Patient's question:
I got married last year. Recently, I've been experiencing lower abdominal pain, especially during my period. I'm very worried about it affecting my fertility, and I'm also extremely sensitive to cold and cold drafts. What should men do if they have candidiasis (yeast infection)?Doctor's answer:
Hello, it is recommended that you and your husband check and confirm the diagnosis before deciding on a treatment plan. Common medications for candidiasis include nystatin suppositories, one suppository per night (10,000 units), inserted deep into the vagina, with a 10-day course being one treatment. At the same time, you can take fluconazole tablets for one week. After completing the course, it is necessary to go to the hospital for a follow-up to determine whether further medication is needed. While paying attention to keeping the external genital area clean, your husband should clean his penis before sexual activity. Treatment for candidiasis can be done using either purely Western medicine or a combination of Chinese and Western medicine.(1) General treatment: Actively treat other diseases that can cause candidiasis and eliminate predisposing factors. Keep the external genital area clean and dry, and avoid scratching. Sexual activity should be avoided during treatment. Avoid spicy and irritating foods.
(2) Changing the vaginal pH: The optimal pH for the growth of Candida is 5.5. Therefore, using alkaline solutions to rinse the external genital area and vagina can alter the vaginal pH, inhibiting the growth and reproduction of Candida. You can use a 2%–4% baking soda solution to rinse the vagina once or twice daily, with a 2-week course being one treatment. After rinsing, dry the external genital area to keep it dry, which helps inhibit the growth of Candida.
(3) Vaginal medication: Using imidazole suppositories for vaginal medication is very effective for candidiasis. Clotrimazole suppositories, one per night, are inserted into the vagina after rinsing, with a 10–14-day course being one treatment; or Daktarin suppositories, one per night, are applied to the vagina after rinsing, with a 7-day course being one treatment.
(4) External ointments: Applying clotrimazole ointment or Daktarin ointment externally can treat external genital inflammation caused by Candida infection and relieve itching and pain in the external genital area. Apply externally several times a day for 2 weeks. Eucerin ointment, which contains econazole as the main ingredient and a small amount of topical steroid, has a good anti-itch effect and is especially suitable for those with Candida external genital inflammation or vaginal inflammation with severe itching and pain. Apply to the external genital area once in the morning and once in the evening.
(5) Oral medication: Since Candida infection can be transmitted between partners through sexual activity, oral medication can be used to treat both partners. Oral medication can also inhibit intestinal Candida. Fluconazole oral: Take 150 mg once. Or Sporanox oral: If it is a first-time infection of vaginal Candida, take 200 mg once in the morning and evening, for only one day; if it is recurrent candidiasis, the dose of Sporanox needs to be increased. You can take 200 mg once daily for 3 days, or take 100 mg twice daily for 3 days. All medication should be taken after meals.