Penile soreness or pain can affect the base, shaft, or head of the penis, as well as the foreskin. It may involve an itching, burning, or throbbing sensation and result from an injury, infection, or condition.
Penis pain can vary depending on the cause. If you have an injury, the pain may be severe and occur suddenly. If you have an infection or condition, the pain may be mild and get worse gradually.
Any type of penis pain is concerning, particularly if it occurs during an erection, prevents urination, or occurs along with discharge, sores, redness, or swelling.
The following sections outline some possible causes of penis pain and their treatments.
Peyronie’s disease starts when inflammation causes a thin sheet of scar tissue, called plaque, to form along the upper or lower ridges of the shaft of the penis. Because the scar tissue forms next to the tissue that becomes hard during an erection, you may notice that your penis bends when it’s erect.
Peyronie’s disease can happen due to:
- bleeding inside the penis that starts after you bend or hit it
- a connective tissue disorder
- inflammation of your lymphatic system or blood vessels
The disease can run in some families, or the cause of the disease may be unknown.
Treatment
Injections soften Peyronie’s disease plaques. A surgeon can remove them in severe cases.
Priapism is a painful, prolonged erection. This erection can happen even when you don’t want to have sex. The condition is most common in people ages
If priapism occurs, you should get treatment immediately to prevent long-term effects of the disease that may affect your ability to have an erection.
Priapism may result from:
- side effects of drugs used to treat erection problems, or drugs used to treat depression
- blood clotting disorders
- mental health conditions
- blood disorders, such as leukemia or sickle cell anemia
- alcohol use
- illegal drug use
- injury to the penis or spinal cord
Treatment
Draining the blood from the penis with a needle helps reduce an erection if you have priapism. Medication may also lower the amount of blood flowing to the penis.
Balanitis is an infection of the foreskin and the head of the penis. It usually affects men and boys who don’t wash under the foreskin regularly or who haven’t been circumcised. Men and boys who have been circumcised can also get it.
Other causes of balanitis can include:
- a yeast infection
- a sexually transmitted infection (STI)
- an allergy to soap, perfumes, or other products
Treatment
To treat balanitis, a doctor can prescribe an antifungal medication that you apply to the skin
STIs can be passed from one person to another through vaginal, oral, or anal sex. The following STIs may cause penis pain.
If you don’t know what’s causing your penis pain and you’re sexually active, you can get an STI test. STIs
Treatment
Antibiotics treat some STIs, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. Antiviral medications can help reduce or shorten herpes outbreaks.
A UTI occurs when bacteria invade and infect your urinary tract. An infection might happen if you:
- are uncircumcised
- have a weakened immune system
- have a problem or blockage in your urinary tract
- have sex with someone who has an infection
- have anal sex
- have an enlarged prostate
Treatment
Doctors typically prescribe antibiotics to kill the bacteria that cause UTIs. You can help by drinking plenty of water and avoiding foods and drinks that may irritate the bladder, like alcohol and caffeine.
Like any other part of your body, an injury can damage your penis. Injuries can happen if you:
- are in an accident
- get burned
- hurt your penis while it is erect
- put a ring around your penis to prolong an erection
- insert objects into your urethra
A penile fracture most often occurs during sex, when the penis is erect. It may bend sharply and make a popping sound, followed by a loss of the erection. Blood may collect under the skin and the penis may swell. Although doctors call this a penile fracture, there is actually no bone in the penis.
Treatment
Treatment for a penis injury depends on the type and extent of the damage. Minor injuries will likely heal with home remedies such as over-the-counter pain medications and an ice pack to reduce swelling.
If you think you have a penile fracture, see a doctor right away, as surgery may be necessary.
Phimosis occurs in people with uncircumcised penises when the foreskin of the penis is too tight and can’t be pulled away from the head of the penis. It usually happens in children, but it can also occur in older people if balanitis or an injury causes scarring in the foreskin.
A related condition called paraphimosis happens if your foreskin pulls back from the head of the penis, but then can’t return to its original position covering the penis.
Paraphimosis is a medical emergency because it can stop you from urinating and may cause the tissue in your penis to die.
Treatment
Stretching the foreskin with your fingers may make it looser if you have phimosis. Steroid creams rubbed on your penis can also help. In some cases, surgery is necessary.
Holding a cold compress to the head of your penis reduces swelling in paraphimosis. Your doctor may suggest putting pressure on the head of the penis. They can also inject medications into the penis to help it drain. In addition, they can make small cuts in the foreskin to decrease swelling.
Penile cancer is another cause of penile pain, although it’s
- human papillomavirus infection (HPV)
- phimosis
- not being circumcised
- not cleaning under your foreskin if you’re uncircumcised
- smoking
- having UV light treatment for psoriasis
- stage 3 HIV
- older age
Around 4 in 5 cases of penile cancer occur in males
Treatment
A surgeon can remove cancerous parts of the penis. Treatment for penile cancer may also include radiation treatment or chemotherapy.
You can take steps to reduce your chances of developing pain, such as using condoms when you have sex, avoiding sex with anyone who has any kind of active infection, and asking sexual partners to avoid rough movements that bend your penis.
If you’re having repeated infections or other problems with your foreskin, having a circumcision or cleaning under your foreskin every day can help.
If you experience pain in your penis, consult your doctor right away. It may be caused by an injury, STI, UTI, or another health condition.
If an STI is the cause of your penile pain, let your current or potential partners know to avoid spreading the infection.
Early diagnosis and treatment of the underlying cause can have a positive effect on your health and well-being.