Syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia and sexually transmitted herpes can cause symptoms in the penis and scrotum such as pain when urinating, ejaculation, testicular swelling, and discharge.
Symptoms of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can be mild or can lead to infertility or cancer. Below are common symptoms that affect the penis when men have an STI:
Pain or discomfort during urination or ejaculation.
Abnormal secretions White, yellow or green discharge from the tip of the genitals can be a sign of gonorrhea. Transparent fluid warns of chlamydia.
Ulcers A hard, painless chancre (called a chancre) that appears on the penis is often caused by syphilis.
Blisters are painful: Pain or itching on the penis or scrotum may be caused by genital herpes. Usually the pain or itching appears first, followed by blisters a day or two later.
Swollen testicles: Orchitis has many causes, but sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea or chlamydia are the most common causes. They also cause pain and heaviness.
STIs can cause symptoms elsewhere in the male reproductive system or on the body such as:
Blisters or ulcers in the anus due to genital herpes and syphilis.
Swollen lymph nodes in the groin common in many sexually transmitted diseases. With HIV it is often swollen lymph nodes around the neck.
Itchy pubic hair occurs due to pubic lice. If you look closely, you can see gray or brown eggs clinging to the base of the hair, and even lice crawling on the skin.
The rash spreads may develop in some people exposed to HIV or with secondary syphilis.
Flu-like symptoms: Headaches, fever, chills, body aches and fatigue affect many people in the early stages of HIV.
Sometimes abnormalities in the penis occur for reasons other than STIs, such as fungal infections, testicular torsion, penile cancer. Some symptoms are easily confused with other conditions. Patients need to monitor whether they appear immediately after sex, especially when condoms are not used.
If STI warning symptoms appear or are suspected of having the disease, men should go for examination and testing to be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible, limiting the possibility of transmitting the disease to their partners. People who are sexually active, especially those with multiple partners, should be tested for STIs during regular health check-ups.