4 Ways to Identify Penis Pain

1. Where Does it Hurt?

Defining your penis pain is the first step in identifying the cause. There can be many different types of penis pain. Penis pain can be internal or external. It can be concentrated in one area or throughout the penis. It can be dull or sharp, constant or intermittent. Pain that is related to an infection tends to be caused by skin irritations or lesions. Trauma to your penis may produce pain localized to the point of trauma or pain throughout the penis, depending on the injury.

When penis pain occurs is also an important part of discovering the cause. There are several common conditions that cause penis pain during an erection. Priapism, prolonged erection, can be very painful and requires immediate medical attention. A period of erection is considered dangerously long if the penis will not return to its flaccid state within 4 hours. Phimosis is another condition that is painful during an erection. Phimosis affects men who are uncircumcised. With this condition, the foreskin is prevented from full retraction.

2. Are There Other Symptoms?

Whether or not you have other symptoms besides pain can help identify the cause of your pain. If you feel a burning sensation while urinating, for example, you may have a sexually transmitted disease (STD) or a urinary condition. Open sores, lesions, bumps and other skin irritations may also be indicative of some type of STD. Consider whether you might be at risk for contracting a sexually transmitted disease. If you have unprotected sexual intercourse, you are. In some cases, even using a condom is not enough to protect you, as condoms do not cover the entire genital area.

3. Visit a Doctor for Diagnosis

The only way to identify the cause of penis pain definitively is to consult a physician and get a proper diagnosis. A physical examination can usually provide a physician with enough information to diagnose your problem. Expect a physical examination to include your entire genital area, including your testicles and scrotum. Your doctor will also ask questions about your sexual history. If a sexually transmitted disease is suspected, additional tests may follow.