urethritis

I noticed a scant milky discharge and pain at the tip of my penis around 2 weeks after having protected sex with a girl I met.  The discharge wasn't much and it had to be "milked" out.  I went to a doctor and he thought it was urethritis caused by chlamydia and gave me 1g of azithromycin.  I took the medication and the discharge went away after a few days but the tip of my penis was still very tender.  It's been 3 weeks now since I took the medication, and I haven't had sex since then, and I still have tenderness and pain at the tip of my penis.  The pain is less than before but still there and still quite painful.  Any suggestions? Does it normally take this long for the pain to go away?

[Kevin Pho, MD]

In addition to the chlamydia, I would also test for gonorrhea.  The Azithromycin won't adequately cover for this.  

I would also consider a digital rectal exam to evaluate for prostatitis - there are some cases that require an extended period of antibiotics.  

If infection has completely been ruled out, a cystoscopy can be considered to evaluate for urethral strictures or polyps which can also cause penile tip soreness.  

There is no specific time for the soreness to go away - this varies from patient to patient.  

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.