your gastrointestinal tract's population of friendly bacteria.
Unlike other supplements whose dosage labels typically list dosages in terms of units of weight or volume, probiotics supplements are typically labeled according to the number of living organisms per capsule. UMMC recommends a dosage of one to 10 billion live Lactobacillus acidophilus organisms daily as a means of avoiding yeast infections.
Bifidobacterium
Bifidobacterium is another form of microorganism that lives in your intestines and confers positive effects. A study conducted by the Institutes of Nutritional Physiology in Germany and published in the "British Journal of Nutrition" in 2007 found that Bifidobacterium lactis stimulated the immune system in colon cancer patients. Though these effects were minor, they were significant enough for researchers to suggest further inquiry in this area. USProbiotics.com reports that Bifidobacterium helps restore the gastrointestinal flora of patients undergoing antibiotic therapy in some cases, and that Bifidobacteria strains have shown promise in aiding people with lactose intolerance. UMMC suggests a dosage of 10 billion colony-forming units of Bifidobacterium daily to restore healthy flora to the bowels and mucous membranes.
Saccharomyces Boulardii
Saccharomyces boulardii is the name of a form of microorganism found in baker's yeast and considered to have probiotic properties. It has been effective in preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea, according to USProbiotics.com. MedlinePlus suggests a dosage of 250 to 500 mg of this probiotic, taken two to four times daily, for the treatment of antibiotic-associated diarrhea.
Additional effects attributed to this probiotic yeast include prevention of traveler's diarrhea, prevention of intestinal disease due to Clostridium difficile infection, treatment of acne and reduction of the treatment-related side effects of therapy for ulcers caused by Helicobacter pylori.
References
- USProbiotics.org: Probiotic Basics
- UMMC: Candidiasis
- MedlinePlus: Saccharomyces Boulardii
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Lactobacillus Acidophilus
- MayoClinic.com: Male yeast infection: Can I get it from my girlfriend?
- PubMed.gov: Consumption of Prebiotic Inulin Enriched With Oligofructose in Combination with the Probiotics Lactobacillus Rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium Lactis Has Minor Effects on Selected Immune Parameters in Polypectomised and Colon Cancer Patients
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