My Penis Stuff

Fournier’s gangrene is a serious, life-threatening infection of the male genital area. The infection usually starts in the skin of the genitals (penis or scrotum), the urethra, or the rectal area.

There are several conditions that may lead to this infection. Frequently an injury or burn to the area occurred before the infection. Genital surgery, a sexually transmitted disease (STD), or a problem with the urethra also may precede this infection. Men with certain conditions are at higher risk for developing Fournier’s gangrene. These conditions include:

• Being older than age 50.
• Having diabetes.
• Having a suppressed immune system.

Symptoms include:

• Swelling and redness.
• Tissue that looks deeply bruised but is actually dead (necrotic).
• Drainage of pus with a bad odor.
• Pain.
• Fever.
• Pain with urination.
• Difficulty passing urine.
• Possible shock.

This infection is a medical emergency. It is treated with antibiotics, and surgery is usually needed to remove dead (necrotic) tissue.

An abscess is a pocket of pus that forms at the site of infected tissue. An abscess can form on the skin or on tissues within the body and cause pain, swelling, and tenderness.

Bacteria are a common cause of the infections that form abscesses.

Depending on the size and location of the abscess, your health professional may treat the abscess by:

• Using a needle to drain it.
• Cutting open the abscess to remove the pus and infectious material.
• Prescribing antibiotics (pills or a shot). This may be adequate treatment if the abscess is small and treatment is not delayed.

Bladder infection (cystitis) is the most common infection of the lower urinary tract. Bladder infection is usually caused by bacteria that get into the bladder by traveling up the urethra.

Bladder infections are more common in women than in men.

Symptoms of a bladder infection can range from mild to severe, and may include:

• Burning pain with urination (dysuria).
• The frequent need to urinate without being able to pass much urine (frequency).
• Blood in the urine (hematuria).

Symptoms of a bladder infection in children depend on the age of the child. A very young child may cry when urinating or may vomit due to the bladder infection. It may be hard to know if the symptoms are a result of urinary problems or another cause.

If untreated, bladder infections can lead to more serious kidney infections that cause fever and lower back (flank) pain, and may damage the kidneys. Bladder infections are treated with antibiotics.

Prostatitis is a usually painful condition of the prostate gland, the small walnut-shaped organ that lies just below a man’s bladder. The prostate gland produces most of the fluid in semen.

Often the cause of prostatitis is not known. Many men with prostatitis have no signs of inflammation, so no exact cause can be determined. Prostatitis may be caused by an infection or by inflammation not related to infection. It may be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term).

Symptoms of prostatitis include:

• An urge to urinate often but passing only small amounts of urine; feeling an urgent need to urinate; a burning sensation when urinating; and the inability to empty the bladder completely.
• Difficulty starting urination, interrupted flow (urinating in waves instead of in a steady stream), weaker-than-normal urine flow, and dribbling after urinating.
• Pain or discomfort in the lower back; in the area between the scrotum and the anus; in the lower abdomen, scrotum, or upper thighs; or above the pubic area.
• Excessive urinating at night.
• Prostate pain or vague discomfort on ejaculation.

Treatment for prostatitis varies according to the cause. In many cases, medication is needed.

Urethritis is inflammation of the tube that carries urine from the bladder to outside of the body (urethra). It can be caused by a bacterial or viral infection (like some sexually transmitted diseases), irritation from soap or spermicide, or injury.

Symptoms of urethritis can include:

• Pain or burning during urination (dysuria).
• An urgent need to urinate.
• A need to urinate more often than usual.
• A clear, yellow, or green discharge from the urethra.

When urethritis is caused by a bacterial infection, antibiotic medicine is used to treat it.

Orchitis is an inflammation or infection of the testicle, often caused by a virus or bacteria. Symptoms of orchitis include pain, swelling, or a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum.

Orchitis occurs most often in men who have mumps. Influenza, tuberculosis, and sexually transmitted diseases may also cause orchitis.

Pain and swelling in the scrotum should be evaluated by a health professional. Treatment of orchitis caused by bacteria includes antibiotics. Orchitis caused by a virus, such as mumps, is treated with rest and pain medication.