7 Ways For You To Keep Your Penis Healthy

Penis health is an extremely important part of your overall health considering how sensitive the area is and it goes beyond the ability to get or maintain an erection and reproduce. These factors come under penis health.

What conditions can affect penis health?

Erectile Dysfunction (ED): The inability to get or maintain an erection for intercourse.

Ejaculation: This includes the inability to ejaculate, delayed, premature, painful, reduced and retrograde ejaculation.

Anorgasmia: The inability to achieve an orgasm despite stimulation.

ALSO READ: What do These Sex Terms Mean?

Libido: Decreased libido or a reduced desire for sex.

STI: This includes genital warts, chlamydia, syphilis, herpes and these can cause issues like painful urination, discharge, sores and blisters on the penis or in the genital area.

Infections: Yeast infections can cause inflammation of the head of the penis, rashes, white patches, itching and burning.

Disease: Peyronie’s disease is a chronic condition that involves the development of abnormal scar tissue inside the penis, often resulting in bent or painful erections

Fracture: Penile fracture is a rupture during an erection or when an erect penis forcefully strikes the female pelvis.

Priapism: A persistent and painful erection that isn’t caused by an erection.

Phimosis: This is a condition where the foreskin can’t be retracted from the head and causes painful urination and erections.

Paraphimosis: The condition in which the foreskin cannot be returned to its normal position after being retracted which causes swelling and impaired blood flow.

What factors increase the risk of penis problems?

Diseases: Heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol can increase the risk of erectile dysfunction.

Medication: One of the most possible side effects of many medicines is erectile dysfunction, these include blood pressure, antidepressants, sleep medicine, ulcer medication.

Cancer Treatment: Surgical removal of the prostate gland for prostate cancer treatment can cause erectile dysfunction.

Smoking: Smoking not only causes problems in breathing but also increases the chances of erectile dysfunction.

Drinking: Excessive drinking can cause decrease libido and even poor sexual behavior.

Hormones: Imbalances in hormone level contribute to erectile dysfunction especially a testosterone deficiency.

Psychological: Factors like depression, severe stress or any other mental impairments and the medications for these conditions which may increase the risk of erectile dysfunction. In turn erectile dysfunction has caused anxiety and depression in many.

Age: Aging results in a decline in testosterone levels and is associated with decreased intensity of orgasms and ejaculation and less sensitivity of touch.

Contraception: Unprotected sex or sex with multiple partners can increase the risks of sexually transmitted infections.

ALSO READ: HOW MANY TYPES OF PENISES ARE THERE?

When should I see a doctor?

If you notice any of these signs or symptoms then seeing a doctor would be a good thing for you:

1. Warts, lesions, bumps or rash on the penis or genital area.

2. Bleeding during urination or ejaculation

3. Abrupt changes in desire and arousal

4. Changes in ejaculation

5. Bent penis that causes pain or interferes with sexual activity

6. Discharge from the penis

7. Severe pain in the penis

How do I keep my penis healthy?

There are some things you can do to keep your penis healthy. 

Sexually responsible: Using condoms or maintaining a monogamous relationship with a partner that is free of any infections.

Vaccinations: If you are younger than the age of 26, you should consider taking the HPV vaccine that helps prevent cancer associated with the virus.

Physical activity: Moderate exercise can significantly reduce risk of erectile dysfunction.

Right Choice: Maintaining health weight reduces risk of high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes; all of which increase the risk  of erectile dysfunction.

Good Hygiene: Whether you are circumcised or not maintaining intimate hygiene is extremely important.

Medications: Discuss and know the medication and understand the use and possible effects from your doctor.

Mental health: If you think you need it then seek medical help for depression, anxiety or any other mental health conditions.

Not all penis problems can be prevented but routine examination can create greater awareness for any condition of yours and helps you detect problems at an early stage. 

How to wash my penis?

Most guys aren’t aware or haven’t been taught the right way to clean their intimate area. Easy for you, maintaining an intimate hygiene routine is not difficult. 

Choose a good intimate wash for men which is made with natural ingredients and is free of any artificially added chemicals and fragrances. Use a men’s intimate wash everyday while taking a shower to maintain intimate hygiene and to stay fresh all day long.

Here is a step-by-step guide on using a men's intimate wash.

• Use warm water to wet your groin and the skin around the groin region

• Pour a small amount of the product into the palm of your hand and lather slightly

• Apply the product to your pubic area and cover the entire area

• Gently rub it over your skin to remove accumulated dirt and sweat

• Wash it off thoroughly with water. Wipe your groin area gently to make sure it is not moist.

How to wash my uncircumcised penis?

 There is nothing different in washing an uncircumcised penis. Although if you don’t clean under the foreskin, an accumulation of smegma under the foreskin can increase the chances of infections which cause rashes, irritation and itch in the intimate area.

Keep in mind that if you're uncircumcised, remember to pull back your penis' foreskin and wash underneath.

Do I need to wash my penis after sex?

After having sex, some amount of semen gets trapped under your foreskin which may lead to infections. The sweat on your penis or vagina can make it smell really bad. So washing your genitals after the act is essential to drive away the germs. Bad post-coital hygiene habits can cause yeast infections in men and women. Yeast infection can lead to bad odor accompanied by discomforts such as itching and pain. 

Why does my penis smell even after washing?

If you wash your penis everyday then it shouldn’t smell at all. Although if it still smells then the problem might be in the soap. You need to get a soap that is made specially for your intimate area. An intimate wash for men is made keeping in mind the pH of men’s intimates and is not harsh on the sensitive skin.