Tools & Resources

• Low Libido Equals Low T?
• Talk with Your Doc About ED
• Common Eye Problems
• Ways to Look and Feel Your Best
• Best Food for Your Teeth
• Subtle Symptoms of Low T

Penis Conditions

• Erectile dysfunction: A man's penis does not achieve sufficient hardness for satisfying intercourse. Atherosclerosis (damage to the arteries) is the most common cause of erectile dysfunction.
  
• Priapism: An abnormal erection that does not go away after several hours even though stimulation has stopped. Serious problems can result from this painful condition.
  
• Hypospadias: A birth defect in which the opening for urine is on the front (or underside), rather than the tip of the penis. Surgery can correct this condition.
  
• Phimosis (paraphimosis): The foreskin cannot be retracted or if retracted cannot be returned to its normal position over the penis head. In adult men, this can occur after penis infections.
  
• Balanitis: Inflammation of the glans penis, usually due to infection. Pain, tenderness, and redness of the penis head are symptoms.
  
• Balanoposthitis: Balanitis that also involves the foreskin (in an uncircumcised man).
  
• Chordee: An abnormal curvature of the end of the penis, present from birth. Severe cases may require surgical correction.
• Peyronie’s Disease: An abnormal curvature of the shaft of the penis may be caused by injury of the adult penis or other medical conditions.
  
• Urethritis: Inflammation or infection of the urethra, often causing pain with urination and penis discharge. Gonorrhea and chlamydia are common causes.
• Gonorrhea: The bacteria N. gonorrhea infects the penis during sex, causing urethritis. Most cases of gonorrhea in men cause symptoms of penis pain or discharge.
  
• Chlamydia: A bacteria that can infect the penis through sex, causing urethritis. Up to 40% of chlamydia cases in men cause no symptoms.
  
• Syphilis: A bacteria transmitted during sex. The initial symptom of syphilis is usually a painless ulcer (chancre) on the penis.
  
• Herpes: The viruses HSV-1 and HSV-2 can cause small blisters and ulcers on the penis that reoccur over time.
  
• Micropenis: An abnormally small penis, present from birth. A hormone imbalance is involved in many cases of micropenis.
• Penis warts: The human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause warts on the penis. HPV warts are highly contagious and spread during sexual contact.
  
• Cancer of the penis: Penis cancer is very rare in the U.S. Circumcision decreases the risk of penis cancer.

Penis Tests

• Urethral swab: A swab of the inside of the penis is sent for culture. A urethral swab may diagnose urethritis or other infections.
• Urinalysis: A test of various chemicals present in urine. A urinalysis may detect infection, bleeding, or kidney problems.
  
• Nocturnal penis tumescence testing (erection testing): An elastic device worn on the penis at night can detect erections during sleep. This test can help identify the cause of erectile dysfunction.
  
• Urine culture: Culturing the urine in the lab can help diagnose a urinary tract infection that might affect the penis.
• Polymerase chain reaction (PCR): A urine test that can detect gonorrhea, chlamydia, or other organisms that affect the penis.