Mushroom on testicle

What is a fungus on the testicles?

A fungus on the testicles is an infection of the skin with a genital fungus (mycosis). In most cases it is a yeast fungus of the genus Candida albicans, which causes a vaginal fungus in women. The infection mainly affects the upper layers of the skin, where the protein keratin occurs, on which the yeast fungus mainly feeds.

Compared to women, mycosis in the genital area occurs relatively rarely in men. Those affected notice that the skin on the testicles reddens and itches, and other annoying symptoms can also occur. The treatment of a testicular mycosis is carried out by means of a drug therapy

What are the causes of fungus on the testicles?

The most common pathogen of a fungal infection of the testicles and genitals is the yeast fungus Candida albicans. This fungus is sometimes also found in the mouth and intestines of healthy people, where it is part of the natural flora and has no significance as a pathogen. However, if the milieu factors are favorable, the fungus can spread and cause an infection on the genitals.

Normally, the skin is relatively well protected against infections by the natural bacterial flora. Because the skin is extremely densely populated with microorganisms, disease-causing germs cannot multiply on the skin surface. If the natural balance of the skin is disturbed, fungi or bacteria can break through the skin’s protective mechanisms and cause infections.

Therefore, treatment with antibiotics is one of the most common triggers of fungal colonization of the skin. Also cortisone or other immunomodulating drugs, which suppress the body’s defense functions, often cause mycoses. Especially men with a weakened immune system (for example in chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, HIV or persons with immunosuppressive therapy after organ transplantation) are particularly susceptible to fungal infections of the skin and mucous membranes.

However, a humid environment also offers ideal growth conditions for the yeast fungus, which means that the germs like to colonize the testicles. Underwear or sports pants made of synthetic fibres make the skin breathe poorly, which causes moisture to accumulate and a fungus to settle more easily. A narrowing of the foreskin is also a risk factor for a fungal infection, as it restricts hygiene at the glans and the disease can spread from there to the testicles. In general, lack of hygiene is a contributing factor to the disease. In very rare cases, an infection can also occur through sexual intercourse with a woman who has contracted a vaginal mycosis.