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Itching, burning, pain, and dark urine.
I am a 44 year old white male in good athletic shape. I do smoke but don't drink alcohol but maybe one per month, if that. I do consume a lot of caffeine, but no more than I have been consuming over many years.
About 4 months ago, I started getting an irritating itch midway in the shaft of my penis. It was always there. I had a full STD screening (including Herpes and HIV) and it came back negative. Later on, the itch turned into a slight burning during urination. I went back and had a urine test for infections, and that also came back negative. The Dr. that had me take the urine test examined my penis and testicles and didn't see anything wrong. I got busy over the last two months and haven't been to a Dr. because I changed duty stations. Over the last month, the itching/burning has gone away only to be replaced with a sharp pain near the tip of the penis.
My urine is dark, usually darker in the mornings. This morning it was orange-brown. Later in the day, it clears up. I've been drinking cranberry juice (with natural sugars) every day. I do drink a lot of caffeine in both coffee and diet soda. I have no other symptoms other than what I've mentioned. I did have Chlamydia that was treated almost a full year before I started having these symptoms.
I have had multiple sex partners, but did use a condom. There were a few times the condom has broke, but I immediately replaced it. Sex usually lasted a long time, in some cases close to an hour. I have also masturbated regularly over certain stretches of time over the last year, but that lasts no longer than 5 minutes.
After much research online, I'm worried about the following: undetected herpes, bladder cancer, prostate cancer, penile cancer, diabetes, or some crazy infection that's going to kill me or I'll pass on to someone else. I have stopped having sex because I'm concerned I'll give what I have to someone.
Thank you for your time.
About 4 months ago, I started getting an irritating itch midway in the shaft of my penis. It was always there. I had a full STD screening (including Herpes and HIV) and it came back negative. Later on, the itch turned into a slight burning during urination. I went back and had a urine test for infections, and that also came back negative. The Dr. that had me take the urine test examined my penis and testicles and didn't see anything wrong. I got busy over the last two months and haven't been to a Dr. because I changed duty stations. Over the last month, the itching/burning has gone away only to be replaced with a sharp pain near the tip of the penis.
My urine is dark, usually darker in the mornings. This morning it was orange-brown. Later in the day, it clears up. I've been drinking cranberry juice (with natural sugars) every day. I do drink a lot of caffeine in both coffee and diet soda. I have no other symptoms other than what I've mentioned. I did have Chlamydia that was treated almost a full year before I started having these symptoms.
I have had multiple sex partners, but did use a condom. There were a few times the condom has broke, but I immediately replaced it. Sex usually lasted a long time, in some cases close to an hour. I have also masturbated regularly over certain stretches of time over the last year, but that lasts no longer than 5 minutes.
After much research online, I'm worried about the following: undetected herpes, bladder cancer, prostate cancer, penile cancer, diabetes, or some crazy infection that's going to kill me or I'll pass on to someone else. I have stopped having sex because I'm concerned I'll give what I have to someone.
Thank you for your time.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi!
Well yes, any persisting symptom is always a cause of concern. The dark color of urine—orange in morning—can be due to staining from cranberry juice. The other possibility is dehydration, especially if you do not drink enough water, fresh juice, clear soups etc. Caffeine is a dehydrating agent, so drink plenty of water and see if it helps with urine color and irritation or burning.
You mention a urine exam—I wonder if a culture was set to look for the causative organism. Certain bacteria like the tuberculosis bacterium, fungi etc are not caught in the normal urine screening. So, though it is likely to come normal, I would suggest you discuss this test with your doctor.
Since now the pain is at tip of penis, the various possibilities that should be considered are infection under the foreskin of uncircumcised men (balanitis), inflammation of the prostate gland (prostatitis), frictional injury, Peyronie's disease, pimples, Reiter syndrome, sickle cell anemia, syphilis, and urethritis caused by chlamydia or gonorrhea. It could also be a referred pain due to kidney stone.
Since you had chlamydial infection in the past: If the test for Chlamydia was negative this time, and if all other causes are ruled out, then you can opt for specific tests for Chlamydia which include Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT, to find the genetic material of Chlamydia), Nucleic acid hybridization tests (DNA probe test, Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA, EIA), Direct fluorescent antibody test (DFA) or chlamydia culture. Also, have you been tested for syphilis and gonorrhea in the STD tests you undertook?
The other possibility is a condition called acute urethral syndrome. The symptoms look like that of a UTI but the urine test and culture are normal. The various causes are urinary stenosis (narrowing of the urethra), localized trauma (during sex or masturbation), hypersensitivity following urinary tract infection, hormonal imbalances, inflammation of the paraurethral glands along the urethra that runs inside the penis, allergic reactions to certain foods, douches, bath soaps and liquid wash, soaps, condoms etc, or dysfunction of the pelvic floor musculature. Since the irritation was initially mid shaft, possibility of trauma and para-urethral gland infection is high.
Well, cancer is a possibility since you have persisting symptoms for so long, however, the other causes mentioned above are the more likely cause as you do not have other symptoms of cancer except pain.
I sincerely hope you will find this information useful while discussing your case with your doctor. Hope you get well soon! Good Luck and take care!
Well yes, any persisting symptom is always a cause of concern. The dark color of urine—orange in morning—can be due to staining from cranberry juice. The other possibility is dehydration, especially if you do not drink enough water, fresh juice, clear soups etc. Caffeine is a dehydrating agent, so drink plenty of water and see if it helps with urine color and irritation or burning.
You mention a urine exam—I wonder if a culture was set to look for the causative organism. Certain bacteria like the tuberculosis bacterium, fungi etc are not caught in the normal urine screening. So, though it is likely to come normal, I would suggest you discuss this test with your doctor.
Since now the pain is at tip of penis, the various possibilities that should be considered are infection under the foreskin of uncircumcised men (balanitis), inflammation of the prostate gland (prostatitis), frictional injury, Peyronie's disease, pimples, Reiter syndrome, sickle cell anemia, syphilis, and urethritis caused by chlamydia or gonorrhea. It could also be a referred pain due to kidney stone.
Since you had chlamydial infection in the past: If the test for Chlamydia was negative this time, and if all other causes are ruled out, then you can opt for specific tests for Chlamydia which include Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT, to find the genetic material of Chlamydia), Nucleic acid hybridization tests (DNA probe test, Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA, EIA), Direct fluorescent antibody test (DFA) or chlamydia culture. Also, have you been tested for syphilis and gonorrhea in the STD tests you undertook?
The other possibility is a condition called acute urethral syndrome. The symptoms look like that of a UTI but the urine test and culture are normal. The various causes are urinary stenosis (narrowing of the urethra), localized trauma (during sex or masturbation), hypersensitivity following urinary tract infection, hormonal imbalances, inflammation of the paraurethral glands along the urethra that runs inside the penis, allergic reactions to certain foods, douches, bath soaps and liquid wash, soaps, condoms etc, or dysfunction of the pelvic floor musculature. Since the irritation was initially mid shaft, possibility of trauma and para-urethral gland infection is high.
Well, cancer is a possibility since you have persisting symptoms for so long, however, the other causes mentioned above are the more likely cause as you do not have other symptoms of cancer except pain.
I sincerely hope you will find this information useful while discussing your case with your doctor. Hope you get well soon! Good Luck and take care!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
To rule out the possibility of a false negative herpes test and to ease your mind, you can repeat the test. However, if there have been no lesions, then chances of herpes is less.
The referral was authorized... March 5... seems way too long to wait.
I went to my primary care physician today to try and get a referral to see a urologist. She inspected my groin area, and found a small lump in my scrotum. It may be residual from my vasectomy 22 years ago. It seems to be in line with one of my veins, and she mentioned it may be varicose. She submitted my request for a referral, which I will find out in 2 days if it is authorized (I'm in the Army and you have to jump through hoops to get referrals). She also authorized an ultrasound, but they couldn't fit me in for a month... so it's a waiting game. I'm just tired of this feeling.
Could it be herpes, especially if there was a false negative on the test? Would herpes with no visible symptoms cause constant urination pain for that many months straight? Could you at least set my mind at ease on that part?
Could it be herpes, especially if there was a false negative on the test? Would herpes with no visible symptoms cause constant urination pain for that many months straight? Could you at least set my mind at ease on that part?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Please consult your doctor regarding the possibility of acute urethral syndrome.
Yes, I was tested for Syphilis and Gonorrhea. One thing I failed to mention… my libido has increased. I wake up with a very sensitive erection every morning as well. I started taking cranberry supplements after I posted the original message above, then the pain went away, but only for two days, then came back.
I forgot to add that the second Dr. gave me yeast infection meds that I took.
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