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Penile Injuries & Disorders

What Are Penile Injuries & Disorders?

Penile injuries and disorders are conditions that cause dysfunction of the penis.

Symptoms

The symptoms of penile injuries and disorders can vary depending on the cause of your condition. These conditions include:

  • Balanitis – This inflammation on the head of the penis is accompanied by redness, swelling, a rash, pain and discharge with a strong odor. It can develop in men who are not circumcised. It may be caused by poor hygiene, an infection or an allergic reaction to soap, detergent or other products.

  • Erectile dysfunction – This is the inability to get or maintain an erection.

  • Hypospadias – This congenital (present at birth) condition is when the urethra (where urine exits the body) is located on the underside of the penis instead of on the tip.

  • Inhibited or delayed ejaculation – This is when a man cannot ejaculate or ejaculation takes a long time.

  • Penile cancer – Cancer of the penis is rare. The cause is unknown, but the following risk factors may increase your chances of penile cancer: circumcision, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, smoking, smegma, phimosis, psoriasis treatment and being older than 50.

  • Peyronie’s disease – When a hard lump, or plaque, develops on the penis, it can cause swelling, pain and irritation, and eventually turn into a hard scar with curvature of the penis, especially upon erection.

  • Phimosis and paraphimosis – Phimosis occurs when the foreskin of the penis cannot be pulled back, obscuring the head of the penis. Paraphimosis is a medical emergency where the foreskin cannot go back to its original location.

  • Premature ejaculation – Ejaculation within one minute of vaginal penetration can be caused by anxiety, certain medications, or nerve damage to the spinal cord or back.

  • Priapism – This is a painful, unwanted erection that can last from several hours up to a few days. It not related to sexual activity and doesn’t go away after orgasm. It occurs when blood doesn’t drain adequately from the penis.

  • Retrograde ejaculation – This condition causes ejaculate to flow backward into the bladder. It most often affects men with diabetic nerve damage.

  • Sexual injury – While rare, it is possible for the penis to bend and even tear during sexual activity. This is also known as a penile fracture or rupture.

  • Trauma – This is an injury related to a car accident, sports, burn or other accident.

Treatment

Treatments vary for penile injuries and disorders depending on the condition you have. Treatment options can include:

  • Circumcision – This treatment is used for phimosis.

  • Draining blood from the penis – This treatment is used for priapism.

  • Manually stretching the foreskin – This treatment is used for phimosis.

  • Topical medication – Medication may sometimes be applied directly to the penis.

  • Surgery – Robotic or traditional surgery may be recommended for hypospadias, penile cancer, paraphimosis, priapism and trauma.

  • Watchful waiting – Your doctor may recommend waiting to see if symptoms improve before using medical intervention. This is often recommended for Peyronie’s disease.

When to See a Doctor

If you're experiencing signs or symptoms of penile injuries & disorders, schedule an appointment or call 800-TEMPLE-MED (800-836-7536) today.

Learn more about our doctors and care team who diagnose and treat penile injuries & disorders.