4 Ways to Treat Penis Pain

1. Treatment for Priapism

Priapism, a persistent erection, is a common cause of penis pain. If you have an erection for more than 4 hours, you need to see a doctor right away. To get rid of the erection, a needle is used to aspirate the blood, and a local anesthetic is used to minimize pain. You may also be given medications to constrict blood vessels and diminish blood flow to the penis. On rare occasions, medication and aspiration are not enough to end the erection. If this is the case for you, surgery may be needed to resolve the problem.

2. Treatment for Urinary Conditions

There are several urinary conditions that can cause penis pain, including urinary tract infections and urinary stones. Urinary stones, also called kidney stones, can cause some of the worst penis pain when they finally pass. Drinking lots of water and/or taking water pills to stimulate urination can help you flush the stone. If the stone is too large to get out on its own, your doctor can use shock wave therapy to break it up into smaller pieces. Alternatively, the stone can be removed surgically or through the ureter.

3. Treatment for Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are probably the most common causes of penis pain because they are so prevalent. Most STDs, including gonorrhea and chlamydia, can be treated with a round of antibiotics. For resistant strains, multiple courses of antibiotics may be needed. Genital warts and genital herpes are another story. These two STDs cause external warts and lesions respectively. Genital warts can be treated with prescription creams or a variety of removal procedures performed by a doctor. Genital herpes outbreaks can be treated with antiviral medications. Both genital herpes and genital warts outbreaks can and do return after treatment.

4. Treatment for Penile Trauma

Trauma to the penis that results in persistent pain, swelling or disfigurement usually requires surgical repair. A fractured penis can occur from blunt force trauma or from sexual intercourse that misses the mark. The type of surgery required depends on the injury. In some cases, tears in the ureter need repair, a hematoma may need to be evacuated and other defects may need correction. The goal is always to preserve function in the penis as much as possible. Ice packs and pain medications are used to relieve pain and swelling before and after surgery.