Main causes of swollen penis and what to do

Swelling in the penis is, in most cases, normal, especially when it happens after intercourse or masturbation, but when accompanied by pain, local redness, itching, sores or bleeding, it can be indicative of infections, allergic reaction or even fracture of the organ.

If the swelling of the penis does not disappear after a few minutes or comes with other symptoms, it is important to go to the urologist to make the diagnosis and, thus, start treatment, if necessary.

What can be the swollen penis

Most of the time the swollen penis is normal, disappearing within a few minutes, and it can happen after intercourse or masturbation, due to the increased blood flow in the organ.

1. Fracture

The fracture of the penis usually occurs during sexual intercourse, usually when the woman is over the man and the penis escapes from the vagina. As the penis has no bone structure, the term fracture refers to the rupture of the membrane that covers the corpora cavernosa, resulting in pain, immediate loss of erection, in addition to hematoma, bleeding and swelling.

What to do: if there has been a fracture in the penis, it is recommended that the man go to the urologist, so that the fracture is evaluated and, thus, verify the need for surgical repair. Drug treatment is only done when the fracture is very small. It is also important to put ice on the area, avoid sexual intercourse for up to 6 weeks, and take medications that inhibit involuntary nighttime erection. Learn more about penile fracture symptoms and treatment.

2. Balanitis

Balanitis corresponds to the inflammation of the head of the penis, the glans, and when it also affects the foreskin, it is called balanoposthitis, which results in redness, itching, local heat and swelling. Balanitis is usually caused by yeast infection, most often Candida albicans, but it can also be due to bacterial infections, an allergic reaction or poor hygiene, for example. Learn about other symptoms of balanitis and how treatment is done.

What to do: As soon as signs and symptoms characteristic of infection are identified, it is important to go to the urologist or pediatrician, in the case of children, so that the cause and the treatment started are identified. Treatment can be done with the use of antifungals, if the cause is yeast infection, or antibiotics, if it was caused by bacteria. In addition, it is important that men pay attention to intimate hygiene, to avoid the proliferation of these infectious agents.

3. Genital herpes

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease that initially appears as small sores or blisters on the male genital region, especially at the tip of the penis, resulting in itching, pain and burning when urinating, discomfort and, in some cases, swelling. Here's how to identify the symptoms of genital herpes.

What to do: It is important to go to the urologist to make the diagnosis and treatment can be started, which is usually done with the use of antivirals in pills or ointments. In addition, it is important to use condoms in all sexual relations to prevent transmission of the disease. Find out how the treatment for genital herpes is done.

4. Urethritis

Urethritis corresponds to inflammation of the urethra by bacteria, such as Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which can result in swelling of the penis, especially in its extremity, in addition to itching, swelling in the testicles, difficulty in urinating and the presence of discharge. Understand what urethritis is and how to treat it.

What to do: It is recommended that the man consult the urologist to start the treatment, which is usually done with the use of antibiotics, such as ciprofloxacin associated with azithromycin, which should be used according to the medical recommendation.

5. Allergic reactions

Swelling in the penis can also happen due to an allergic reaction caused by a dirty underwear or different fabric, lubricants, soap and condoms, for example. In addition to the swelling, the allergy can be manifested by itching, redness or the presence of small red balls on the head of the penis for example. Also know what itch can be on the penis.

What to do: It is important to identify the cause of the allergy and avoid contact with the causative agent. It is also recommended to perform the proper hygiene of the intimate region, with the use of appropriate soaps, and preferably use cotton underwear.

How to prevent

The prevention of swelling of the penis can be done by adopting better hygiene habits, since most of the time these are infections. In addition, it is important to use condoms during sexual intercourse to prevent the transmission or contraction of sexually transmitted diseases, in addition to using suitable lubricants.

It is also important that the man preferably wear cotton underwear and go to the urologist as soon as he sees changes in the penis. See what the urologist does and when to consult.