Sex & jock itch
October 19, 2018 11:06 PM Subscribe
I am a woman whose new male partner has been dealing with jock itch (or another fungal condition) off and on for most of the last year, but who is currently asymptomatic. His last symptoms were 10 days ago. Should I have sex with him? If you're a woman whose partner has dealt with chronic jock itch, did you get it? Or, if you're a man who has had it, have you passed it to a partner? I know it can be passed to a sexual partner; my question is more about 1) the specifics of this situation and 2) your personal experience with it.
No. I've had UTIs and yeast infections because of this and did not have any before. Thankfully, I'm not dealing with that anymore, but then it was happening, it seemed like a painful, expensive endless cycle. If he is unable to take care of himself and get treatment, it says a lot of the kind of person he is. Unless he's been going to dermatologists and gotten STD tests and doctors and all and STILL can't..... them I'd consider him as TRYING. But that's not a good enough to have sex until it's cleared up. If it's annoying for him to deal with, imagine if you had to too. Not worth it.
posted by lunastellasol at 7:32 AM on October 20, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by lunastellasol at 7:32 AM on October 20, 2018 [7 favorites]
I would not. I got a yeast infection once because I did.
posted by hazel79 at 8:05 AM on October 20, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by hazel79 at 8:05 AM on October 20, 2018 [2 favorites]
Jock itch (ringworm, athlete’s foot) is contagious to both humans and pets. If he’s been dealing with it on and off for a year, what steps has he taken to alleviate it? Is he washing his clothes properly, changing them frequently enough, making sure to wash and treat the affected area as directed, making sure to clean his home (e.g. disinfecting the bathroom and the floors, washing his blankets, etc), seeing a doctor?
I wouldn’t sleep with the guy until he’s been clear for a month. Yeah, jock itch isn’t going to kill anyone with a healthy immune system, but it’s irritating and painful and takes a good couple weeks of Lamisil or whatever to get rid of. And that’s if you don’t get reinfected by someone who is currently infected.
I agree with lunastellasol that someone who is at least trying to get rid of it is one thing. But if he’s just like “Yeah, it sucks, I keep a tube of antifungal around” while still wearing his underwear three days in a row, or not washing his gym shorts, or letting his bathroom fester, or whatever might be going on, that would be a sign to exit stage left.
posted by Autumnheart at 8:12 AM on October 20, 2018 [7 favorites]
I wouldn’t sleep with the guy until he’s been clear for a month. Yeah, jock itch isn’t going to kill anyone with a healthy immune system, but it’s irritating and painful and takes a good couple weeks of Lamisil or whatever to get rid of. And that’s if you don’t get reinfected by someone who is currently infected.
I agree with lunastellasol that someone who is at least trying to get rid of it is one thing. But if he’s just like “Yeah, it sucks, I keep a tube of antifungal around” while still wearing his underwear three days in a row, or not washing his gym shorts, or letting his bathroom fester, or whatever might be going on, that would be a sign to exit stage left.
posted by Autumnheart at 8:12 AM on October 20, 2018 [7 favorites]
On and off for a year? No. I no would not do this. You could get a yeast infection or you could also get the jock itch infection. Fungus loves warm, moist skin
creases and it sounds like the infection he has is tenacious. 10 days is not nearly enough time to be sure that he's cleared an infection he's been dealing with for year. I'd feel far more comfortable after he's seen a dermatologist, clearly explained all the treatments he's tried so far, and got advice and treatment from a professional. Then, a minimum of 30 days clear.
I'd also be very concerned about his towels and bedding if you're staying over. Like Autumnheart mentioned, this is hardly deadly if you have a functioning immune system, but a fungal infection isn't fun or comfortable to deal with.
posted by quince at 11:05 AM on October 20, 2018 [5 favorites]
creases and it sounds like the infection he has is tenacious. 10 days is not nearly enough time to be sure that he's cleared an infection he's been dealing with for year. I'd feel far more comfortable after he's seen a dermatologist, clearly explained all the treatments he's tried so far, and got advice and treatment from a professional. Then, a minimum of 30 days clear.
I'd also be very concerned about his towels and bedding if you're staying over. Like Autumnheart mentioned, this is hardly deadly if you have a functioning immune system, but a fungal infection isn't fun or comfortable to deal with.
posted by quince at 11:05 AM on October 20, 2018 [5 favorites]
In my experience with my husband's jock itch and my own athlete's foot, you have to keep treating it for a couple of weeks after the symptoms go away. And it definitely can transfer from him to you if it's still active. I even got it on my face once.
posted by wryly at 1:36 PM on October 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by wryly at 1:36 PM on October 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
OMG, you do not want this. Stay clear. I'd honestly have to 1) see that he was actively treating it/going to the doctor about it/medicating AND 2) have him be symptom-free for a month before I felt comfortable having skin contact. Especially if his has been hard to treat. Trust me. You don't want this.
posted by fiercecupcake at 9:43 AM on October 22, 2018
posted by fiercecupcake at 9:43 AM on October 22, 2018
This thread is closed to new comments.
Here's some more information from kinsey confidential
posted by bunderful at 5:39 AM on October 20, 2018 [3 favorites]