The male genitals are beset with a definite group of difficulties. Some of them are common in both young and old, but most of these troubles occur after the age of fifty. They may arise from infection, the physical state of the genital organs, malignant and non-malignant growth, erection difficulties and urinary problems due to prostatic disease.
Infection of the Penis. Infection at the end of the penis often occurs because the fore-skin cannot be retracted to expose the head of the penis for cleaning. This contracted and narrowed fore-skin, called phimosis, keeps the head of the penis wet, contaminated, and an ideal breeding ground for infection.

Infection of the penile skin may be due to scratching from fungus, louse, or bacterial infection. The dark, moist skin of the penis and groin invite not only infections common to skin all over the body, but also the fungus infections which seek damp, dark skin areas in which to breed.


Fig. 105. A penile sore usually brings up the question of venereal disease. However, the penis may be afflicted with skin diseases found anywhere on the body. It is only logical to wash hands before, as well as after, touching this organ.

A widely known infection inside the penis is gonorrhea, often called by other names. This infection can be acquired at almost any age, but usually from just one source-sexual relations with an infected person. The disease produces copious amounts of pus draining out of the urethra, starting about a day after sexual intercourse. The pussy discharge and accompanying burning urination last about one week, but will respond rapidly to the physician’s administration of the proper antibiotic.

Chancre of Syphilis. Syphilis, the venereal disease, down through the ages has been heralded by the chancre, a shallow, ulcerated, painless sore on the penis, which lasts two to three weeks. It develops about two weeks after sexual intercourse with an infected person, as a small pimple or boil, which soon breaks down into the shallow painless ulcer. Syphilis is then a systemic disease, with the causative spirochete circulating in the blood, in the salivary secretion, and in other parts of the body, and a blood test will show a positive serology to establish the definite diagnosis of syphilis.

Drugs now available are extremely effective in the treatment and cure of this disease, when properly administered by a physician, but repeated checks are desirable to determine the effectiveness of treatment.

Keywords: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,