Is this your symptom?
- Penis or scrotum symptoms such as rash, pain, discharge, itching, and swelling
- If symptoms were caused by an injury, see the Genital Injury - Male care guide
Symptoms
- Penis symptoms include rash, pain, itching, lumps (warts), foreskin problems and swelling. Discharge from the end of the penis can occur.
- Scrotum symptoms include pain and swelling of the testicle(s), itching and rash.
- Genital pain due to an injury is covered in the Genital Injury - Male care guide
Causes of Rashes or Itching of the Penis or Scrotum
- Skin Irritants. Most rashes on the penis or scrotum are caused by skin irritants. Hand-to-penis contact is normal when passing urine. So, the rash is most likely from an irritant that was on the hands. Examples are plants (such as weeds) or chemicals (such as bug spray). Fiberglass, pet saliva or even food can also be irritants. Rashes are more common in the summer. Reason: you are outdoors and have more contact with plants and pollens.
- Fungal Infections of the penis often occur from having sex with a female who has a yeast infection. Symptoms include itching, burning and redness around the head of the penis (and under the foreskin) and a white discharge, bad smell, and trouble pulling back the foreskin.
- Skin Problems, such as psoriasis, may cause itching and can affect any part of the body including the genitals.
- Pubic Lice are tiny insects that live among pubic hair. They cause itching due to an allergic reaction to the saliva in their bites. You may see small blue or red spots on your pubic area or thighs where you have been bitten. Scratching will cause irritation. Itching is worse at night, when the lice are most active.
Causes of Lumps or Spots on the Penis or Scrotum
- Molluscum contagiosum is a viral infection that causes small pearly lumps with a dimple on the top. These can appear on any part of the body and go away in their own in time.
- Genital Warts are caused by the wart virus and look like small cauliflower-like lumps and appear on their own or in groups. They also go away on their own in time, but can be spread to sexual contacts. Using a condom will help prevent them from spreading.
- Genital Herpes is caused by the Herpes simplex virus. It can cause painful blisters on the penis or groin area. Seek medical help as soon as symptoms start. Avoid sexual contact until symptoms are gone.
- Lymphocele is a hard lump that may appear after sex or masturbating. It is caused by short-term blockage of the lymph channels. No treatment is needed and the lump goes away by itself very quickly.
- Peyronie's Disease is a hard, flat lump that develops on one side of the shaft of the penis. It can impact the ability to get an erection. It can be caused by rough sex or masturbation.
- Penile Cancer is rare, but if you develop a lump on your penis, see your doctor to get it checked.
Types of Foreskin Retraction (pulling back) Problems
- Phimosis is the inability to retract (pull back) the foreskin. There may be problems with urination, urinary infection, infection under the foreskin and sexual function. It can occur due to scarring from infection or forceful retraction of the foreskin. If very tight, the foreskin may swell (like a balloon) when urinating. This is due to urine collecting under the foreskin.
- Paraphimosis. Forceful retraction can cause the foreskin to get stuck behind the head of the penis. This can cause severe pain and swelling. It's a medical emergency.
- Bleeding. If retraction is forceful, it can cause a small cut. This cut may cause a small amount of bleeding and pain.
- Foreskin Infection(infection under the foreskin). The infection can start in a cut caused by forceful retraction, poor hygiene or having sex with a partner who has an infection. The main symptom is a red and tender foreskin. Pus may also ooze out to the foreskin opening. Passing urine is painful.
- Urine Retention (serious). Can't pass urine or just dribbles urine, despite wanting to go.
Causes of Pain, Swelling and Itching of the Scrotum
- Torsion of the Testis (serious). The testicle twists and cuts off its blood supply. It is always painful. Pain may spread up into the lower part of the abdomen. The scrotum becomes swollen and tender. There may also be nausea, vomiting or sometimes fever. Needs surgery right away to save the testicle. All males with a swollen or painful scrotum are seen as an emergency.
- Epididymitis is an infection of the epididymis, a tube that stores the sperm made by the testicle. There is one attached to the back of each testicle. The infection is always very painful and the scrotum will be swollen, red or warmer than usual. Often affects one side only. It is caused by bacteria, often a sexually transmitted infection (STI).
- Orchitis is an infection of the testicle which causes swelling and tenderness of the testis. It is always painful. It's mainly caused by viruses, such as mumps. Less common than epididymitis.
- Inguinal Hernia. This hernia is a loop of intestine that slides into the scrotum. Any new bulge that comes and goes is likely to be a hernia. Most hernias need surgery to fix them. Most of the time, the repair can be scheduled ahead of time. If the hernia can't slide back into the abdomen, emergency surgery is needed. Hernias can also occur as a swelling in the groin area without swelling of the scrotum.
- Varicocele is a clump of swollen veins above the testis, often on the left side. It becomes much smaller after lying down and draining. It is often painless. It is harmless, but can affect fertility.
- Hydrocele occurs when fluid collects in the scrotum after an injury or inflammation. It is often painless and harmless, but sometimes is a sign of testicular cancer. So, it is important to see your doctor if you have swelling in your scrotum.
- Hematoma (Blood Clot) of Scrotum. Blunt injury can cause a large blood clot to form inside the scrotum. Sometimes, it needs to be drained. This can happen from being hit by a ball during sports or kicked in the scrotum.
- Testicular Cancer (serious) is rare compared to other cancers, but is the most common cancer in males aged 15 to 35 years. It is treatable if caught early. It starts as a lump in the testicle which might be tender. The scrotum may be swollen due to fluid. You may feel a dull ache in the scrotum. Back pain or swelling/tenderness of the breast area are other symptoms.
When to Call for Penis-Scrotum Symptoms
Go to ER Now
Call Doctor or Seek Care Now
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Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours
Contact Doctor During Office Hours
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Self Care at Home
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Go to ER Now
- Foreskin pulled back and stuck (not circumcised)
- Can't pass urine or can only pass a few drops
- Fever and the area looks infected (draining sore, spreading redness)
- Erection is painful or lasts more than 1 hour
Call Doctor or Seek Care Now
- Scrotum is swollen or painful
- Severe penis pain
- Pain spreading from the penis to the anus
- Fever and a red rash or red foreskin
- Weak immune system. Examples are: diabetes, sickle cell disease, HIV, cancer, organ transplant, taking oral steroids, kidney problems.
- You feel weak or very sick
- You think you need to be seen, and the problem is urgent
Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours
- Pus or bloody discharge from end of penis
- Pus from end of foreskin (not circumcised) or swollen foreskin
- Pain or burning when passing urine
- Rash is painful
- Rash has tiny water blisters
- Looks infected (draining sore, spreading redness)
- Fever or chills; feeling hot or shivery
- You are worried you might have an STI (sexually transmitted infection)
- You think you need to be seen, but the problem is not urgent
Contact Doctor During Office Hours
- All other male genital symptoms. Exception: mild rash for less than 3 days.
- Rash or itching lasts 3 or more days
- You have other questions or concerns
Self Care at Home
- Mild rash or itching of penis or scrotum present less than 3 days
- Questions about how to prevent STIs
Care Advice for Stomach Pain
What You Should Know About Stomach Pain:
- Mild stomach pain can be caused by something simple. It could be from gas pains or eating too much.
- Sometimes, stomach pain signals the start of a viral infection. This will lead to vomiting or loose stools.
- Watching your child for 2 hours will help tell you the cause.
- Here is some care advice that should help.
Lie Down:
- Have your child lie down and rest until feeling better.
Clear Fluids:
- Offer clear fluids only (such as water, flat soft drinks or half-strength Gatorade).
- For mild pain, offer a regular diet.
Prepare for Vomiting:
- Keep a vomiting pan handy.
- Younger children often talk about stomach pain when they have nausea. Nausea is the sick stomach feeling that comes before they throw up.
Pass a Stool:
- Have your child sit on the toilet and try to pass a stool.
- This may help if the pain is from constipation or diarrhea.
- Note: for constipation, moving a warm wet cotton ball on the anus may help.
Do Not Give Medicines:
- Any drug (like ibuprofen) could upset the stomach and make the pain worse.
- Do not give any pain medicines or laxatives for stomach cramps.
- For fever higher than 102° F (39° C), acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) can be given.
What to Expect:
- With harmless causes, the pain is most often better or gone in 2 hours.
- With stomach flu, belly cramps may happen before each bout of vomiting or diarrhea. These cramps may come and go for a few days.
- With serious causes (such as appendicitis), the pain worsens and becomes constant.
Call Your Doctor If:
- Pain becomes severe
- Constant pain lasts more than 2 hours
- Mild pain that comes and goes lasts more than 24 hours
- You think your child needs to be seen
- Your child becomes worse
Extra Help - Worried Stomach:
- Help your child talk about events that trigger the stomach pain. Talk to your child about how to cope with these the next time around.
- Help your child worry less about things she can't control.
- To treat the pain, help your child get very relaxed. Lying down in a quiet place and taking slow deep breaths may help. Make the belly go up and down with each breath. Then try to relax all the muscles in the body. Think about something pleasant. Listening to audios that teach how to relax might also help.
- Make sure your child gets enough sleep.
- Make sure that your child doesn't miss any school because of stomach pains. Stressed children tend to want to stay home when the going gets rough.
- Caution: your child should see her doctor for an exam. Do this before concluding frequent stomach pains are from worrying too much.
