Advice from a urologist: The most common penis problems – and what you need to do

“In young patients, hormonal or anatomical causes such as vascular leakage are primarily sought. “This situation can be corrected definitively in 15 minutes with interventional radiology,” says Altwegg.

Erectile dysfunction in older patients is often caused by cardiovascular disease, but it can still be treated: “From the age of 50, vascular tissue becomes less elastic, making it more difficult to pump blood to the penis,” says Altwegg. There is no only drug treatment for this. Recently, shock wave therapy has been developed that heals the penis by creating new blood vessels.

Another common problem is premature ejaculation in men; which is incorrectly attributed to inexperience or lack of body control.

Few people know that in most cases taking a single medication is enough to completely eliminate the problem. “Instead of suffering and compromising your sexual pleasure, you should go to a urologist and discuss the problem,” says Altwegg.

Pain when urinating, difficulty urinating or even a burning sensation – urinary tract infections are less common in men than in women but must be treated by a doctor. In young patients, these infections are often caused by fungi and lead to severe irritation of the glans, red patches, or discharge under the foreskin (called balanitis). Another common cause of bladder emptying problems in young men is sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia or gonorrhea, also known as “gonorrhea.”

According to Altwegg, problems with emptying the bladder can also lead to infection in young patients. It’s a problem that can usually be solved with a minimally invasive procedure, sometimes even performed on an outpatient basis.

The thin and sensitive skin of the penis is normally protected by skin flora consisting of “good” bacteria. This can easily become irritated by excessive intimate hygiene or the use of unsuitable cleaning products: “There is no point in using your Ax shower gel for intimate cleansing. Warm water once a day is sufficient,” says Altwegg.

The “down there” rash, pimples, and itching may also be a sign of a disease that once seemed nearly eradicated by penicillin: Syphilis.

Sexually transmitted syphilis causes pimples, also known as syphilis craters, in its early stages. They occur on the genitals, anus or mouth and are often unnoticed. “Nowadays, people are less afraid of sexually transmitted diseases and therefore often abandon preventive measures. “This is why these potentially fatal diseases are spreading again,” says the expert.

The classic horror story in the men’s locker room: the broken penis. “A shock supposedly causes the erectile tissue to rupture and leak blood into the penis, which then swells and takes on a bluish color. If such an event occurs, you should go to the emergency room immediately,” says Altwegg.

Another feared accident is the rupture of the penis brake. It is more common than a broken penis and is very bloody, but quite harmless: “In such a case, you need to squeeze the penis firmly with your hand to stop the bleeding and cool it. The next step should be to make an appointment with a urologist,” says Altwegg.

What if it’s cancer?

What do you do if you feel something in the shower that wasn’t there before? “Go to the doctor immediately,” says Altwegg. There are two age groups that are particularly at risk when it comes to testicular cancer: ages 15 to 25 and ages 40 to 60. This cancer is highly treatable in most cases, but the earlier it is detected the sooner serious treatments can be avoided. How to proceed: “Once the testicles are fully descended, examine yourself every three to four months.”

What about prostate cancer? “This is an insidious cancer because those affected often do not feel any symptoms until the advanced stage. “That is why doctors attach great importance to early diagnosis, from the age of 50 in the general population and earlier in people at risk,” says Altwegg.