Edema of the groin...

My penis is swollen from its base to the glans (glands), although the glans (glands) remains normal.  I still have full sexual function (I can both achieve erections and ejaculate).  I also have almost no problem urinating (sometimes my urine has an off smell, which I cannot really describe).

I have been only moderately sexually active since the onset of symptoms, for obvious reasons, and had only limited sexual contact in the month or so prior to the onset of symptoms.

The swelling comes and goes, seemingly based upon how long I spend in bed (the more I sleep, the less my penis is swollen).  However, it never disappears altogether, and can get very painful when it is at its most swollen.  It has be swollen to some degree for months now.  There is also some swelling on the front of my scrotum.  Lastly, the skin in the area is easily irritable, and sometimes can leak either a clear or white pus-like liquid.

Since the swelling began, I have changed laundry detergents and taken allergy medicine.  The only impact from either was the reduction in swelling from the extended time I slept after I took the allergy medicine.  The swelling returned as soon as I was active.

I have Crohn's disease.  I have been very lucky in that my Crohn's disease has not been very debilitating.  I contracted the disease nearly a decade ago, and only had one minor surgery to drain when I first fell ill.  However, upon checking the available online literature, it seems that most penile involvement, which is incredibly rare, occurs in the form of ulcerations, which I do not have.

I am seeing doctors in my hometown, but with no amount of measurable success.  I have had CAT scans and MRIs checking for blockage, but none could be found, even months after the swelling began.  I have had a lymph node immediately next to my groin removed, which did not lead to any particularly helpful conclusions.  The blood tests that I continue to have repeatedly show no signs of cancer.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Sir:

I'm afraid I can't shed much light on your problem.  An allergic reaction wouldn't come and go the way you describe.  In any case, I've never seen an allergy behave this way.  Nor can I think of any relationship with Crohn's.  Have you seen a dermatologist?  If not, perhaps a skin examination would shed light . . .

Sorry I can't be more definitive.

Dr. Rockoff