Male Genital Problems and Injuries

Overview

Media Gallery(1 picture)

Male genital, Opens dialog problems and injuries can occur fairly easily. That's because the scrotum, Opens dialog and penis aren't protected by bones. These problems and injuries most often occur during:

  • Sports or recreational activities, such as mountain biking, soccer, or baseball.
  • Work-related tasks, such as being exposed to irritating chemicals.
  • Falls.
  • Sex.

A genital injury often causes severe pain that usually goes away quickly without causing permanent damage. Home treatment is usually all that is needed for minor problems or injuries. Pain, swelling, bruising, or rashes that are present with other symptoms may be a cause for concern.

Male genital conditions

Testicular cancer.
This is most common from ages 15 to 35 years. It's more common in white people than in black people. Many growths in the scrotum or testicles aren't cancer (benign). But a painless lump in a testicle may be a sign of cancer.
An erection problem.
This may occur when blood vessels that supply the penis are injured. You may not be able to have an erection (erectile dysfunction). Or the erection may not go away on its own (priapism, Opens dialog), which is a medical emergency.
Torsion of a testicle, Opens dialog .
This occurs when a testicle twists on the spermatic cord and cuts off the blood supply to the testicle. It's a medical emergency.
Scrotal problems.
These problems may include a painless buildup of fluid around one or both testicles (hydrocele, Opens dialog) or an enlarged vein (varicose vein) in the scrotum (varicocele, Opens dialog). Usually these are minor problems. But they may need to be checked by your doctor.
Problems with the foreskin of an uncircumcised penis.
Conditions that make it hard to pull the foreskin back from the head of the penis (phimosis, Opens dialog) or that prevent a tightened, retracted foreskin from returning to its normal position over the head of the penis (paraphimosis, Opens dialog) need to be checked by your doctor.
Hypospadias.
In this common problem at birth, the urethra, Opens dialog does not extend to the tip of the penis.
Undescended testicles, Opens dialog (cryptorchidism).
This occurs when one or both testicles have not moved down into the scrotum.
An inguinal hernia, Opens dialog.
A hernia occurs when a small portion of the bowel bulges out through the inguinal canal into the groin.
A kidney stone, Opens dialog.
A stone forms from minerals in urine that crystallize and harden. Kidney stones are usually painless while they are in the kidney. But they can cause severe pain as they break loose and travel through narrow tubes to exit the body.
A skin cyst, Opens dialog.
A cyst that is filled with a soft, yellow substance called keratin may form beneath the outer layer of the skin in the scrotum.

Infections

Infections can occur in any area of the genitals, such as:

You may notice blood in your semen. This is most often caused by infection or inflammation.

Other problems that may occur in the groin area

Rashes in the groin area have many causes, such as ringworm or yeast (cutaneous candidiasis). Most rashes can be treated at home.

A rash may be the first symptom of a sexually transmitted infection (STI), Opens dialog. If you may have been exposed to an STI, do not have sexual contact or activity until you've been checked by your doctor. This will reduce the risk of spreading a possible infection to your sex partner. Your sex partner may also need to be checked and treated.

Children may play with toys or other objects near their penis and accidentally cause an injury. Anything wrapped around the penis or any object in the penis needs to be checked right away to avoid problems.

If you use a urinary catheter to drain your bladder, your doctor will give you instructions on when to call to report problems. Be sure to follow the instructions your doctor gave you.

Current as of: July 31, 2024

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff

Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.