Is this Balanitis? I'm 21, had it most of my whole life, no treatment has worked
Posted , 190 users are following.
Hello, I've seen a doctor many times about a mild condition I have on my penis glans, have been prescribed 3 different creams including Betnovate and a Hydrocortisone, a course of antibiotics and a swab which said I was clear and still the condition remains. I used to have a tight foreskin up until last year which is now sorted from stretching, and I think the condition began during my teenage years when I wasn't able to wash the glans. It often feels dry and can sometmes feel slightly painful when the foreskin retracts, almost like its rubbing and the sensitivity everywhere is quite high still, not sure if this is due to the condition. The urethra opening is always red and inflamed and red areas appear frequently around the glans itself. Any advise on what I should do would be much appreciated, have attached a photo too. Many thanks!
12 likes, 703 replies
chris58722 Verstarix
Edited
Wanted to give an update here:
I'm about 8 months in, its considerably better, but the only thing that has actually helped is time.
As for the visual aspect of things, I got a prescription for SILODOSIN. The tip of my penis actually looks normal again and that was just in a couple days.
So my experience, for pain and discomfort, follow dietary instructions. For the visual part, give solodosin a shot and and get the coupon from goodrx to discount it to $28.
lokezz17360 Verstarix
Edited
hiii... first go to your GP or doctors tell them without feel shame...and its balanitis problems dude wash your pennis carefully and also wash inner portion or pennis forskin too..remember not uses shops or any kind of liquid which are chemical..and its a fungus in your pennis..try antifungal cream..its will cure in days or week..i have also a same problems...
donkey1234 lokezz17360
Posted
i have tried this method, also took a weeks course of antifungal tablets, used anti fungal cream for a week or 2 and it made zero difference....
im really interested in the HPV side of things, ive never been diagnosed with HPV but my girlfriend has before we got together, so i would assume theres a good chance i have some form of HPV too (we have been together over 10 year). i know HPV isnt curable but is their anything to relieve/reduce the symptoms?
Steves8012 donkey1234
Posted
Yeah ive been chucking Canesten all over it and its made zero difference
Mr_Jim donkey1234
Edited
Find a private screening centre, there many available in the UK. It's the only way people.
HPV doesn't have to involve warts/hyperkeratosis. There are a lot of people on here that pooh pooh the possibility that it could be HPV, possibly due to worry more than anything else.
Female trials for a new HPV vaccine are pending, I believe they are still canvassing for volunteers - also the on going pandemic is delaying everything.
There are plans to start the same trial, but for males. However, this was projected for next year and may now be delayed due to the pandemic.
We all have the ability to get a test - therefore it seems illogical people don't.
junior03056 lokezz17360
Posted
sounds like you had thrush, this is way deeper than that i think most of us have tried anti fungal creams and tablets months ago.
Steves8012 Mr_Jim
Posted
Will look to get screened as soon as things open up again. What associated symptoms would this likely cause as for me a sore glans hasn't been the only issue?
Mr_Jim Steves8012
Posted
skin cell changes, skin thickening, to name but a few.
I'm no expert, which is why I suggest people source a test. 😃
donkey1234 Mr_Jim
Posted
ill deffo look into it, if it is HPV, can it be treated is the next question.... ive got a telephone appointment with my GP tomorrow so will discuss this and the Bactrim later mentioned in here
cheers guys, stay strong
Steves8012 donkey1234
Posted
So just had a conversation with a virologist and they dismissed the HPV diagnosis. Suggested if did present itself it would be raised bumps so believes that's off the mark. Seem to think much more likely to be fungal.
Mr_Jim Steves8012
Edited
Be that as it may, but a biopsy is only going to prove one of the other.
I've had a swab for thrush - it was as much use as a chocolate fire guard. The symptoms we all have, whilst may look or read alike, may well be tied to completely different underlying problems.
Therefore a biopsy, no matter how painful, will be the only true way to ascertain.
Good luck.
junior03056 Steves8012
Posted
did you check the thread i posted with the guy that is now cured and also another guy that is seeing improvements within just a few days? both pointed towards bacterial
Steves8012 junior03056
Posted
Yeah not ruled that out just saying they thought the HPV diagnosis was highly unlikely. Also didn't think the prostatitis would impact the glans in a big way. Still investigating though
junior03056 Steves8012
Posted
but if its a bacterial infection it will affect the skin in the area i suppose? yeah i asked my doctor if it could be HPV and they said no too
pistonhead junior03056
Posted
ive had the hpv vaccine so i think its unlikely HPV. I looked into the drug Bactrium and its a serious drug. A dual antibiotic that has been linked to some fairly serious side effects. I am going to talk to my doctor about it. Its certainly not something to be taken in large quantities without a doctors supervision. But if its the answer then I will try it. if others report success with it then its definitely bacterial. It would also raise the question why did all the urine and seaman cultures I have had it pick it up?
so many questions and not many answers yet 😦
good luck everyone, if you have a success story please post.
Steves8012 pistonhead
Posted
Yeah my next option would be the Levofloxicin which looks heavy duty. Bailed on it due to US sites heads up on side effects but UK doctors don't seem overly concerned
caleb04109 pistonhead
Posted
its because normal pcr urine tests only check for a handful of bacteria where ngs testing shows thousands and is much more accurate. PCR is a technology that makes many copies of a small portion of a microorganism’s genetic information. It can be inexpensive and sensitive, but is extremely limited in how many microorganisms can be identified in a single test – typically less than a dozen in one test. Further, because PCR creates many copies of small genetic pieces, it is heavily biased and cannot be used to assess abundance of microbial populations.
In contrast, NGS (shotgun metagenomic sequencing) creates a genetic fingerprint of everything in the sample. It is a much more comprehensive approach, capable of identifying tens of thousands of microorganisms in one sample, only limited by the availability of sequence data.
most biofilm also wont grow in the pcr cultres that we do as they cant grow in those dishes overnight then we get back results that say youre negative. Its frustrating how most doctors and urologists rely so heavily on this old technology thats not looking for everything.
pistonhead caleb04109
Posted
I understand the testing differences, I have had the more advanced NGS test. I have had every test you can imagine: urine and seamen, I have private health care. I have even had MRI and CT scans. All negative.
pistonhead Steves8012
Posted
i think if you have a UK doctor you trust you should listen to them. I have lived in America and their health care is brilliant (if you have money) however I feel some doctors push certain drugs and warn about others due to incentives given by the big drug companies.
i trust UK doctors far more.
caleb04109 pistonhead
Posted
have you also had a cysto
pistonhead caleb04109
Edited
yes 2 of them with 2 different Urologists. one was under general anesthetic. the only thing they found was I had micro kidney stones coming from my kidneys into my bladder. But the urologist said this was not the cause of my issue, and it was nothing to worry about.
if there is a test or examination that can be done I am fairly sure I have had it.