thrombophlebitis in penis

[smithjoe80]

I recently had a doctor tell me that a hard vein on my penis was thrombophlebitis and that it was not a cause for concern.  He also said that it probably would not go away.  He mentioned that it wasn't something he had seen much of (2 times in 20 years).  My question is, is he correct that it will never go away?  I have seen that it can clear up on its own in 4-6 weeks in articles that I have read.  Is there anything that I can do to help it to go away?

[Dr J Singh]

Hi,
Superficial thrombophlebitis of the penis (an uncommon disease known as Mondor's disease). This is an inflammatory reaction to a clot within the vein. This subsequently causes blockages and dilation of the vein. It is typically painless, but can be painful. In studies, patients were noted to have thrombophlebitis after a prolonged sexual act with or without intercourse. It was described as cord-like thickening of the superficial penile veins.
In medical literature, it has been quoted as one of the rare diseases but actually it’s not that rare. It’s due to stigma attached that the patients usually don’t consult a physician.
Diagnosis is via ultrasound which shows blockage of the vessels. Treatment is with anti-inflammatory drugs (i.e. aspirin or ibuprofen) and most resolve within 4-6 weeks. If it persists, then surgery may be necessary. I think you should consult a urologist. There’s no evidence of any long term problem with this disease.
I hope that helps. Please do keep me posted. Kind regards.