Can a Man Give a Woman a Yeast Infection?

A man can potentially give a woman a yeast infection through sexual contact if he has a yeast infection. A yeast infection happens when a specific type of fungus common in the human body, called Candida, overgrows. There are many different types of Candida, the most common of which is Candida albicans.

Anyone can develop a yeast infection on parts of the body where moisture and heat create the ideal environment for yeast to grow. This includes the vagina, anus, mouth, under the foreskin of the penis, and between other folds of skin.

This article discusses yeast infections in males and whether they can be passed to sexual partners. It also discusses simple ways to prevent yeast infections.

Yeast Infections After Sex

Each time a person has sex, they can potentially pass Candida to a sex partner. This is because this type of fungus commonly lives on the tongue, genitals, and other parts of the human body.

Candida is almost universal among humans, occurring in low numbers on the skin and in higher numbers in the respiratory, digestive, and female genital tract. When the yeast suddenly overgrows—typically when the immune system is weak—it can lead to the overgrowth of Candida and a yeast infection (otherwise known as candidiasis).

There are almost 200 species of Candida, of which five account for 90% of all yeast infections: Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida tropicalis, Candida parapsilosis, and Candida krusei. Of the five, C. albicans is the most common.

Candida is generally not considered contagious because every person already has it in their bodies. Even so, transmission is possible if a male with a penile yeast infection has vaginal or anal sex with a female sex partner.

The risk of transmission is greater if:

• The male partner is uncircumcised (because yeast thrives beneath the foreskin).
• The male partner has an active yeast infection causing balanitis (inflammation of the penis head) and/or posthitis (inflammation of the foreskin).

Because males are less likely than females to have a genital yeast infection, they may not consider themselves to be at risk of candidiasis. They may also fail to realize that their balanitis symptoms (itching, swelling, rash, and a cottage cheese-like discharge) are related to candidiasis.

Despite its potential to be passed during sex, a yeast infection is not considered a sexually transmitted infection (STI) because there are other lifestyle factors and health conditions that can lead to infection independent of sex.

Actual Risk of Infection

Having a penile yeast infection doesn’t mean you will transmit the infection during sex. This is because the mere passing of Candida does not mean that it will suddenly proliferate in its new environment in another person.

In most cases, the immune system will keep the natural balance of yeast and bacteria in the vaginal at normal levels. It is only when the immune defenses are low that the fungus might suddenly overgrow.

Certain factors can increase the risk of a yeast infection in the female partner:

• Stress (which lowers a person's immunity)
• Antibiotic drugs (which suppress bacteria levels in the vagina)
• Hormonal replacement therapy (which alters the balance of the vaginal flora)
• Steroid drugs and other immunosuppressants (that impair the immune system)
• Vaginal douching (which can strip "good" bacteria from the vagina)

Given these variables, the risk of infection is considered low unless the criteria for transmission—both in the male partner with a yeast infection and the female partner who is vulnerable to a yeast infection—are met.

If transmission and infection were to occur, symptoms would likely develop within a few days to a week after sex.

Other Risk Factors of Yeast Infection

Some preexisting conditions can predispose a person to a yeast infection. Risk factors include immunodeficiency, pregnancy, or diabetes.

There are also dietary and hygiene issues that can increase the risk of yeast infections. Unlike immunodeficiency or diabetes, these risk factors are modifiable (meaning you can change them). 

Lifestyle factors that can make someone more susceptible to yeast infections include:

• Wearing the same unwashed underwear over multiple days 
• Sharing underwear with someone who has a genital or anal yeast infection
• Sharing a toothbrush with someone who has oral thrush
• Not bathing thoroughly
• Not changing clothing after sweating profusely
• Sitting for extended periods of time in wet clothing or a wet swimsuit
  

Oral Thrush

Oral thrush is a yeast infection of the mouth and throat. People develop oral thrush for various reasons, including poor dental hygiene, dry mouth (xerostomia), or treatment with antibiotics or inhaled steroids.

People with a compromised immune system (such as people with HIV, organ transplant recipients, or those on chemotherapy) are also at risk of oral thrush.

While oral thrush is mainly caused by the overgrowth of Candida, it is possible to pass a penile yeast infection to a partner’s mouth or throat during oral-penile sex (a "blowjob"). It may also be possible to pass a vaginal or anal yeast infection during oral-vaginal sex (cunnilingus) or oral-anal sex ("rimming").

However, it remains unclear how great the risk of transmission actually is. Despite the fact that 20% to 50% of healthy people have Candida in their mouths and throats, an older study involving 1,025 people found no clear association between oral sex and candidiasis.

Another study published in Sexually Transmitted Diseases in 2019 suggested that oral-vaginal sex could be a risk factor for a vaginal yeast infection in females whose vaginal flora was dominated by a bacteria called Lactobacillus crispatus. L. crispatus is thought to be protective against many STIs but is associated with a higher population of C. albicans in the vagina.

How to Prevent a Yeast Infection

Whatever the actual risk of transmission may be, consider these preventive techniques to avoid getting or spreading a yeast infection:

• Wear condoms or dental dams.
• Abstain from sex until a yeast infection is resolved.
• Wash your body regularly with unscented soap and water.
• Avoid a diet that is high in sugar.
• Wear loose, breathable clothing.
• Wear cotton underwear instead of polyester or synthetic fabrics.
• Shower and change clothes after exercising.

Summary

It is possible for a man to give a yeast infection to a sexual partner, but the risk is low. A yeast infection is caused by an organism called Candida albicans, which naturally lives in warm, moist parts of the human body. The infection occurs when Candida overgrows.

Candida is not considered a sexually transmitted infection. It can overgrow for a number of reasons, including immunodeficiency, pregnancy, or poor hygiene. You may be able to prevent a yeast infection by wearing clean, dry underwear, loose clothing, and natural fabrics. Avoid sexual contact with someone who has a yeast infection until the infection has resolved.

A Word From Verywell

Even though yeast infections may be transmitted sexually, that is not the main reason women get yeast infections, and it is certainly not the riskiest infection that a male partner can give you. If you are concerned that your partner could give you a sexually transmitted infection, protect yourself by either avoiding sex until he is treated or he should use a male condom to reduce your risk.

— MONIQUE RAINFORD, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD