Symptoms of Jock Itch
The most common symptom of this fungal infection is a rash with the following characteristics:
- It spreads, beginning in the crease of the groin and moving down the buttocks and upper thigh
- Its center clears as its spreads
- It may be partially or fully ring shaped
- It is bordered with small blisters
- It may be gray, brown, purple, or red depending on your skin color
Additional symptoms include:
- Itchiness
- Scaly skin
Jock itch may require medical care if the rash becomes painful, a fever develops, it does not improve after one week of treatment with over the counter antifungal products, or it has not fully healed after three weeks of treatment.
Considerations for Sex
Jock itch is not a sexually transmitted infection, however, it is an infection that can be passed from one person to another during sexual contact.
“It's a good idea to avoid having intercourse until you have the all clear” says Vicki Lyons, Sexual Wellness Expert & Chief Editor at Bodyjoys.
In addition to the risk of passing the rash onto a partner, Lyons warns that sexual activity might actually make jock itch worse. “The kind of friction and moist atmosphere created through sex can exacerbate the symptoms for the person who has the condition too, meaning it can become more painful, itchy and take longer to recover from.”
Talking to your partner about it
When it comes to passing the condition on to a partner, it’s not just skin to skin contact or fluid sharing you need to think about.