What Your Penis Says About Your Health

Paying attention to your penis is important as it can act as a barometer of your overall health. Acute awareness of penile symptoms can help you understand your bodily function as a whole. The penis can act as a harbinger for your heart health, testosterone levels and of course, sex drive. Penis sensitivity, texture, and sexual performance can indicate problems in other areas of the body. Therefore, learning what is abnormal when it comes to the penis can help you prevent systemic health problems.

Loss of Sensitivity

The penis is one of the most sensitive parts of the body. Consequently, you will probably notice right away any loss of feeling. The most common cause of sensitivity loss is due to lack of vitamins in the body. Lack of nutrients impedes blood circulation causing numbness. The most common place of this numbness is in our extremities. A vitamin deficiency can also curtail the signals that travel from our nerves to the brain. This negatively affects our sensations. Changing your diet to one high in vitamins (specifically B12 and folate) can positively affect your penis sensitivity. Persistence of penile numbness can be also be a sign of diabetes. Check your blood sugar and consult a medical professional.

The Difference of Texture/Color

Redness, inflammation, or patches of redness on the penis can be a significant indicator of overall health problems. This difference of texture and color is called balanitis and is caused by viruses, fungi or bacteria. Besides a variety of topical medications that can aliment this, getting checked out for diabetes is paramount. Research has shown that men with diabetes are three times more likely to develop balanitis than men without. If red patches are extremely sensitive it could be a sign of penile cancer.

Urination Issues

Almost every problem with urination: difficulty to start, frequent urination, weak flow, dripping after urination, fullness of bladder after urination, and blood in the urine all relate to benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). BPH is extremely common in men over the age of 40 (90%). BPH happens when your prostate is enlarged and presses down on the urine tube.The signs of BPH are also common in the later stages of prostate cancer. Unfortunately, there are no early signs of prostate cancer, but being proactive and getting a rectal exam or a prostatic specific antigen blood test can identify cancer at its earliest stages.In addition, burning or pain whilst urinating is a common signifier of a sexually transmitted infection/disease (STI, STD) or a urinary tract infection (UTI).

Problems Ejaculating

Hormonal imbalance can lead lack of semen quantity at ejaculation. High levels of testosterone produce more semen leading to more material to ejaculate. Those who have trouble achieving or sustaining an erection (ED) also have problems related to ejaculation. ED can point to numerous health problems including: blood pressure, high cholesterol, nerve damage, sleep problems, obesity, and diabetes.

Seeking Medical Help

Seeking medical attention if you experience any of the above problems is highly recommended. Choosing a doctor that understands and specializes in male sexual health can help you better understand the specific functions (and problems) with your penis. Dr. Elist has been a leading doctor specializing in urology, specifically in impotency, male sexual dysfunction, and infertility since 1982. His expertise and lengthy can guarantee any and all of your questions will be answered.