Itchy genitals

Since I can remember I have had severe itching around the testicles, the penis, and the perineum. My brother reports the same issue, as well as my father.

It becomes uncontrollably itchy at night mostly and gets worse before I urinate, and right after I urinate. There is no redness or rash in any way and I just can't figure it out.

I've become a little worried lately that it could be a pre-diabetic symptom because of how bad it gets before urination.

Please help!

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
It can be due to jock itch or fungal infection. Fungal infections are contagious and may be transmitted by sharing towels, bedsheets clothes etc. Wash your groin daily and then dry thoroughly by pat drying,not rubbing. A hairdryer is useful if you have hairy groins. The damp groin is an ideal site for fungi to multiply. Also wear cotton underwears and change them twice a day and do not share other people’s towels. Application of local antifungal cream(terbinafine, clotrimazole, econazole, ketoconazole, miconazole) and oral antifungal drugs are the mainstay of treatment.
It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[Steve2779]

I have looked into jock itch and it does not match. My father and brother live in different states and both experience this. I do everything you suggested because I began to do that when I thought it might be jock itch.

It's something else. Thank you!