Penis Symptoms
Symptoms
DEFINITION
- Penis symptoms include rash, pain, discharge, itching and swelling
- Not due to a known injury
General Information
Here are some common causes of penis symptoms:
- Bladder infection (cystitis)
- Contact dermatitis (e.g., latex condoms, lubricants, spermicides, perfumed soaps)
- Irritation (small friction burns) after sexual intercourse or masturbation (inadequate lubrication)
- Poison ivy, oak, or sumac rash
- Priapism
- Skin cancer
- STD's (e.g., Herpes simplex, Syphilis, Chancroid, LGV, pubic lice, genital warts)
- Trauma
- Any preexisting skin disorders/rashes can also occur on the penis and scrotum (e.g., psoriasis, eczema, drug rashes)
Priapism
- Definition: Priapism is defined as an erection that lasts longer than 4 hours.
- Symptoms: Prolonged, unwanted, usually painful erection.
- Causes: Sickle cell anemia and certain medications.
- Treatment: Erections lasting longer than 4 hours may require specialized treatment in an emergency department.
See More Appropriate Topic (instead of this one) If
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Should I Call?
WHEN TO CALL YOUR DOCTOR
Call Your Doctor Now (night or day) If
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- You feel weak or very sick
- Large amount of blood from end of penis
- Not circumcised, and foreskin pulled back and became stuck around head of penis
- Fever and looks infected (e.g., draining sore, ulcer, rash is painful to touch)
- Fever and burning (pain) with urination
- Unable to urinate and your bladder feels very full
- Painful erection lasting more than 1 hour
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Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours (between 9 am and 4 pm) If
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- You think you need to be seen
- Burning or pain with urination
- Pus (white, yellow) or bloody discharge from end of penis
- Blood in urine
- Looks infected (e.g., draining sore, ulcer, rash is painful to touch)
- Rash with painful tiny water blisters
- Swollen foreskin (not circumcised)
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Call Your Doctor During Weekday Office Hours If
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- You have other questions or concerns
- You are worried you might have a sexually transmitted disease
- Blood in semen
- Painless rash (e.g., redness, tiny bumps, sore) that has been present more than 24 hours
- Antibiotic treatment longer than 3 days for STD (e.g., penile discharge from gonorrhea, chlamydia) and painful urination is not improving
- All other penis symptoms (exception: painless rash present less than 24 hours, mild itchiness)
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Self Care at Home If
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- Painless rash (e.g., redness, tiny bumps, sore) that has been present less than 24 hours, and you don't think you need to be seen
- Mild itchiness and no rash, and you don't think you need to be seen
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Care at Home
HOME CARE ADVICE FOR PENIS SYMPTOMS
- Causes of Mild Rash:
- Irritation from a chemical product: perfumed soaps, latex condoms.
- Irritation from a plant (e.g., poison ivy, evergreen), chemicals (e.g., insecticides), fiberglass, detergents.
- Early finding of sexually transmitted disease (STD).
- Small friction burns can occur from intercourse (if inadequate lubrication).
- Cleansing: Wash the area once thoroughly with unscented soap and water to remove any irritants.
- Genital Hygiene:
- Keep your penis and scrotal area clean. Wash once daily with un-scented soap and water.
- Keep your penis and scrotal area dry. Wear cotton underwear.
- Call Your Doctor If:
- Rash spreads or becomes worse
- Rash lasts more than one day
- Fever occurs
- You become worse
And remember, contact your doctor if you develop any of the "Call Your Doctor" symptoms.
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Photo Example
Pubic Lice
The photo shows pubic lice in the pubic hair of groin area. Pubic lice are tiny wingless insects that live only on human beings. The are also called "crabs".
Typical symptoms of pubic lice are:
- Itching of the pubic area is the main symptom.
- Pubic hair contains gray bugs (lice) 1/16-inch long, that move quickly, and are difficult to see.
- Nits (white or tan eggs) cemented to hair shafts near the skin (usually within 1/2 inch or 12 mm). Unlike dandruff or sand, nits can't be shaken off the hair shafts.
Pubic lice are very contagious:
- The primary mode of transmission is via the skin-to-skin contact that occurs during sexual intercourse. There is a 95% chance of transmission during a single episode of sexual intercourse.
- Rarely they can be transmitted via objects such as infected bed linens or toilet seats.
Source: CDC PHIL
From the CDC's Public Health Image Library (http://phil.cdc.gov), ID#4078, in the public domain.
Content Providers: CDC / Joe Miller.
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Author and Senior Reviewer: David A. Thompson, M.D. Clinical content review provided by Senior Reviewer and Healthpoint Medical Network.
Last Review Date: 6/1/2011
Last Revised: 5/28/2011
Content Set: Adult HouseCalls Symptom Checker
Version Year: 2012
Portions Copyright 2000-2012 Self Care Decisions LLC; Copyright LMS, Inc.
