Swollen penis can be caused by a variety of things, from inflammation, infection, to injury to the penis. This condition can also appear along with other symptoms, such as a lump in the penis, the penis oozing pus, difficulty urinating, and pain or discomfort during sexual intercourse.
The penis consists of several parts, namely the skin, foreskin, head of the penis, urinary tract (urethra), as well as the corpus cavernosa and corpus spongiosum which play a role in the erection process. Underneath the penis is the scrotum, or scrotum, which encloses and protects the testicles.
The penis is an intimate organ that plays an important and very sensitive role for men. When experiencing problems, for example due to injury or infection, the penis can become swollen and painful.
Various Conditions That Cause Swollen Penis
The following are some of the causes of a swollen penis:
1. Phimosis
Phimosis occurs when the foreskin or foreskin of the penis is attached to the head of the penis, so that the foreskin cannot be retracted. Phimosis is normal and occurs in infants and children. Usually this condition goes away on its own after puberty.
However, if this condition does not go away after puberty, phimosis runs the risk of causing the urinary tract to close and triggering inflammation and infection of the glans penis or balanitis. This can then make the penis swollen and painful.
2. Paraphimosis
Paraphimosis is the opposite of phimosis. Paraphimosis occurs when the retracted foreskin of the penis becomes stuck and cannot return to its original position, causing swelling of the penis.
If left prolonged, this swelling can cause blockage of blood flow to the penis. This makes paraphimosis a medical emergency that must be treated by a doctor immediately. To prevent and treat paraphimosis, doctors can perform circumcision.
3. Balanitis
Balanitis is irritation or infection of the foreskin or head of the penis that causes the foreskin to become swollen, itchy, and painful. Balanitis is more common in uncircumcised men, but circumcised men can develop it too.
Balanitis can be caused by several things, including poor hygiene of the penis, sexually transmitted diseases, and irritation or allergy to condoms, spermicides, penis enlargement creams or drugs, soaps, or perfumes.
4. Urinary tract infection
A urinary tract infection can cause the urinary tract opening to become inflamed, red, and swollen. In addition to swelling of the penis, urinary tract infections can also cause other complaints, namely the presence of blood or pus in the urine, and painful and less fluent urination.
There are several risk factors that can make men susceptible to urinary tract infections, namely the presence of urinary tract stones, prostate enlargement, diabetes, sexually transmitted diseases, and long-term use of urinary catheters.
Urinary tract infections that make the penis swollen and painful can be treated with antibiotics and painkillers according to a doctor's prescription.
5. Lymphocele
Lymphocele is a swelling or hard lump that appears on the shaft of the penis after sex or masturbation. This condition occurs due to blockage of the lymph channels in the penis for a while. Lymphocele is common in men who have recently had prostate surgery.
Swelling of the penis due to lymphocele usually subsides on its own and is not dangerous.
6. Peyronie's disease
Peyronie's disease can be recognized by the symptoms of a swollen penis, a crooked or curved penis and pain during erection, as well as pain during sexual intercourse. This disease can be caused by genetic disorders, injury to the penis, aging, and abnormalities in the connective tissue of the penis.
7. Genital lymphedema
Genital lymphedema is a buildup of lymph fluid that causes swelling in the genital area, including the penis and scrotum. Lymphedema is caused by blockage or damage to the ducts or lymph nodes.
In addition to swelling in the penis, genital lymphedema can also cause other complaints in the form of pain during urination and sexual intercourse and intermittent urination.
In certain cases, the condition of the swollen penis can also be caused by several other diseases, such as penile cancer and priapism.
In addition to penile swelling, penile cancer can also cause other symptoms, namely the skin of the penis looks reddish, there are brownish spots on the penis, the penis secretes a liquid that smells bad, a lump appears on the penis, and the penis is injured.
Various Penis Handling Swollen
Treatment for a swollen penis depends on the cause. To help reduce swelling, you can apply a cold compress with ice wrapped in a cloth on the penis for a few minutes.
If the swollen penis does not improve, then you should immediately consult a doctor. After the cause is known, the doctor can provide several steps for treating the following swollen penis:
Wrap the penis with a bandage
Penis swelling due to paraphimosis can be overcome by relieving the swelling first. The trick is to wrap the penis with a slightly tight bandage. After the swelling of the penis is reduced, the doctor will pull the foreskin of the penis.
Open the foreskin of the penis
If the foreskin still can't be retracted, the doctor may make a small incision in the foreskin so that the skin on the penis becomes looser and easier to pull out. In addition to small incisions, doctors can also perform aspiration or suction the fluid in the swollen penis to deflate the penis.
Using drugs
If the swelling of the penis is caused by inflammation from an allergy or irritation, your doctor may prescribe a corticosteroid cream or ointment to treat the inflammation of the penis. To treat a swollen penis caused by an infection, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics or antifungals, depending on the cause of the infection.
Perform circumcision
When penis swelling occurs repeatedly and makes the foreskin unretractable or difficult to clean, your doctor may suggest circumcision.
Circumcision aims to prevent the foreskin from becoming a breeding ground for germs. In addition, circumcision can also prevent the risk of penis swelling due to urinary tract infections, balanitis, and phimosis.
To prevent the occurrence of a swollen penis, you are advised to do the following ways:
- Avoid using soaps, perfumes, or lotions that can cause allergies or irritation to the penis.
- Clean the penis with warm water and a mild chemical-based soap, such as baby soap.
- Use a condom every time you have sex and avoid having sex with more than one partner.
Some of the causes of a swollen penis are harmless and can make a swollen penis get better on its own. However, sometimes a swollen penis can be caused by a disease that needs to be watched out for.
Therefore, immediately consult a doctor if you feel a swollen penis that is getting worse or is accompanied by disturbing complaints, such as pain, bleeding or pus from the penis, fever, and difficulty urinating or having sex.