Are you worried about going to the doctor about your genitals?
Problems with your genitals can be embarrassing to talk about. But if something isn’t right, it’s important to know the cause and get it sorted before it has the chance to get worse.
We’re here to help! Read on to learn about 6 common problems with the male genitals, and what to do about them.
1. Priapism
Priapism is a prolonged and painful erection. This can even happen at times when you don’t want to have sex. This condition tends to affect men in their 30s the most.
But it is treatable and you should get it treated right away. If you don’t, long-term effects can result in problems maintaining an erection. You can get Priapism as a result of:
- Side effects from drugs that treat erection problems or depression
- Blood clot disorders
- Mental health issues
- Blood disorders like sickle cell anemia and leukemia
- Alcohol use
- Using illegal drugs
- Injury to the penis or spine
2. Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
Although UTIs are more common in women, 12% of men will get one in their lifetime.
If you have a UTI, one of the major signs is a burning sensation while you’re urinating. Just as common is experiencing pain in the pelvis or lower abdomen. Other symptoms might be:
- Needing to pee more often
- Chills or a fever
- Changes in smell or color of your urine
- Lower abdominal pain when walking
- Pain in your sides and lower back
If you experience any of these, go to your doctor. If caught early, UTIs can be easily treated with a short course of antibiotics, allowing you to recover fully without any long-term effects.
3. Kidney Stones
Over time, minerals and salts can build up in your kidneys. If you body has problems flushing them out, then these minerals can start to form together, crystallize and become kidney stones.
Although the stones are normally benign, you will know about it if your body tries to flush one out! Pain in the lower back and pelvis are common. Other symptoms include blood in your urine and difficulty urinating.
If you have a history of kidney stones, be on the lookout for these symptoms. Your doctor will give you pain medication to manage the pain while you pass them out. If your stones are too large to pass naturally, then your doctor can attempt to break up the stones into more manageable pieces without surgery. So the quicker the better!
4. Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI)
Many STIs like chlamydia and gonorrhea also cause pain in the pelvic area.
In 2018 alone, there were 1.8 million new cases of chlamydia and 820,000 new infections of gonorrhea, so if you are suffering, you aren’t alone.
There are a number of STIs that cause genital issues, but systems to watch out for include:
- Pelvic pain
- Penile discharge
- Pain while urinating
- Inflammation of the urethra
Remember that STI’s aren’t limited to the penis. Some, such as Chlamydia can spread to the anus or rectum causing pain there as well.
If you fear you may have an STI, it is important to get it treated as soon as possible. Even if you aren’t suffering too much, you are in danger of the infection spreading. The same bacteria that causes chlamydia can also cause lymphogranuloma venereum, which is contagious and much harder to treat.
Some STIs are becoming resistant to treatment, so it is important that you follow your doctor’s instructions for treatment.
5. Prostatitis
Prostatitis is the catch-all term for inflammation of the prostate. This is the small gland that produces some of the fluid that goes into semen. It sits at the top of your urethra next to your rectum. There are a few types of prostatitis, including:
Acute Prostatitis
Acute Bacterial Prostatitis is caused by a bacterial infection of the prostate. Bacteria is able to travel up the urethra and then multiply in the prostate. While the bacteria migrate, it can cause pain to the pelvis, lower back and groin area.
It can also cause pain to the testicles and penis. Other symptoms can include:
- Burning feeling when urinating
- Chills or fever
- Vomiting or nausea
- Difficulty passing urine
- Needing to urinate more often
- Urinary blockages or not being able to urinate at all
- Broken or weak urine flow
- Pain when ejaculating
Bacterial infections in the prostate are serious and can continue to spread or cause long-lasting damage. You should seek immediate medical care from your doctor. If caught early enough, they’re easy to treat with a course of antibiotics.
Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis
This type is a recurring prostate infection. Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis has similar symptoms to the acute type, but they can present less severely.
But just because it is less painful doesn’t mean you can avoid a trip to the doctors, however. Without treatment, the infection will continue to flare up. Like acute prostatitis, a course of low-dosage antibiotics may be given. Or your doctor may prescribe a combination of antibiotics over an extended period.
If chronic prostatitis is giving you difficulty or an inability to urinate, your doctor might give you alpha-blockers. This medicine will relax your bladder and nearby muscles. In some more extreme cases, surgery might be recommended.
6. Frenulum Breve
The frenulum is the elastic band of skin between the shaft of the penis and the glans. Everyone’s frenulum is different, but if you have an overly tight or short frenulum then you may be prone to bleeding, painful erections, and premature ejaculation.
There are two options to resolve a tight frenulum, and although they may sound drastic, both are quick and easy. A frenectomy is the removal of the tissue that is causing the restriction. A frenuloplasty lengthens the frenulum, relieving the symptoms. You can find out more here.
Medical Issues with Male Genitals
As you can see, there are a number of conditions that can cause problems for the male genitals. The important thing is to remember that there is nothing embarrassing about seeing your doctor about your genitals. They have seen it all before, and the earlier you get treatment the better the results.
If you found this post useful, be sure to check out our other articles.