Penile disorders can impact men of all ages, creating problems with their sex life and their mental health. Some of these conditions can also impact fertility, and they might cause pain. There are many kinds of penile disorders that can have a wide array of causes. Being diagnosed correctly is important so that proper treatment can be given for the specific condition that is causing symptoms.
The symptoms of penile disorders can vary widely depending upon which kind of condition is causing distress in the patient. Some disorders will affect the ability to get an erection, while others might prevent ejaculation. In conditions like priapism, erections can last for hours and be very painful. Paraphimosis and phimosis can cause issues related to the foreskin that can become medical emergencies.
The most common symptoms of this category of disorders are:
The causes of these conditions can vary widely. The most common reasons that these conditions can occur are:
The risk factors for penile dysfunction are:
Diagnosis of these conditions is often made after a thorough physical exam of the patient. A medical history will be taken, and the doctor will want to know how long the symptoms have been going on. Some conditions can be diagnosed through a discussion of medical history alone.
However, in some cases, the diagnosis process will include further testing and evaluation, like imaging tests, to see if there are physical abnormalities that are causing the patient’s symptoms. Biopsies of penile tissue and blood tests can also be done to rule out things like cancer. Some patients will need to provide a urine sample, and a swab of the urethra might also be done to check for STDs and other kinds of cells that might be linked with disease processes.
Prevention of these conditions can be difficult. The best way to prevent getting penile dysfunction is to avoid alcohol and drug abuse. You should try and reduce stress in your life and make sure to eat a balanced diet as well.
Treatment of these conditions can vary depending on the symptoms that the patient is experiencing. There are many drugs like Viagra that can be used to promote and keep an erection. Antibiotics can be used to treat infections, and steroid creams can sometimes help with swelling and discomfort related to problems with the foreskin. Surgery might also be done to correct issues with the skin of the penis or the shape of the penis.
If cancerous cells are found during a patient’s examination for penile dysfunction, the patient will need to be referred to an oncologist. The dysfunction of the penis might be treated alongside the penile disorder itself in these cases.