What Causes Penile Swelling, and How Can I Treat It?
Some causes of a swollen penis include balanitis, contact dermatitis, urethritis, and priapism. Treatment may include home remedies, topical ointments, medications, and surgery.
Penile swelling is usually a symptom of a health condition rather than a condition itself. It may show up with other symptoms, which can range from mild to severe.
If you have penile swelling, your penis may also look discolored and the area might feel sore or itchy. The swelling can occur with or without unusual discharge, foul odor, or bumps.
These symptoms can make it difficult to urinate or have sexual intercourse.
In rare cases, a swollen penis may be a medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention.
Read on to learn the common causes of penile swelling and what to do to treat it.
You'll notice the language used to share stats and other data points is pretty binary, fluctuating between the use of 'male' and 'female' or 'men' and 'women.' While we typically avoid language like this, specificity is key when reporting on research participants and clinical findings.
Balanitis
Balanitis is a common cause of penile swelling. It occurs when the glans (head) penis is inflamed. About 3% to 11% of people with a penis will experience balanitis in their lifetime, and it's more common in uncircumcised penises.
Balanitis usually results from improper penile hygiene, which causes an overgrowth of Candida albicans, a type of yeast that naturally occurs on the body. The second most common cause is due to the bacteria Streptococcus.
Recurring balanitis is associated with unmanaged diabetes and immunodeficiency.
Common symptoms of balanitis may include:
skin discoloration
shiny, thick skin
itching
foul odor
painful urination
sores
swollen lymph nodes in the groin
smegma (thick white discharge under the foreskin)
While the condition isn't a sexually transmitted infection (STI), the microorganisms that cause it can be physically transferred.
Treatment
Treatment will depend on the underlying cause, but may include topical medications or oral antibiotics. Regularly cleaning the penis area with warm water and a gentle soap is important to help prevent fungal or bacterial growth.
Allergic or irritant reaction
Contact dermatitis involves an allergic or nonallergic reaction to an irritant, which may cause penile swelling. Some common irritants of penile contact dermatitis may include:
latex condoms
silicone-based lubricants
spermicides
chemicals in soaps or lotions
chlorine
certain clothing fabrics
In addition to swelling, symptoms of contact dermatitis may include:
skin discoloration
itching
dryness
bumps
blisters
burning
Treatment
The best treatment for penile contact dermatitis is to avoid the irritant or allergen altogether. As such, you might consider:
wearing loose-fitting cotton underwear
using fragrance-free soaps and detergents
wearing latex-free condoms during sexual activities
A healthcare professional can help you identify possible irritants and allergens.
Urethritis
Inflammation of the urethra, known as urethritis, may cause swelling of the penile urinary meatus (external urinary opening), but not the entire penis. The urethra carries urine from your bladder to your penis.
In the United States, urethritis affects 4 million people every year.
Urethritis is typically the result of an STI caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonococcal urethritis), but nongonococcal bacteria can also cause it.
Less common causes include irritating chemicals or injury from a urinary catheter.
Other symptoms of urethritis may include:
pain or burning during urination
irritated glans penis
whitish-yellow penile discharge
Treatment
Urethritis is usually treated with a course of antibiotics. Symptoms usually go away after 1 to 2 weeks.
Peyronie's disease
Peyronie's disease happens when plaque builds up in the corpora spongiosa of the penis, below the skin. Blood can't fill the areas where the plaque is located so the penis bends at that point during an erection.
Experts estimate that 4 in 100 males between 40 and 70 years old have Peyronie's disease. In rare cases, younger people may be affected.
Most Peyronie's is first noticed as a bend or curvature with no other symptoms. Over time, the swelling may turn into a hard scar.
Other symptoms of Peyronie's disease may include:
inflammation with swelling
painful erections
soft erections
lumps
painful sexual intercourse
erectile dysfunction
The cause of Peyronie's disease isn't clear. However, it's associated with:
penis injury
autoimmune disease
connective tissue disorder
aging
Treatment
Treatment for Peyronie's disease will depend on the severity of the condition. A doctor may prescribe drugs to be administered orally or by injection.
In more severe cases, you may need surgery to help shorten or lengthen a side of the penis, or to have a prostethic device implace.
»More on this: How is Peyronie's disease treated?
Posthitis
If only your foreskin is swollen, you might have posthitis. This is inflammation of the foreskin. An overgrowth of fungus often causes it.
Posthitis often develops with balanitis, a condition known as balanoposthitis.
Foreskin symptoms may include:
soreness
discoloration
tightness
smegma buildup
Treatment
Treatment depends on the underlying cause. It may include oral or topical medications and maintaining proper penile hygiene.
Balanoposthitis
Typically, balanitis and posthitis occur together, a condition known as balanoposthitis. It's inflammation of both the glans and foreskin.
Compared to balanitis, balanoposthitis is less common and only affects uncircumcised penises. It affects up to 1 in 5 people with an uncircumcised penis.
Balanoposthitis may cause penile swelling along with:
discoloration
pain
smelly discharge
itching
Treatment
Treatment for balanoposthitis may include a combination of:
maintaining proper penile hygiene
avoiding possible irritants and allergens
taking oral medications or applying topical creams
Paraphimosis
Paraphimosis is another cause of penile swelling that only affects people with an uncircumcised penis. It happens when the foreskin is stuck just behind the glans, causing constriction.
This may be a medical emergency. If the foreskin can't be pulled back, it can cut off blood flow and lead to tissue death in the glans.
Additional symptoms of paraphimosis may include:
pain
discomfort
discoloration
tenderness
difficulty urinating
Paraphimosis may result from:
forgetting to pull the foreskin back down
infection
injury
incorrect circumcision
diabetes-related inflammation
Paraphimosis affects about 1 in 100 people over 16 years old who aren't circumcised.
Treatment
Treatment for paraphimosis will depend on the severity of the condition. A doctor may use compression techniques like ice, elastic bands, aspiration, or surgery to relieve tension.
Penile cancer
Penile swelling might indicate penile cancer, but this is extremely rare. In North America and Europe, fewer than 1 in 100,000 men are diagnosed with penile cancer.
Typically, skin changes are the first sign of penile cancer. Other symptoms may include:
skin thickening
discoloration
lump or ulcer
flat, blue-brown bumps
foul-smelling discharge under the foreskin
bleeding under the foreskin
You're more likely to develop penile cancer if you:
are age 60 years or older
have difficulty managing personal hygiene
have phimosis
use tobacco products
have human papillomavirus (HPV)
Treatment
Treatment for penile cancer will depend on the stage and severity of your cancer. It may include:
medications, such as chemotherapy
radiation therapy
surgery
Home remedies for a swollen penis
If you have minor penile swelling, home remedies might provide relief. These include:
soaking in a warm bath
applying gentle pressure to your penis
applying a cold compress to your penis
It's also best to avoid harsh soaps, lotions, and other potentially irritating substances.
When to see a doctor
If you have penile swelling that worsens, doesn't go away, or occurs after injury, connect with a doctor.
A doctor may perform a physical examination and ask you about your medical history. They may also request other tests, depending on your symptoms, including:
swab test
urine test
blood tests
imagining tests, such as ultrasound, X-ray, CT scan, or MRI
biopsy
This could help them determine the underlying cause and develop an appropriate treatment plan for you. In some cases, a doctor might refer you to a urologist.
The bottom line
Penile swelling is a symptom of an underlying medical condition. Depending on the cause, you might also have skin discoloration, itchiness, unusual discharge, or bumps.
There are many causes of penile swelling, so see a doctor if it gets worse or doesn't go away. Many conditions can be diagnosed with a basic physical exam.
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