Penile Inflammation

Inflammation of the Penis

Experiencing penile inflammation can be painful, annoying and embarrassing for a man. If you have an inflamed penis, it can be a sign of a serious medical condition or a very minor problem. In either case, treatment must be sought to ensure proper diagnosis.

You’ll be glad to learn that inflammation of the penis very rarely will interfere with sexual activity for a long period of time. However, you may be advised to abstain from intercourse during treatment and in some cases, where surgery is required, you will have to abstain during the healing process. Your doctor will advise you when it is safe to return to sexual activities.

When the glans, the cone shaped end of the penis, becomes inflamed, balanitis is the medical term which is used to describe the problem. When the foreskin, if the penis is not circumcised, becomes inflamed, posthitis is the medical term. In both cases, the cause is usually a yeast or bacterial infection. Men can get yeast infections just as do women. In fact, men and women often pass yeast infections back and forth so when treating a vaginal or penile yeast infection, both partners of a sexual relationship should be treated.

When balanitis or posthitis, inflammation of the glans or foreskin, are not treated, the painful itching, redness, swelling and irritation can result in eventual narrowing of the urethra. This is the tube through which urine and semen pass out of the penis and a constricted urethra can be a serious problem resulting in surgery. If these problems are untreated, additional medical disorders, even cancer, can result later in life.

If the skin near the tip of the penis becomes inflamed on a chronic basis, which means it remains inflamed all the time or most of the time, that skin can harden and begin to turn white. This is called balanitis xerotica obliterans, in medical terms. If untreated, the hardened skin can block the blow of urine and semen, resulting in the need for the urethra to be surgically reopened.

Solutions for Penile Inflammation

When a newborn male baby comes into the world, the foreskin is tight over the glans of the penis and can not easily be retracted. This condition, phimosis, is normal in a newborn or young child but circumcision removes the foreskin. If the penis is not circumcised, the foreskin will stretch and loosen prior to puberty in most cases. In a few men, phimosis can occur later in life if they are not circumcised and have experienced repeated penile inflammations. This can interfere with sexual activity, prevent orgasm, and cause serious infections. The most frequent solution is circumcision.

There are some other medical reasons for penile inflammation including cancer of the penis, but these are the most common reasons a healthy man might experience penis inflammation. If, for any reason, you experience inflammation of the penis, consult a doctor. The sooner the problem is correctly diagnosed the easier the treatment and the sooner your will experience relief.

To prevent inflammation of the penis, practice careful personal hygiene. If you are uncircumcised, clean underneath the foreskin with care to ensure there is no build up of bacteria. If you are circumcised, clean your penis after urination. Practice safe sex to prevent obtaining bacterial or yeast infections from sexual partners unless you are in a committed, monogamous relationship