Is Something Wrong with My Penis?
The idea of having a serious problem with your penis is one of the most frightening things to men if they think about it.
Fortunately, for most guys, we just swing along without a worry in the world. That is, until something isn’t right.
Then it’s total panic time!
So, what’s a guy to do when his schlong has something amiss?
Step One: DON’T PANIC!
Many issues between the legs can be resolved without major treatment, surgery, or terrifyingly invasive procedures.
Step Two: Take a Close Look
It’s critically important to take a deep breath and examine yourself thoroughly. Grab a mirror or use your phone’s camera if you are having trouble seeing something that you are concerned about. There is also nothing wrong with asking your partner or a trusted person in your life to help you look.
Step Three: Take Appropriate Action
We’ve listed a number of potential penis problems below. You can learn more by reading each section. However, this article is not meant as a substitute for professional medical advice.
Do I Need to See a Healthcare Provider?
If you have serious pain after trauma to your penis or if you have an erection that has lasted more than four hours, you may need immediate medical attention.
With the advent of telemedicine and having some medical appointments by phone or video call, it can be uncomfortable to sort out what to do. Some conditions may be dealt with by phone or video appointment, while other conditions require testing and are best conducted in person.
Many men feel embarrassed seeking help for any private area on their bodies. We’re conditioned not to talk about these things when we are very young. Do NOT let this stop you from talking with your healthcare team. Your doctor, and all medical professionals, are comfortable and trained to deal with all parts of the human body, including your genitals.
Below are a dozen of the problems that you may encounter as the proud owner of a penis. The majority of these issues do require interacting with a healthcare professional. We’ve indicated the standard course of action for each of the issues. In any event, if you feel your penis is in serious trouble, seek medical attention immediately.
1. Your Penis Refuses To Get or Stay Hard
READ THIS CAREFULLY: Almost every man, at some point in his life, will be unable to achieve or maintain an erection
In other words, every guy has a point when he can’t get it up, or it goes floppy when you don’t want it dangling downward.
There are a million reasons that erectile dysfunction may happen.
If this is the first time this has happened to you, take a deep breath. It’s normal. Yes, it might be a little embarrassing or confusing, but don’t freak out.
Lots of factors can contribute to a first-time limp pecker. Stress, anxiety, or uncertainty are often the reason. The most important thing is to talk with your partner. If they won’t talk or are condescending, then the relationship might be the issue.
A change in prescription medications can also cause erectile dysfunction. You need to contact your doctor to explore options.
If you haven’t had any changes in medicine and you are finding yourself having more and more issues with getting and staying hard, the first step is often to look at lifestyle changes and see if you can resolve the issue.
Explore our post, 15 Ways to Make Your Penis Harder and Happier, to learn more about simple changes you can make without medical intervention.
If you have tried some of the recommendations in that post, then it is time to talk with your healthcare provider.
2. Your Penis Won’t Go Soft
If your dick has been hard for four hours or more, then you need to seek immediate medical attention. It may sound like a great thing to stay hard, but in reality, it is seriously problematic.
The medical term for what is happening to you is priapism, and you need to deal with it ASAP. Blood has become trapped in your penis. If you do not deal with it quickly, you could develop long-term issues with erectile dysfunction and scarring.
Emergency treatment may include using a needle to drain the blood from your penis, medications that shrink your blood vessels, and ice packs to help reduce swelling.
Priapism can be caused by medications, various medical conditions, spinal cord issues, and alcohol or drug abuse.
The quicker that you deal with an erection that won’t go down, the better your odds of recovering without long-term issues.
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TREAT PRIAPISM ON YOUR OWN. SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY!
3. Your Penis Is Bending Unusually
Very few penises are perfectly straight and symmetrical. If yours seems to be bending slightly more than usual, you may have developed Peyronie’s disease, It can also manifest by making your penis have an hourglass shape, and may actually shorten your favorite appendage.
Peyronie’s occurs when scar tissue forms in the penis and causes it to bend. This scar tissue is called plaque but is not the same plaque that builds up in your arteries or on your teeth. The plaque feels like flat lumps or bands of hard tissue.
Often getting an erection with Peyronie’s is painful, and is often one of the first symptoms you may experience. Pain is often the reason many men finally seek treatment.
Experts believe that around 10% of men will experience Peyronie’s. However, that number may be higher as some men may not seek treatment because they are not experiencing serious pain and/or the curvature is not extreme.
Similar to other issues with the penis, the sooner you make an appointment to be examined by a healthcare professional, the more likely you are to avoid long-term issues.
4. Your Foreskin is Stuck
A man’s foreskin can be stuck in one of two positions that are cause for medical intervention.
If your foreskin will not retract and come back over your penis head, then you likely have a condition known as Phimosis.
Phimosis is most common in young males and is not a critical issue until adolescence. For older men whose foreskin has suddenly stopped retracting, medical care is sometimes required.
The two most common treatments are steroid creams to help loosen the foreskin and circumcision.
If your foreskin gets stuck behind the ridge of the head of your penis for a long period of time, you are likely experiencing paraphimosis. Medical intervention will be needed as soon as possible.
Not treating paraphimosis in a timely manner can lead to infections, damage to the tip of the dick, and even tissue loss.
Treatment options include ice to reduce swelling, injections to help drain the penis, and in some cases, circumcision.
5. Your Penis Head is Swollen or Really Itchy
Every man’s pecker loves to get big and get some repetitive attention. However, if your penis head is unusually swollen, you likely have an issue that will need medical help. This condition is called Balanitis
If you are uncircumcised and your foreskin is also inflamed, you likely have a condition known as balanoposthitis.
These conditions can also include pain, rashes, strong-smelling odors, and discharge.
Because of the wide variety of causes and treatments, you need to make an appointment with your medical professional soon.
Some of the potential causes of balanitis and balanoposthitis include poor hygiene, yeast infections (a.k.a. thrush or a fungal infection), and sexually transmitted diseases.
Treatments may include topical ointments, antibiotics, improved hygiene, and in extreme cases, circumcision.
6. You Have Bumps on Your Penis Shaft
While some condoms are ribbed for her pleasure, your cock should have little bumps on it. If it does, you may have genital warts.
These warts are most commonly caused by human papillomavirus, commonly known as HPV. Unlike some sexually transmitted diseases, there is no cure for HPV.
However, there are many treatments for these warts. These include freezing the warts (cryotherapy), ointments, acid, and surgery. As the wart may resolve and disappear after a few years, you can also skip treatments.
HPV can be a frustrating condition as you may not show any symptoms for years after contracting it.
In any event, you need to discuss your situation with your doctor. HPV is known to cause cancer of the vulva, vagina, penis, or anus.
Fortunately, a vaccine for HPV is available. It is recommended for all men under 26 years of age. If you are over 26, it is best to discuss the vaccine with a healthcare professional to assess your risk and potential complications.
7. You Have Bumps on Your Balls
A diagnosis of testicular cancer is a life-altering event. Like other forms of cancer, the earlier it is detected, the more positive the treatment outcomes. 99% of testicular cancer cases are curable if caught early.
Because of this, experts highly recommend that every man examine his testicles thoroughly at least once per month. The best place is in a warm shower or bath when you’re relaxed, and your balls hang furthest away from your body.
Hard painless lumps, bumps, or masses on your nuts are telltale signs of testicular cancer.
If you feel any anomalies when performing a self-examination, contact your healthcare provider for an appointment.
8. You’ve Discovered a Weird Soft Patch of Skin.
If testicular cancer isn’t scary enough, penis-possessing persons can also develop Penile Cancer.
It’s always wise to monitor your genitals for any unusual changes.
If you notice a patch on your penis is red and inflamed right below the head, it’s time to do some investigation. Often times chaffing can occur on the penis. This can be caused by masturbating without lubrication, teeth dragging along the penis during oral sex, a partner who needs more lubrication, or even rubbing the wrong way in your shorts.
As a general rule, if the patch of red skin is tender or painful, you’ve got an issue with your dick getting rubbed raw.
If the patch is not sensitive and you’ve not been doing much to stimulate your cock, then it’s time to talk with your doctor.
Penile cancer is not something to be messed with or ignored. If you catch it early enough, topical treatments may cure it! If you have to have cock cancer, just rubbing some ointment on it would be the way to go! Caught early, some cases may still require minor surgery to remove the cancerous cells.
However, if you wait too long, you could lose your penis.
Other signs to watch out for that could also indicate penile cancer include:
- Bluish-brown growths on your dick
- Crusty or crunchy bumps or a rash that looks like a scab
- Changing skin thickness or color – your penis is not a chameleon!
- A nasty, foul-smelling discharge beneath the foreskin
- Swelling of the head
- Lumps beneath the skin in your groin
9. You Started Peeing Blood
If you are peeing blood, call your medical professional.
It is not unusual for kidney stones or an enlarged prostate to cause some blood to appear in your urine. Each of these conditions should be monitored by your doctor. It’s worth noting that bladder cancer can also cause blood in your urine.
Sometimes men don’t notice the blood initially urinating, but notice some blood spot in their underwear. If this happens, you need to check your genitals for little blue or red spots.
If you notice a bunch of spots, either alone or clumped together, you likely have developed angiokeratomas. This is a condition where blood vessels near the surface of your skin have widened or dilated. While angiokeratomas is usually harmless, it occasionally can indicate other medical conditions. It’s best to have it examined by a medical professional.
10. Your Penile Discharge Changed
If you are at all familiar with that thing hanging between your legs, then you know there are a number of times that liquids come out, and generally, it feels good.
You urinate. Your penis leaks pre-cum when you are aroused. It fires off semen when appropriately stimulated. Hopefully, you are engaging in activities that provide a reasonable ejaculation frequency to keep yourself healthy and happy. Even if you are not in a sexual relationship, it’s useful to masturbate regularly. If your upbringing has you feeling guilty about solo sexual activity, it may be time to see a sex therapist to help ensure your overall and sexual health.
Whether you are always aware or not, you are familiar with the color, consistency, smell, and experience of each of these types of discharge. When any of those change, it’s time to take stock and figure it out.
If it becomes painful to pee, then you may have a sexually transmitted disease or urinary tract infection. Stop any sexual interaction with your partner until you’ve been tested and diagnosed.
Penile discharge can also be indicative of other conditions, including Urethritis (inflammation of the urethra), prostatitis, or balanitis.
11. Your Penis Head Feels Like It’s Being Squeezed
If you’ve ever tried to wedge yourself into an article of clothing that is too small, you know the sensation is uncomfortable.
A condition called Male Genital Lichen Sclerosus can make the head of your penis feel like being squeezed tightly, like under-sized clothing. Small white spots may also be present. Feeling like you have to push really hard to urinate can also occur.
You need to make an appointment to see your doctor soon. If left untreated, lichen sclerosis can lead to a completely blocked urinary tract. When that happens, you’re likely to end up in the emergency room.
12. You Found Spots on Your Pecker
While many people enjoy a traditional spotted dick, spots on your dick should concern you.
Don’t panic when you first notice them. Many harmless irritants in the environment can cause them. Consider whether you’ve changed any laundry products recently, and change back to your previous brands.
The spots may also be ingrown hairs. You can treat these at home by applying a warm washcloth for about a minute or two, three times a day.
The spots could also be a side effect of certain medicines. If your doctor has recently prescribed you a new medication, then contact your doctor to discuss the spots on your penis as a possible side effect of the change. Your doctor may want you to come for an examination to ensure that the spots are not something other than a side effect.
If you’ve had unprotected sex, a number of sexually transmitted infections, including syphilis and genital herpes, can also cause spots. You’ll need an appointment with your medical professional to start down the proper treatment path for any STI.
Until you have confirmed what the spots on your dick are, you need to refrain from sexual activity with your partner.
What Increases Your Odds of Pecker Problems?
Many guys never think about the potential of having a penis problem, until the problem shows up and scares the shit out of them. Unfortunately, some factors in life simply up your odds of developing an issue with your genitals, including:
- Getting older – Aging is a fact of life, and it beats the alternative. Part of the process sadly includes testosterone levels decreasing, increasing risks of erectile dysfunction, reduced penile sensitivity, less intense orgasms, and decreased force of ejaculation.
- Neurological conditions – Your nervous system is an amazing thing, but when there are problems, it can affect your penis and sexual well-being. These include injuries to your back or spinal cord, stroke, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and multiple sclerosis.
- Prostate cancer treatment. A radical prostatectomy (or surgical removal of the prostate gland) and surrounding tissues may save your life, but it can also lead to erectile dysfunction.
Other factors in your life may be more challenging to deal with, but might be modifiable. It could take talking with your doctor or seeking mental health advice.
- Psychological factors – Depression, anxiety, excessive stress, or other mental health conditions can contribute to problems with your sexual well-being. Being aware of the problems and seeking help is critical. You also need to be cognizant of behaviors that could lead to unsafe sexual encounters.
- Medications – Possible side effects exist for all medications, and some of those unwanted byproducts can negatively impact your penis. Prescription drugs for high blood pressure, ulcers, sleep issues, prostate cancer, or any psychological issue such as depression or anxiety are notorious for causing penis problems.
- Heart disease, diabetes, and related conditions – Any problems with your blood circulation system can up increase the risk of developing erectile dysfunction.
Fortunately for most men, keeping your penis healthy and happy relies on lifestyle choices. With the right choices and actions, you’ll have a stiff willy that can go the distance! Keeping reading to see what you can do before you develop any penis problems.
What can I do to keep my penis healthy?
Luckily, some problems can be affected by lifestyle factors. You can minimize the probability of needing medical treatment for your cock by changing a few things, such as
- Quit Smoking – It shouldn’t come as a surprise that smoking is detrimental to your entire physical health – including your penis. If you haven’t been able to quit smoking for other reasons, then it’s time to do it for your dick!
- Moderate Your Alcohol Intake – While modern medicine debates whether a glass here or a bit there is good or bad, one thing we know 100% for sure is that too much booze is not good for your sexual health.
- Improve Your Diet – Your dick does not need another Ding-Dong. Improving your diet not only improves your physical health, but it can also enhance your sexual well-being and help you from developing many penis problems.
- Get Moving – Your overall physical fitness impacts your penis in a huge way. Exercising and keeping physically fit heads off all kinds of medical and psychological problems.
- Practice Safe Sex – You’ve heard it before, but we’re saying it again WRAP YOUR WILLY! Some sexually transmitted infections can be resolved, but others cannot. And any STI is the last thing your dick desires.
- Skip the Penis Piercings and Tattoos – Certain parts of your body are simply not designed to be pierced or repeatedly stabbed with an ink needle. The risk of infection or injury could lead to infections, erectile dysfunction, and inability to achieve an orgasm!
- Keep Your Penis Clean – Nobody likes a dirty dick, and a cruddy cock can lead to all kinds of medical problems for your penis. If you are uncircumcised, regularly use soap and water to clean beneath your foreskin. Be sure to rinse well, as soap residue can be irritating.
- Get vaccinated. Talk to your doctor about getting the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
- Regular Medical Checkups – Your doctor’s job is to help keep you healthy and identify problems before they become critical issues. Always chat with your doctor about any changes to your sexual function or genitals.
Most importantly, you need to be great friends with your penis. You love him, and he loves you! The more you know about your own body and your sexual health, the more likely you are to identify problems before they become critical issues.
