Disorders of the penis
The male sexual organ can be affected by several disorders ranging in severity from swelling to nerve entrapment and impotence. These disorders should be brought to the attention of a trained physician and some of them require surgery.
The simplest disorder is the swelling of the foreskin, which can result from sexual activity, including masturbation. This disorder is called Oedema and it is practically harmless as long as the foreskin is in the normal position and the blood flow is present. However, a doctor’s advice should be sought if the swelling persists, since this could be pointing toward chronic heart disease.
Paraphimosis is the inability to more the foreskin over the glans either from fluid trapped in a foreskin which is left retracted or from the accumulation of fluid in the foreskin after intense sexual activity. The condition can be treated by simple means. If it persists for several hours, a visit to the doctor is mandatory.
Peyronie’s disease is one of the most common penis disorders. It is characterized by a curvature of the penis caused by anomalous scar tissue. Surgery is usually needed only in severe cases.
Accidents and hard cycle seats can be the source of damage to the pudendal nerve. The pudendal nerve entrapment is characterized by pain on sitting and loss of sensation and orgasm. It should not be confused with the loss of sensation caused by permanent nerve damage from diabetes or peripheral neuropathy.
As with other muscles, the penis can be torn by excessive bent. Penile fracture should be treated as soon as possible in order to prevent permanent damage.
Priapism is a painful medical condition in which the erect penis fails to return to the flaccid state. Potential complications include ischaemia, thrombosis, and impotence. In serious cases the condition may result in gangrene, which may necessitate amputation.
The best-known disorder of the penis is impotence, today known as erectile dysfunction. Impotence is the inability to reach or maintain the erect state of the penis in order to have a satisfactory sexual performance.
