Is this Balanitis? I'm 21, had it most of my whole life, no treatment has worked

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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!

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  • Edited

    My symptoms are somewhat getting better with lots and lots of medications. Last 2 months were not really good but in the last 2 days the pain and redness has significantly come down. In fact pain and redness is zero.

  • Posted

    I also think I have the same issue with redness like the OP. Applying moisturizer a few times a day seems to help keep the irritation down. I've posted pictures in my thread as well.

  • Posted

    finished my second course of 4 weeks of cipro added with medication to help my prostate relax and alot of anti-inflamitarys, the last time i met my urologist he did a prostate examination and when he touched my prostate i screamed i was in that much pain and i have a high pain threshhold.

    since finishing these meds i visited the urologist this week and had another examination and the prostate no longer hurts, so little by little my symptoms are gone or highly reduced.

    im currently left with sometimes cloudy urination which is partly my fault for not drinking enough

    water.

    the meatius still can be intermittently itchy against my pants if my foreskin is retracted and also the glands can appear dry from time to time.

    I am no longer in any pain but i have been put on cruising on anti-inflammatary tablets for a while from now on.

    i feel 90% better but not fully cured, he said if i dont feel better in the next year he will carry out a prostate massage and ill have to be put to sleep and he will also put a camera up there to check for anything.

    • Posted

      Congrats on feeling better!

      I have symptoms close to yours what I can read.

      I think prostatitis, not much pain, but balanitis, white in urine, cloudy urine in periods and discharge with bowel movements (from prostate i guess) that started at the same time.

      Did you have any side effects from the medications you took?

      Did you have white thin strings of mucus in urine? Are they gone now?

    • Posted

      cheers mate i can say with how i feel currently i can carry on living my life again, yeah i had strings of mucus in my urine too aswell as it being generally cloudy.

      side effects were pain in my bowels and feeling slightly drowsy.

      ill check my urine tonight for mucus, they found pus in my urine probably caused by the inflamattion.

  • Posted

    i too have this problem.i thought i was alone here to witness this but after reading further replies it just gave me some confidence but is unhappy to see any cure of this.my glans bottom and meatus is red like this.it get more red when i ejaculate/ masturbate .i am virgin 16 years old . i have this from last 2 years shown one urologist diagnosed balanoposthitis gave betadine ointment and antibotics but it didn't help. after 5 days i went to him again and told its normal but it isn't.also applied clotrimazole but no effect on it. i have currently made an appointment for a dermatologist and hope he could cure this.also found that my penis do not self lubricate it when i dry it after cleaning just with water (never applied soap).it slightly hurts when foreskin retracts when dry. applying coconut oil just to reduce sensitivity. if any body can help you please tell me because i am very much worried about it.

    • Posted

      here are some pics i am attaching also can any one of you tell me does it affect your sex life. i am very much worried about it. also do you think is it a form of balanitis may be zoon balanitis or any other severe form imageimage

    • Posted

      Circumcision sometimes solves unspecific balanitis issues. So consideration if your doctor recommends it as well.

  • Posted

    this looks alot like urethritis to me, has anyone ever been tested for that or could that be an option

  • Edited

    hey, everyone! I have been following this thread for quite some time, I've had the same symptoms and tried everything as stated by everyone else. To cut long story short, there maybe light at the end of the tunnel! I went to see a men's health doctor for my prostate and penis condition and it turns out this issue of inflammation of the prostate and penis gland, it has a high possibility that it is caused by pudendal neuralgia nerve. I've gone to see physiotherapist here in Australia, that wrote a book on this nerve, his name is Peter Dornan. I've seen him for an adjustment today and will see him in a week. I'll keep you all updated on if this is the actual cause and effect we have all been suffering from.

    • Posted

      i have seen the link between this and herpes though ? (that nerve) . But only from google, and it is a minefield of disinformation

    • Posted

      I have the suspicion, it could be something with viruses. (HSV1/2, Adenovirus, CMV, EBV...) There are some medical articles in the net saying that viruses are mainly the problem leading to meatitis when there are no bacteria or STDs. I'm going to be tested today.

      There also seems to be a connection to the disease "Lichen Planus" or "Pelvic Floor Dysfunction" or "Pudenal Neuralgia" and stress in general as jared73261 also wrote.

    • Posted

      Random one. Anyone know much about TB? Does seem to be listed as a cause of balanitis and apparently quite common in Asia. Unlikely but a thought

    • Edited

      I've finished seeing my physiotherapist, my hip has been freed up and He has told me that it should clear up now over the next 6 weeks or so! He strongly believes that it will get better now and It does seem to be getting a little better and I'll try keep you updated on it as it progresses.

      I'm curious, had anyone else been having any pain in there abdominal area in your balls, anus, lower back to go with the rest of your symptoms?

    • Posted

      Hey! Thanks for the update!

      In the meantime I also consulted the one physiotherapist who was recommended to me from at least 4 other physiotherapists here in Vienna, his name is Markus Martin.

      He believes my problems are definitely caused by Pudendal Neuralgia.

      Especially cause I had hernia inguinalis surgery in summer 2019 and they implemented a mesh in my pelvic area.

      The problems with red, inflammed meatus that hurts during sex began in early 2020. I also don't have Mgen or similar.

      Did you also have any surgeries in pelvic area and/or lots of stress?

      Which exercises do you do in physiotherapy?

      I started to meditate, do exercises and take warm baths to relax

    • Posted

      A pinched pudendal nerve is what I self diagnosed with after many visits to specialists with no success. If this is what it ends up being, please let me know and I'll book a trip to go see this guy.

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