Q&As Tagged Questions

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

There many causes of testicular pain, some of which require immediate attention. As you have been experiencing this dull pain over a couple of days, it is most likely not due to trauma or torsion (twisting) of a testical. One cause of testicular pain is Epididymitis (testicle infection). This is an inflammation of the epididymis, usually due to an infection. It is the most common cause of testicular pain in men older than 18 years. It can be diagnosed with a urine sample and usually treated with antibiotics. However, this is normally accompanied by swelling, which you do not mention. As there are many possible causes, most easy to diagnose and treat, it is highly recommended you seek advice from your GP. If you would like further advice, or would prefer to use a local Sexual Health Clinic, please contact us. All calls are treated with strictest confidence.

Answered by team member Mara
8th July 2009

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

Taking medications can often have side effects, and it may well have contributed to the problem. When it comes to the possibility of testicular infection, if that is what you have, if left untreated, it can worsen. It is highly advisable you speak to your GP, to diagnose or rule out illness, especially if you find any further changes. It will be interesting to find out if the medication you are taking has contributed!

Answered by team member Mara
8th July 2009

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

Hi Jamie,

Sometimes, straining the bowels can result in a discharge of fluids from from the penis, orginating from the prostate. These fluids are usually clear, but can sometimes be cloudy. However, the symptoms you describe need to be seen by a doctor for further investigation. You describe the discharge as thick, and also list redness and being sore. This points to the likelihood of an STI, so you need to have yourself tested again, despite having had negative results in the past. Sometimes, it can take time for an STI to show on a test. Normally, you will test positive within two weeks of contracting an STI, but this can take longer. You should also have your prostate checked for any irregularities. There are other issues for concern, in addition to your physical ones. You may want to talk about your past sexual experiences with someone. We can offer a number of services, including counselling and advice. Please give us a call to discuss further options: 01380801951 (Wiltshire) or 01793250951 (Swindon).

Answered by team member Mara
12th May 2011

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

You are right to wonder whether you may have an infection and we would suggest that you should get checked.

There are several types of STI that you can get, and in some cases you don’t even notice any symptoms although you can still pass it on as well as getting complications yourself later.

You don’t need to worry about what to get tested for – all the clinics will know what to test for.

Answered by team member Dr Peter
8th December 2015

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

There are a number of reasons you could have the symptoms you describe, and the only way to have a proper diagnosis is to go to your local Sexual Health Clinic, as it may well be a STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection). Please be assured that the clinicians deal with problems like this every day and should be able to offer you an appointment quickly. It is important to be seen soon, especially when the symptoms are present. In some cases, the symptoms may go away, but you may still carry the infection and it may flare up again. We cannot advise what you may be suffering from, nor advocate self-treatment without having a proper diagnosis. We can offer a buddying service, so you do not have to go to the appointment on your own if this concerns you. Please contact us so we can discuss this further: 01380 801 951

Answered by team member Mara
8th March 2011

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

Hello and thanks for getting in touch with MSH. The one thing that it could be are the white lumps on your glans. It can be entirely normal to have painless, small white bumps on your penis, especially on your glans, most typically around the corona, the rounded base of the glans. It is clear you have tried to figure out what these lumps are and not found a single, specific condition that fits your case exactly. There can be small variations in symptoms, thus giving the appearance of something different. They are also known as Pearly Penile Papules, often abbreviated to PPP, are found around the head of the penis. Sometimes the foreskin needs to be pulled back in order to see them. The papules are small, smooth spots that are white or skin-coloured and 1mm-3mm across. They will often appear in small rows a bit like a string of pearls, hence the name. The good news is that penile papules are absolutely nothing to worry about as they pose no health risks and will not cause any pain or irritation. In fact, they are very common, with an estimated 20% of the male population developing them. There is no known cause of PPP.



Although they are not infectious and aren’t related in any way to sexual activity and personal hygiene, the papules can still be worrying for those who don’t know what they are and who may mistake them as an STI. Men with PPP should not pick them or attempt to squeeze them, as this could lead to scarring and infection. It is possible to have the papules removed for cosmetic reasons, which dermatologists may do by using a CO2 laser to vaporise the spots. This does not involve any injections in the penis as an anaesthetic cream can be used and men will be fully healed within one to two weeks. It is important to remember that despite this being a safe and effective procedure, removal is not obligatory. It is often opted for by people who are finding that the papules are affecting their self-confidence.



To be 100% sure, we would suggest booking an appointment with your GP, Sexual health clinic to rule out anything else, then you will know 100% what they are. We hope this has helped ease your concerns, and if possible please let us know the result of your doctors visit so we know if we were correct in our assessment

Answered by team member Matt
1st October 2013

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

Hello and thank you for asking us with your problem. Based on the information you have given, it could possibly be NSU - Non Specific Urethritis. Although this is mainly caught from having unprotected sex, it is possible to get it without having sex if you urinary tract gets infected by a certain kind of bacteria. The most common signs of having NSU are: white or cloudy discharge from the penis, usually more noticeable first thing in the morning, pain burning sensation or difficulty when passing urine, feeling of needing to pass water frequently, itching or irritation at the end of the urethra, you may have some of these or none of these. It is easily treated by a course of antibiotics. If not treated it can lead to further complications such as, painful swelling of the testicles,

Reduced fertility (inability to have children), Inflammation (pain and swelling) of the joints. Hence why it is best to seek treatment. Although you may not have NSU, we would recommend you see you local GP or Doctor and discuss what you have told us and they will be able to perform simple tests to diagnose your problem. If you live in the Swindon area and would like support booking a appointment or would like further support please get back in touch.

Answered by team member Matt
7th February 2013

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

Thanks for getting in touch with us. The colour of your penis head is fairly normal to change different shades off purple/pink, depending on many things, such as temperature and how sexually excited you are, this is due to the amount of blood flowing to that part of your body, so when you are masturbating/wanking/hand sex the penis will get darker as you are sexually aroused. It should return to its normal shade once your erection has gone and you are flaccid again. But if you are saying that it is going from light to dark and staying dark then we would suggest you see your local doctor/GP and get him to look at it to ensure there is no underlying problems occurring.

Answered by team member Matt
14th February 2013

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

Hello and thank you for getting in touch with us. Phimosis can be tricky to treat, as it can return. I don't know if the damage it caused from when you were first infected has not been completely healed or if it can be. Due to already having been prescribed something from your doctor, and the fact we do not ever prescribe medicines, we suggest you go back to your doctor and address this issue with him and see what he can do to treat your penis tip. Sorry we couldn't offer more advice, we hope you understand in this instance.

Answered by team member Matt
15th July 2013

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

It sounds as if the red tip to your penis might be some slight inflammation. This could be from a number of causes, but probably not from your partner's time of the month. Her secretions change a bit during the monthly cycle, but unless she was unusually dry during sex they wouldn't cause your inflammation. Passing only a small amount of urine just afterwards probably reflects the fact that it is red and inflamed rather than there being anything wrong with your urine. 

If you have been together for some time and neither of you has had another partner, it probably isn't necessary to have a check for STIs, but on the other hand the inflammation might be due to conditions like thrush or bacterial vaginosis which are not normally sexually acquired, so it is still worth you both getting a check if the problem persists.

A little lubricant during sex may help for the future.

Answered by team member Dr Peter
9th January 2016

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

Unprotected sex always carries a risk of catching an infection (an STI), and so does oral sex. If you notice a discharge and/or pain when having a pee a few days after unprotected sex then you need to go to your local GUM clinic for a check up. 

You asked if it could be syphilis: actually this is probably not the case, because syphilis is not one of the infections that starts with a discharge. (Usually it will be a small painless ulcer on the penis, called a chancre).

But whatever the reason for your fluid discharge we suggest a check up – and remember to avoid unprotected sex unless in a long term relationship after you have both had a check to make sure you can’t give each other any unwelcome surprises.

Answered by team member Dr Peter
8th December 2015

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

Its a bit difficult to give an definitive answer based you your description but it doesn’t sound serious and you shouldn't worry, just follow the advice below.

You may have caused some inflammation through wanking and this is causing the soreness. I would suggest stopping for a few days, but if you can’t, try to be more gentle and using a lubricant of some nature. Any of the ones for sex are great but if you don’t have any a basic olive oil will do (but never use oil with condoms as it will make them break).

Blood itself can cause a burning feeling in your urethra (pee tube) and often if you have passed some blood it will feel sore to pee for a few times afterwards. 

If you have had sex with another person an infection is possible and you should get that checked out by a sexual health clinic or your doctor. 

If the pain continues or you get more blood on a regular basis after you masturbate you should go and see your doctor. In a man of your age we recommend a check if it happens four or more times in a month. In this situation your doctor will probably ask a specialist to see you for a couple of extra checks to be sure that you have nothing serious.

Answered by team member Douglas
8th December 2015