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Health

Penis pain

, medical expert
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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Very often, pain in the penis manifests itself during an erection, as a result of trauma, congestion, circulatory disorders, and drug treatment. Part of the male reproductive system is the penis, which consists of the root (base), body (trunk), and head. Two cavernous and spongy bodies form the body of the penis. The cavernous bodies got their name due to the many crossbars or trabeculae extending inward from the protein structure.

In the spaces between the crossbars there are "caves" (lacunae). The head also contains a large number of lacunae, which fill with blood during sexual arousal. The presence of many nerve endings in the head determines its maximum sensitivity.

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What causes penis pain?

The medical term dyspareunia is pain in the penis, which occurs when women lack natural lubrication. This fact causes painful stretching of the foreskin, tears, and even hematomas.

Vascular disorders and a number of infections are common causes of pain in the penis. Inflammatory processes in the head, prepuce (fold of the foreskin) are described by the terms balanitis and posthitis, respectively. A simultaneous inflammatory disease is called balanoposthitis. The disease is associated with the accumulation of smegma - a substance secreted by the sebaceous glands, dead epithelium and moisture. Such a mixture is ideal for the reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms. Men who do not monitor personal hygiene or have a physiological narrowing of the edge of the foreskin (phimosis) are susceptible to the disease. Less common are allergic balanoposthitis and those caused by diabetes.

Peyronie's disease is characterized by fibrosclerotic lesions (scar formation) of the tunica albuginea with a pronounced curvature of the penis and pain.

Inflammatory disease of the cavernous body (cavernitis) can develop as a complication after injuries, acute urethritis, flu, caries, furunculosis, sinusitis.

Urolithiasis, colliculitis (inflammation of the seminal tubercle), bruise, dislocation, fracture, strangulation are the causes of pain in the penis. The medical term "fracture" describes the condition of a forced bending of the penis body during "aggressive" sexual intercourse. The process is often accompanied by a characteristic crunch.

Pain due to erection, lasting at least six to nine hours, occurs with priapism. The pathology develops against the background of dysfunctions of the central nervous system, after taking pharmacological drugs.

So, pain in the penis occurs with the following problems:

  • injury to the penis;
  • skin infection;
  • herpes;
  • inflammation of the prostate;
  • infection of the foreskin;
  • Cancer;
  • Reiter's syndrome (autoimmune disease);
  • priapism;
  • Peyronie's disease.

Symptoms of pain in the penis

Redness, swelling of the head of the penis, purulent discharge, a strong odor, itching and burning accompany balanoposthitis. The disease responds well to treatment at the initial stage of development. Severe situations are described by the appearance of ulcers, abscesses and gangrene.

Problems with blood supply cause pain in the penis with the formation of necrosis, ischemic manifestations of the foreskin. Diabetic patients are most susceptible to this problem.

Transmitted through intimate contact, diseases are revealed by pain, blisters, condylomas, dysuria (difficulty urinating), and enlarged lymph nodes.

Symptoms of pain in the penis due to infection of the urethra, movement of a stone along the urethra are accompanied by a weakening of the stream, delay or difficulty in urinating. The pain is sharp, cutting, excruciating. The chronic process occurs with a burning sensation.

It is recommended to seek medical help if the following conditions are observed:

  • pain is associated with an erection or appears when the penis swells, if the excited state of the penis does not subside within an hour;
  • mechanical damage to the penis;
  • erection is accompanied by pain in a certain position of the penis;
  • discharge and unpleasant odor appear;
  • the skin of the penis becomes covered with pustules, blisters, seals, swelling occurs, etc.;
  • urinary disorders (frequent urge, pain, difficulty, bloody discharge, etc.);
  • temperature, chills.

Pain in the head of the penis

At the bottom of the head there is a fold of skin - the frenulum. The skin covering the head of the penis is much thinner and more delicate. In this part of the penis there is a large accumulation of nerve endings, the reactions of which often cause pain in the head of the penis.

Factors influencing the occurrence of unpleasant symptoms:

  • inflammation/infection;
  • various types of injuries as a result of mechanical, chemical or thermal damage;
  • circulatory disorders;
  • the presence of foreign bodies in the urethra (stones, salts);
  • congenital abnormalities of the penis structure.

Pain can be caused by compression of the head of the penis with phimosis. The disease develops with narrowing of the foreskin, pressing on the head of the penis. The state of erection with this problem only increases the pain syndrome. Or the process develops due to balanoposthitis (inflammation). Burning, itching, redness and swelling of the head are added to the pain.

A rupture of the frenulum is accompanied by severe pain and possible bleeding. The cause may be a physiologically short frenulum, lack of natural vaginal lubrication, aggressive intercourse, masturbation. A scar may appear at the site of the rupture, which can cause discomfort during further sexual activity.

Malignant tumors are a rare pathology that leads to pain in the head of the penis. Their occurrence is provoked by the papilloma virus, advanced forms of phimosis and balanoposthitis, smoking abuse, AIDS. Cancer pains are present constantly for a long time. Blood or other impurities may be found in the urine.

Pathologies of small vessels occur in diseases:

  • diabetes mellitus;
  • endarteritis - a disease that leads to narrowing of blood vessels. More common with alcohol and cigarette abuse
  • atherosclerosis – blockage of blood vessels by cholesterol plaques.

The described diseases develop slowly, maintaining constant, aching pain in the penis with the possible appearance of erosion, trophic ulcers, and gangrene.

Acute pain in the head with urinary dysfunction is typical of cavernitis (inflammation of the cavernous bodies). An abscess may appear, and if left untreated, impotence.

If you notice alarming symptoms accompanied by pain, you should contact a urologist or dermatovenerologist.

Sharp pain in the penis

Acute urethritis is characterized by a sharp, needle-like pain in the penis. The passage of a stone or salt causes excruciating pain during urination, a weakening of the stream or complete inability to pass urine is observed.

Ejaculation with attacks of sharp pain occurs when interrupted sexual intercourse serves as a method of contraception. To restore the normal functioning of the reproductive system, it is enough to choose another method of contraception.

Acute prostatitis is characterized by severe pain in the penis, while the chronic stage is less painful. Symptoms of prostate inflammation include:

  • pain during urination;
  • pain in the perineum, lumbar and pubic area, testicles;
  • deterioration in sperm quality;
  • pain during intercourse.

Sharp pain during ejaculation may be observed in cases of increased sensitivity of the head. The use of a special lubricant with anesthetic substances helps to get rid of discomfort.

Pain at the base of the penis

A prolonged, painful erection that is not related to sexual arousal is called priapism. Patients complain of pain at the base of the penis. It should be noted that only the shaft of the penis is tense, the head of the penis remains soft. There is no disruption of urinary function. Sexual intercourse or masturbation do not alleviate the condition.

An attack of pathological erection occurs more often at night. The disease is divided into two types: ischemic and non-ischemic. The color of the blood taken in the first case will be dark (venous), and in the second - scarlet (arterial). The detection of pus in the blood indicates an infection process.

Advanced ischemic priapism leads to tissue necrosis and gangrene. The purple-black color of the head of the penis threatens amputation. Erectile dysfunction may become a complication of the disease.

Causes of priapism development:

  • neurogenic – pathological changes in the nerves due to injury to the penis, brain tumors, meningitis, encephalitis, etc.;
  • damage by toxins, chemicals – as a result of the use of medical drugs, poisoning by carbon monoxide, lead, etc.;
  • trauma with the formation of hematomas, bleeding into the peritoneum and pelvic area;
  • hematological problems – leukemia, thrombocythemia, use of anticoagulants;
  • inflammatory diseases – prostatitis, appendicitis attack, mumps, syphilis;
  • neoplasms (cancerous tumors).

Aching pain in the penis

Curvature, nagging pain in the penis are clear signs of Peyronie's disease with the formation of seals (plaques) in the cavernous body. Neoplasms are felt during palpation, most often from the back of the penis, but can also be found on the sides. Severe pain accompanies intimacy or the curvature of the penis completely prevents sexual intercourse. Erectile dysfunction is typical.

Pulling pains with a burning sensation in the testicle and seminal canal, which intensify with movement or physical exertion, indicate the process of varicose veins of the spermatic cord.

Chronic prostate disease and infectious lesions can also provoke a nagging pain in the pubic area and penis.

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Pain inside the penis

Damage to the arteries and spongy body due to injuries leads to the formation of scars, which in turn cause pain inside the penis during intimacy.

Infections, inflammatory processes in the urethral canal occur with a pronounced pain syndrome. The movement of a stone or salt along the urethra is accompanied by severe internal pain, sometimes with chills and fever.

The process of artificially squeezing the penis with threads, wires in order to normalize dysfunction, get pleasure, increase the size of the penis with various devices leads to injury and internal pain. The pain in the penis weakens as the tissues heal.

Treatment for penile pain

The reason for men to seek help late may be shame or excessive pride. However, the data is disappointing - without medical treatment of diseases, the risk of becoming impotent ranges from 25 to 75%. Therefore, you should not self-medicate or wait for it to "resolve itself".

To establish a diagnosis, the following is used:

  • inspection;
  • palpation;
  • laboratory diagnostics (tests, smears, etc.);
  • conducting an ultrasound;
  • X-ray techniques;
  • MRI of the penis.

Each disease is treated by its own methods. Treatment of pain in the penis is divided into surgical and conservative treatment.

Frenuloplasty, for example, is used to increase the size of the frenulum. The surgical procedure lasts up to 20 minutes. After the surgery, painkillers are used and the foreskin is regularly washed. The patient returns to normal life after three weeks.

Phimosis is treated by circumcision for 10 minutes. Complete healing occurs in 14 days. Penile fracture, venous insufficiency are also treated by surgery, which leads to complete restoration of penile function.

In order to get rid of infections of the reproductive system, smears and bacterial cultures are taken, then a course of antibiotics is prescribed.

Restoration of erection is possible with the latest shock wave therapy. The method has proven itself due to its high efficiency, safety, and the possibility of treatment without the use of medications.

It is possible to use gentle methods if an internal artery is damaged. A specialist inserts a catheter with a medicinal substance that forms a thrombus and stops the bleeding.

Trust the treatment of penis diseases to a professional and be sure of 100% success.

According to medical professionals, pain in the penis can be prevented by a natural method – adequate stimulation of the female body and the corresponding receipt of a sufficient amount of vaginal lubrication.

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