chronic irritation of glans

[Quinn824]

About 8 or 9 months ago, I was masturbating and having sex excessively (about 2 times a day for a few weeks, give or take), and woke up one morning with a pain in the right side of the tip of my penis (I am circumcised).  This was preceded by a dryness of the skin in the same area (the bottom right edge of the glans penis), which I regrettably didn't do anything about at the time.  Ever since then, after I ejaculate (usually within a few hours), or sometimes even if I am sexually stimulated, the pain returns.  It comes and goes, but even now, I haven't masturbated or had sex in about 2 months, and it still bothers me fairly regularly.  

My doctor was stymied, and agrees with me that it I don't show symptoms of an STD (herpes, anyway).  There is no discharge or foul odor, pain while urinating, etc.  She recommended I apply hydrocortisone ointment %1 twice a day, which so far, anyway, doesn't seem to be helping much.   It appears perfectly normal, no redness, sores, or dry, flaky skin and I think it was due to friction (I wasn't using lubricant at the time).  Although the dryness I mentioned was of course on the surface of the skin itself, the pain that I experience now somehow feels like it's deeper in the tissue.  Sometimes, if my bladder is very full for a while, the pain returns as well, though not as badly as when I ejaculate; and urinating does not relieve the pain.

   My doctor mentioned she once had a bout with ezcema on her left hand, and now whenever she gets dry skin, that same spot always gets irritated, and so I worry that it's been going on so long that it won't ever go away.  I want desperately to return to being able to have a normal sex life without this constantly bothering me.  

If you can help me get over this, I would be extremely grateful.  Thank you for your time and consideration.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

I doubt that you have anything significant.  My best guess is irritation plus anxiety.  I advise you to see a urologist--skin problems wouldn't give you symptoms like these.  Once the urologist assures you that you have no disease under the skin, I suggest that you proceed on the assumption that you have nothing really wrong and that the discomfort will go away if you ignore it and resume your sex life normally, which you should.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff