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Avatar universal

Meatus irritation

Hello Doctor:

I am of the male gender and work in a public place (an airport). I was using the restroom at work, performing number 2 duties when I noticed the tip of my penis touched the inner bowl of the toilet twice, before I reacted (it was really late night at work) and shortly after took the restroom paper towels with soap and rubbed around the meatus. I swore I felt some sort of discomfort near immediately when my penis touched the inner bowl. Since I've experienced discomfort/burning near meatus during urination and near constant discomfort. No bumps or discharge.

I went to UrgentCare doctor, who required me to pee in a cup; everything looked fine. She said my urine was dialuted, meaning ive been drinking plenty of water. Then advised me to apply neosporin to the meatus as she doesn't think it's an STD/STI (have had the same partner for 3 years, engaged and about to be married). She advised she will send urine off to test for chlamydia and gonorrea; still waiting for those results. I did request her to prescribe me Ciprofloxacin, which I have taken 3 doses now (500mg, 2x daily). She never said anything about a UTI necessarily.

1) is STd/Sti possible?
2) is neosporin safe to apply on meatus? (I've read differ opinions on this)
3) when should I notice effects of cipro (taken 3 doses so far?
4) could using a restroom paper towel or soap irritated the area?

Can't tell if it's swollen or not but inside meatus is flesh colored.

What do you think? I've been waiting anxiously for test results. I've had unprotected and protected sex with my fiancé but in the past several months it's been protected since she went off birth control.

The symptoms seemed to have appeared as soon as the meatus/tip of penis made contact with the toilet or after I wiped it with soap/water. I can't remember.
7 Responses
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Avatar universal
I would guess just irritation. If you hurt your urethra, it can take a few weeks to return to normal. If the doctor says don't worry, probably no reason to worry.
Helpful - 0
101028 tn?1419603004
put the lil guy away!!!! Good grief, you are poking and prodding him and making it worse!!!  time for a new hobby :)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
That's what Im thinking but it's crazy that my symptoms (burning while urinating, constant urge to urinate, swollen/red meatus, etc). I'm not sure if it's not helping when I check it constantly, particularly spread the meatus slightly to look inside. In doing this, I've also noticed the left "lip" of the meatus, just inside the uretha is a slightly irritated/raised portion, flesh colored (if it is normal for the color to be slightly reddish/purplish inside)...

This is concerning me. I contacted my doctor that ran the tests and was told that she thinks it's irritation. However, when I initially saw her Wednesday, she only physically examined the outside but I'm not sure if it became more inflamed from the neosporin, aquafor and now the A&D ointment that I've been applying vigorously. Now, before I was told not too, I did apply these ointments as close as on the "lips" of the uretha and maybe that as my penis rubbed against my underwear, it could've spread it inside and caused more irritation?

I don't know the best solution for this. I feel hopeless. Is it best to leave it alone for a few MORE days and see? I'm completely lost.
Helpful - 0
101028 tn?1419603004
you won't contract any std from a public toilet.

you also aren't going to contract anything from a public toilet that results in symptoms starting that soon.  A chemical in the water in the toilet or the soap you use to clean with needlessly is the cause, not anything that needs treated with antibiotics or any testing from.  

neosporin is very irritating to most folks sensitive genital skin.  you will be much better off using the aquaphor instead. Don't massage it into the urethra either, just the head of the penis away from the urethral opening.

grace
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
But this happened nearly 4 days ago...and it still burns. Doctor advised, as predicted, that gonorrhea and chlamydia tests came back negative. She thinks it was just irritated possible from either the hand soap (from the bathroom) or from when I wiped it with a restroom paper towel, maybe it damaged the inside and dried it up.

The meatus looks slightly swollen and red around the meatus...I tried neosporin but only for a day so not long enough. My doctor recommended A&D ointment to try as it scientifically should work better. I've been using Aquaphor for the past day and a half.

Still burns at tip when urinating.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
1) No it has nothing to do with a STD, you had no risk
2) Ask a Dr, I can't answer that
3) You have no reason to be on cipro because you can not get anything from what happened.
4) Yeah the soap probably did

If symptoms started when you touched the toilet then it is all in your head, it started when you wiped then it is from the soap.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Also, symptoms include frequent urination and constant urge to use the bathroom in addition to the symptoms mentioned in the original post. The contact with the toilet was made early Tuesday morning when the symptoms arose almost immediately.
Helpful - 0
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