Penis Infection Warning Signs - When to Tell a Partner

Penis infections are something no man wants to deal with. A sore penis is bad enough, but contracting a contagious problem can be life altering. Taking precautions to ensure optimal penis health is essential. However, if problems do appear, it's equally important to understand whether the condition is serious enough to necessitate contacting any recent sexual partners.

Shrug off the stigma.
Since penis infections are considered embarrassing, it can be tempting for men to shrug off the issue as insignificant and self-contained. Too often, guys will ask themselves, "Why should I tell anyone else I know about my problem?"

The answer, of course, is that penis health problems can result from sexual contact and be transmitted from one person to another. Past partners must be informed so that they can check themselves for any signs of infection, seek proper medical treatment if necessary, and alert any of their recent partners as well.

Spread the word, fast.
When a man is diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease or infection, he has an obligation to inform his prior partners as quickly as possible. Often, timing can be crucial. The earlier a serious genital infection is detected and treated, the higher a person’s odds of recovery are.

Cover all bases.
While most people consider in-person exchanges the best way to share sensitive information, phone calls, emails and even text messages should not be ruled out if a partner is unable to meet up or is unresponsive to initial contact. Of course, emailing or texting alarming news to a partner should be considered a last resort: many people might find this rude or insensitive. But if a man’s options are limited, he should take advantage of every means of communication at his disposal.

Know what STDs look like.
In general, a man should contact his partners if he has contracted any of the following:

• A "major" sexually transmitted disease, such as gonorrhea or syphilis. Often the first sign of these conditions is pain in the penis - especially when urinating - as well as swollen lymph nodes in the genital area. With gonorrhea, there may also be a thick, white, green or yellow discharge from the urethra, while syphilis often results in a hard sore (about the size of a button or a dime) on the penis.

• Genital herpes . This virus usually begins as itchy red spots on and around the penis. But they will often evolve into tender red blisters.

• Yeast infection , also known as thrush or candida. Yeast infections often present themselves as red or white spots on the penis. The skin may become dry, cracked, and painful to touch. Some men can also develop blisters with a penile yeast infection.

• Scabies . A highly contagious and often extremely itchy condition, Scabies is caused by mites that burrow and lay eggs in a person’s skin. Scabies is usually accompanied by a straight-line of red itchy bumps or rashes. .

• Pubic lice . Commonly known as crabs, pubic lice can cause a tremendous amount of itching and discomfort. One indication of public lice is the appearance of tiny brown flecks in the pubic hair. These are actually lice eggs.

Sometimes a man may notice physical changes in his penis that are unrelated to contagious infections. For instance, many men worry when they find Fordyce spots: small, harmless white bumps that are really sebaceous glands. Or PPP (pearly penile papules), which resemble little white domes of skin that form in rings around the glans, on their penises. These conditions are neither serious nor contagious, and there’s no urgent need to let any partners know of them.

Penis infections can be avoided through proper hygiene and the use of condoms and other preventive measures. Keeping the penis healthy should be a top priority for every man. Applying a quality penis health cream (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil) can improve overall penis health. Look for a cream that contains L-arginine, a powerful enzyme that can augment the oxygenation of penis cells. Men should also consider any products with vitamin A, which has anti-bacterial properties that can help reduce unwanted penis odor.