Part IV: Dealing with Health Problems in Specific Groups in .NET framework

Maker QR Code ISO/IEC18004 in .NET framework Part IV: Dealing with Health Problems in Specific Groups

Minor penis problems are incredibly common, and yet many men take weeks, months or sometimes years to summon up the courage to speak to a health professional about their concerns Which is a shame, because in most cases the worry and anxiety that you may have some abnormality, or that you re somehow different, can be avoided Reassuringly, most penis conditions are minor and may not even need treatment In this section I let you know when to seek medical help and when you can deal with the problem yourself

Physical problems things to do with appearance with regard to your penis can cause a huge amount of concern, particularly if you belong to a younger age group Many penile problems such as minor skin changes are often entirely benign and part of what you can consider as normal I sometimes sense the sigh of relief and reassurance of anxious men that follows my careful explanation of this fact! (Problems with penis function for example with erections and premature ejaculation feature in the Checking Out the Engine: Sexual Problems section later in this chapter If you want to find out more about urinary problems in men, check out 12) If you re worried about the look of your penis or you ve developed a new problem, compare your symptoms with the following descriptions, starting with the more common ones: Balanitis or thrush: If the tip of your penis (the glans) is red and inflamed you re likely to be suffering from an irritation of the skin, known as balanitis You re more likely to develop balanitis if you suffer from diabetes or take oral antibiotics ( 20 has much more info on diabetes) Balanitis can be caused by an infection with a fungus (called candidiasis or thrush), irritation from tight clothes or from your own penis secretions, which may accumulate under your foreskin unless you wash them away regularly The infection may lead to a burning or stinging sensation at the tip of your penis when you pass urine Make sure that you pull your foreskin back every time you wash your penis, and don t use soap until the problem settles See your pharmacist for some antifungal cream such as clotrimazole, which is available over-the-counter without prescription If your symptoms don t settle, see your GP for further assessment

Friction soreness: A sore penis after sexual activities is a common problem Usually, this soreness is due to your penis rubbing inside or against your partner s body, but can also be a reaction to the material used in condoms Your symptoms usually settle quickly by themselves, but try using a different brand of condom if you suspect this problem is the cause To help prevent soreness, make sure that you both take your time to get aroused enough before attempting penetration Alternatively, use plenty of lubricating jelly, which can work wonders Sexually transmitted infection: If you ve had unprotected sexual intercourse and have developed sores, blisters or ulcers on your penis, you may have a sexually transmitted infection, or STI for short Avoid sexual intercourse until you identify the underlying problem (You can find out more in the Spotting sexually transmitted infections section later in this chapter) Tight foreskin: If you can t pull back your foreskin over your glans when your penis is erect or, worse, when it s not you re likely to be suffering from an overly tight foreskin (known as phimosis) Don t try to pull the foreskin back with force you won t succeed and may cause a tear Consult your GP who may consider giving you topical steroid creams (usually hydrocortisone) to soften your foreskin If this approach fails, the problem can often be corrected by a small surgical procedure in which the foreskin is widened (known as preputioplasty) or removed (called circumcision), depending on how tight your foreskin is and other factors, such as the presence of scarring Genital warts: You may be suffering from genital warts if you notice hard, wart-like lumps on the skin of your penis These lumps are caused by a virus infection, can grow quite fast and may be transmitted through sexual contact See your GP or go to a sexual health clinic for further assessment and treatment don t treat this condition yourself because you may cause damage to the sensitive skin on your penis Penis cancer: Cancer of the penis (also known as penile carcinoma) is a rare tumour usually in older men that can occur anywhere on the penis, but most commonly affects the tip Initially you may notice a burning or itching sensation under your foreskin before you see or feel an ulcer or lump that doesn t go away See your GP urgently if you suspect penile cancer the earlier you receive treatment the better Many other conditions can affect your penis, so if you re concerned make an appointment with a local sexual health clinic to get your problem checked out, or see your GP And don t be too embarrassed: these issues are day-to-day stuff for your GP and other health professionals and no worse for them than looking under the bonnet is for a mechanic Honestly