Can a Man Spread a Yeast Infection to a Woman?

It’s safe to say that yeast infections are most commonly associated with women and those who have been assigned female at birth (AFAB). [1] And while it’s true that vaginal yeast infections are more prevalent than penile yeast infections—or candidal balanitis, as they’re technically called—men and people assigned male at birth (AMAB) are susceptible to yeast infections as well. [2]

This begs the question: Can a man spread a yeast infection to a woman?

In a word: yes, but the risk of passing a vaginal yeast infection is low. [3, 4] Here’s why, and the steps you can take to protect your and your partner’s sexual health from this vaginal infection.

What Are Male Yeast Infections?

Male yeast infections are caused in precisely the same way as a vaginal yeast infection: Both are due to an overgrowth of Candida (usually Candida albicans), a yeast that exists naturally throughout the body and has a hand in both digestion and the proper absorption of nutrients. [5]

As natural as candida can be, it can run rampant under certain conditions (a topic we’ll peer at below). This overgrowth causes an imbalance of healthy, good bacteria and yeasts wherever candida are present, including the [5]:

• Skin
• Mouth
• Nail beds
• Genitals

You may rarely hear “yeast infection” and “male” in the same sentence, but roughly 1 in every 25 men/people AMAB will develop a yeast infection at some point in their lives. [2]

What Are the Symptoms of a Male Yeast Infection?

The symptoms of candidal balanitis bear some resemblance to vaginal yeast infections. They’re typically marked by [2]:

• Pain, redness, and swelling in the groin area
• Foul-smelling discharge and/or discharge that’s white, thick, and chunky in appearance
• Blisters and sores on the penis
• Peeling skin
• Itching, burning, and general irritation, particularly underneath the foreskin and on the head of the penis

What Are the Risk Factors of a Male Yeast Infection?

Any male or person AMAB may be susceptible to a yeast infection by virtue of the fact that we all have candida in our bodies. [2]

That said, there are several risk factors involved with candidal balanitis [2]:

• Uncircumcised people, as candida thrive in warm, moist areas
• People with phimosis, a condition in uncircumcised people in which the foreskin cannot be pulled back [2]

Additionally, the following lifestyle habits and health conditions may increase your vulnerability to recurrent yeast infections [2]:

• Obesity
• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Diabetes
• A weakened immune system
• Damaged or irritated skin
• Poor hygiene and/or not thoroughly cleansing the foreskin
• Not drying off completely—again, because candida flourishes in damp areas

You might also be at a heightened risk of a yeast infection if you’ve recently completed a round of antibiotics. [2]

Yeast Infections and Sex

As mentioned, a yeast infection can be passed from a male/person AMAB to a woman/person AFAB during sexual activity and vice versa. [3] This is because yeast can grow in any moist pocket of the body. Meaning, if you have an imbalance of candida, your partner may develop an imbalance as well.

The risk of getting a yeast infection after sex is deemed low. [4] To wit: approximately 15% of men may get a rash on their penis after having sexual intercourse with a woman who has a yeast infection. [4] It’s also not generally advised for women who have yeast infections to engage in sexual intercourse. But should you have sex if you have a yeast infection?

Only you can make that call. However, it’s important to know that having sex while managing a yeast infection may:

• Exacerbate your symptoms – Burning, itching, and irritation all might worsen during and after sex [7]
• Prolong your yeast infection – Having sex may also make it more difficult for your yeast infection to heal—and chances are you’d like to clear it up as soon as possible [8]

Further, yeast infections are often treated with topical lotions, ointments, and creams. This extra slippage, if you will, may cause your condom to break. [2]

To be clear, a yeast infection is not a sexually transmitted infection, even if the symptoms of some STIs mimic those that are seen in yeast infections. [4] And yet, you may want to hold off until your yeast infection is resolved—for your health, yes, but also for your partner’s.

How Are Male Yeast Infections Treated?

Providers often treat candidal balanitis with either an oral antifungal medication or a topical antifungal treatment like [2]:

• Miconazole
• Nystatin
• Clotrimazole

Depending on the severity of your symptoms, your healthcare provider or physician may also prescribe a steroid cream.

Treatment is vital, as an untreated male yeast infection may result in [2]:

• An increased risk of penile cancer
• Scarring
• Narrowing of the penis
• Blood supply issues to the penis’s tip

This isn’t mentioned to daunt you; rather, it’s included here to remind you of the importance of taking care of your sexual health—genital, sexual, and otherwise.

Enhance Your Sexual Wellbeing with Everlywell

“Can a man spread a yeast infection to a woman?” It’s a valid, fundamental question, whether it’s you or your partner who has a yeast infection. Luckily, the risk for transmission between men and women is generally low, and most clinical guidelines advise refraining from intercourse while you have a yeast infection. However, you may find sex much more pleasurable after your yeast infection has cleared.

If you think you or your partner may have a yeast infection, Everlywell can help. More than 1 million people have used our tests and digital platform to manage their health and wellness, including fast, online yeast infection treatment.

Visit Everlywell to learn more, and feel the empowerment that arrives when you take your health and wellness into your own hands.

1. Vaginal yeast infection: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. Last reviewed July 12, 2023. Accessed May 27, 2024. Medical Citation URL.
2. Male Yeast Infection. Cleveland Clinic. Last reviewed June 6, 2022. Accessed May 14, 2024. Medical Citation URL.
3. Men do not cause yeast infections in women, study finds. ScienceDaily. Published December 3, 2003. Accessed May 27, 2024. Medical Citation URL.
4. Vaginal Yeast Infections. Office on Women’s Health. Last reviewed February 22, 2021. Accessed May 14, 2024. Medical Citation URL.
5. Talapko J, Juzbašić M, Matijević T, et al. Candida albicans—The virulence factors and Clinical Manifestations of infection. Journal of Fungi. 2021;7(2):79. doi:10.3390/jof7020079. Accessed May 27, 2024. Medical Citation URL.
6. Phimosis. Cleveland Clinic. Accessed May 15, 2024. Medical Citation URL.
7. Sex during vaginal infection: is it harmful? Mayo Clinic. Last reviewed February 8, 2022. Accessed May 15, 2025. Medical Citation URL.
8. “Can I Have Sex When I Have a Yeast Infection?” Cleveland Clinic Essentials. Accessed May 15, 2024. Medical Citation URL.