Penile pain and painful erections

"Penile pain can have various causes. It could be caused by injury or an infection. If you are experiencing unexplained pain, you should see a doctor without delay."

Dr Louisa Draper

What are the causes of painful erections?

Peyronie’s

The most common cause of painful erections is Peyronie’s disease. This is a condition where scar tissue develops in one area inside the penis, causing it to curve and resulting in painful erections. The pain felt in the penis by Peyronie’s disease makes it difficult and painful to have sex.

The exact cause of Peyronie’s disease is not known, however, it is thought that a trauma or injury to the penis may trigger the formation of scar tissue as the injury heals. This scar tissue can thicken and harden and as scar tissue isn’t flexible, the penis can bend when erect. The condition can also develop over a period of time without having a link to an injury or trauma to the penis.

Penile fracture

Another, rare, cause of painful erections is a penile fracture. Penis fracture can be the result of a trauma to the penis when erect. As there is no bone inside the penis, the ‘fracture’ is actually the rupture of the lining of one of the tubes in the penis (the corpora cavernosa). which contribute to the creation of erections. A penile fracture causes sudden, severe pain, then swelling and bruising of the penis. A penis fracture can lead to erectile dysfunction, so if you suspect that you have a penile fracture you must seek medical help immediately.

Priapism

Priapism is another cause of painful erections. Priapism means a persistent and painful erection which does not subside after ejaculation. The erection can last for several hours and it is often not related to sexual arousal. Priapism is a medical emergency and can lead to erectile dysfunction if left untreated. It is important to seek medical help if you have an erection that feels tender and painful and lasts for more than four hours.

Balanitis

Balanitis is a common inflammation of the penis, which can cause rash, swelling, itching and pain. It can occur as a reaction to a substance, a bacterial or a fungal infection or an STI.

What can cause penile pain?

If you experience pain when passing urine, it could be caused by a urinary tract infection (UTI). The pain is felt in the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the penis. The pain can feel sharp and intense. The pain may also be accompanied by blood in the urine, needing to urinate frequently, an urgent need to urinate, and a burning sensation in the penis.

Pain when passing urine can also be a sign of a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Symptoms of chlamydia and gonorrhea include pain in the penis when urinating, and also discharge from the penis and swollen testicles.

Genital herpes can cause blisters on the penis and testicles, which cause itching and a burning sensation. Other symptoms of genital herpes include blisters on and around the anus and buttocks, aching, fever, swollen lymph nodes in the groin, and a loss of appetite.

If you are experiencing penis pain along with and even without any of the above symptoms, make sure that you see your doctor as delaying treatment could cause long term health problems.

How is the pain treated?

The treatment for penis pain and painful erections varies depending on the cause of the pain.

If you have a UTI or an STD, your doctor may be able to prescribe antibiotics to treat the condition. You can also buy treatment for chlamydia online without the need to see a doctor.

Genital herpes is treated with antiviral medicines, including Aciclovir and Valaciclovir. To get treated without seeing a doctor face to face, use our online consultation. A doctor will use your answers to our brief online questionnaire to diagnose your condition and approve appropriate treatment.

What can I do if I have painful erections?

If you have painful erections caused by Peyronie’s disease, the treatment will depend on the severity of the condition. If your penis is slightly curved but you are still able to have sex comfortably, then treatment may not be needed. Sometimes the condition can get better on its own. Treatment by drugs or injection may be needed in some cases, and surgery may or may not be appropriate depending on how much pain you are feeling and whether the condition is interfering with your ability to have sex.

If you have a painful erection caused by priapism, treatment will depend on whether you have non-ischaemic (high blood flow to the penis) or ischaemic (low blood flow) priapism. Both require prompt medical attention however, and if you have a painful erection that lasts for more than four hours, seek medical help immediately to avoid causing further problems such as erectile dysfunction.

If you have sustained an injury to your penis and you experience painful erections or problems with erections afterwards, make sure that you get medical help as soon as possible to avoid further problems in the future.