Penis pain and inflammation? Balanitis Explained: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment Options

In this video Dr O'Donovan explains balanitis. Balanitis is when the head of the penis is swollen and sore. It's not usually serious but it's important to see a doctor to find out what's causing it.

Is balanitis an STI?

No, balanitis isn’t a sexually transmitted infection (STI), and it isn’t contagious. However, certain STIs may cause balanitis, and balanitis can look like an STI. Until you receive a balanitis diagnosis from a healthcare provider and they determine that its cause isn’t an STI, it’s a good idea to avoid having sex.

What are the symptoms of balanitis?

According to NHS UK with balanitis, the head of your penis is usually swollen, itchy and sore. It usually looks red, but this may be less obvious on brown or black skin.

Other symptoms can include:

pain when peeing
a thick discharge that comes from under your foreskin
bleeding around your foreskin
an unpleasant smell
difficulty pulling back your foreskin (though in young children it's normal to have a tight foreskin)

Video Contents:

00:00 - Introduction
00:32 - Causes of balanitis
01:17 - Symptoms and signs of balanitis
01:44 - Treatment and prevention
03:24 - When to see your health provider

How to treat balanitis:

The treatment for balanitis depends on what's causing the condition. Treatments can include:

1. Antifungal creams. If a yeast infection is causing balanitis, your provider will prescribe an antifungal cream such as clotrimazole to treat the infection.
2. Antibiotics. If a sexually transmitted infection is the cause of your symptoms, your provider will treat the infection with antibiotics. The antibiotic will depend on the type of infection.
3. Thoroughly cleaning your penis more often. Your provider will recommend that you regularly wash and dry under your foreskin to reduce the risk of balanitis returning. Don't scrub or excessively wash your penis with harsh soaps. Warm water is often enough.
4. Diabetes management. If you have diabetes, your provider will show you how to manage the condition.
5. Circumcision. If you have recurring symptoms of balanitis, your provider may recommend circumcision. Circumcision is a surgical procedure in which a surgeon removes the foreskin covering your penis.

Will balanitis go away by itself?

Most cases of balanitis require some kind of treatment. If you don't get treatment, your symptoms may get worse or you may develop more symptoms.

RESOURCES:

Further information via NHS website:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/balanitis/

Cleveland Clinic: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health...

Video made on 16th July 2024

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