Swollen Penis: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention

A swollen penis isn’t always a bad thing. After all, when you get an erection, your penis swells with blood, getting you rock-hard and primed for action.

But there are times when genital swelling has nothing to do with sexual desire. Allergic reactions, STIs (sexually transmitted infections), and even penile injuries can cause a swollen penis. Treatment depends on the underlying cause but may include home remedies, topical ointments, or oral medication.   

If your penis is swollen, don’t panic. Keep reading to find out what might be causing the extra girth and what you can do to relieve the swelling.

Penile swelling can affect many parts of your penis, including the glans penis (penis head), penile shaft, or foreskin. Besides swelling, you might have other symptoms like pain or discomfort, itchiness, or discharge, depending on the underlying cause.

There are various reasons why you may have a swollen penis, some more serious than others. Some causes don’t require medical treatment, and others do.

Potential causes of penile swelling include:

• Allergic reactions

• Skin conditions

• Penile fracture

• Balanitis

• Urethritis

• Peyronie’s disease

• Priapism

• Lichen sclerosus

• Penile cancer

Read more about these causes below and treatment options for each.

1. Allergic Reactions

One of the most common causes of swollen penis skin is an allergic reaction.

Soaps, lotions, or personal lubricants made with harsh ingredients like alcohol or petroleum can irritate, itch, and swell sensitive skin. Some people also have reactions to condom materials, such as latex, though a true latex allergy is rare.  

Treatment for Swollen Penis Skin From Allergic Reaction

If an allergic reaction causes the swelling, your healthcare provider may recommend a topical steroid cream or an antihistamine.

To play it safe in the future, opt for pH-balanced personal care products like water-based lubricants or fragrance-free soaps. 

2. Skin Conditions

Skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema can affect any part of the body, including the penis, scrotum, and groin.

Both issues can cause raised, swollen, itchy, and flaky patches on the penile skin. However, psoriasis patches tend to be thicker and look white or silvery. 

Swollen Foreskin Treatment Due to Skin Conditions

According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, genital psoriasis can be treated with steroid creams, mild coal tar, and other topical ointments.

For genital eczema, the National Eczema Society suggests topical steroids as well as moisturizers to control itching.

3. Penile Fracture

A penile fracture is a medical emergency in which trauma or forcible bending causes erectile tissues to rupture or tear (sometimes during sex).

Most men hear a popping sound at the time of injury, followed by a swift loss of erection and immediate pain. You may develop a swollen penis shaft, have bruising, or even bleed from the tip of your penis.

Treatment for Swollen Penile Shaft Due to Fracture

Surgery is the main treatment option for penile fractures, with a success rate of 92 percent, if performed promptly.

During surgery, an incision is made along the penile shaft or at the base of the penis to locate and repair the injured erectile tissues. 

After healing from the operation, if you’re still having difficulty getting an erection, you might be prescribed medication for erectile dysfunction (ED).

4. Balanitis

Balanitis is a medical condition that causes the tip of the penis to become inflamed. Along with swelling, symptoms include itchiness, soreness, redness, painful erections, and a smelly discharge. In some cases, balanitis can make it difficult for the foreskin to retract.

Common causes of balanitis are male yeast infections, bacterial infections (including STIs like gonorrhea or chlamydia), chemical irritants, and poor hygiene.

Treatment for Balanitis-Caused Penis Swelling

Balanitis treatment depends on the cause. If your condition is from a yeast infection, your provider may suggest antifungal creams. If a bacterial infection is the culprit, they’ll probably prescribe antibiotics.

5. Urethritis

The urethra is the small tube that allows urine and semen to exit the body. When it gets inflamed due to bacteria, irritants, STIs, or even tight clothing, you may develop urethritis.

Beyond a swollen penis, urethritis can cause pain when you pee, itchiness, discharge, and scrotal pain (in the testicles).

Urethritis Treatment for Swollen Penis Shaft

Urethritis might resolve on its own, or your provider may prescribe antibiotics. 

If you have pain in addition to swelling, they may also suggest taking pain medication.

6. Peyronie’s Disease

Peyronie’s disease, or penile curvature, happens when scar tissue builds up under the skin of the penis. The exact cause is unclear, but experts think penile injuries, tissue disorders, or autoimmune diseases may play a role.

No matter what’s causing it, Peyronie’s disease usually begins with swelling. This is followed by scar tissue buildup and a curved penis. As the penis curves, it may also appear shorter.

Peyronie’s Disease Treatment for Swollen Penis

There are many treatments for Peyronie’s disease, including injections that break up the scar tissue, oral medication to reduce swelling and pain, and traction therapy to straighten the penis.

In severe cases, surgery may be considered as a last resort. 

7. Priapism

We told you that penile swelling is sometimes normal, like in the case of an erection. But what if the erection doesn’t go down?

Priapism is a persistent and painful erection lasting four hours or longer. It happens when there’s an issue with blood drainage, which causes the penis to remain engorged with blood.

Certain medications, blood disorders, and penile injuries can all cause priapism. Besides a swollen penile shaft, men with priapism might have a lot of pain.

Treating Priapism for Swollen Penis Shaft

Treatments for priapism aim to drain the penis and restore proper blood flow. This can be achieved with medication injections and/or aspiration, a technique where a needle or suction tube is inserted into the penis to drain excess blood.

Priapism can sometimes cause erectile dysfunction, especially if you delay seeking treatment. In these cases, ED medications like sildenafil (Viagra®) or tadalafil (Cialis®) may help.

8. Lichen Sclerosus

Lichen sclerosus is a chronic autoimmune disorder that causes discoloration on the head of the penis or the foreskin. In addition to swelling (edema), other symptoms include itchiness, burning, and pain.

The exact cause of lichen sclerosus is unclear. 

Treatment for Swollen Foreskin Caused By Lichen Sclerosus

Treatment for lichen sclerosus often calls for applying topical steroid creams for several months. However, if symptoms don’t get better (or worsen), circumcision may be considered.

9. Penile Cancer

According to the American Cancer Society, penile swelling is one potential symptom of penile cancer.

This swelling, which usually shows up around the penis head, may make it difficult to pull back your foreskin. Other symptoms include lumps under the penile skin, bumps in the groin area, or skin changes. 

Penile Cancer Treatment

Treatments for penile cancer range from surgery to radiation, though local treatments (in the groin area) might be used for early-stage tumors. 

If you’re uncircumcised, you may experience swelling of the foreskin due to certain infections or medical conditions.

Potential causes of swollen foreskin include:

• Balanoposthitis

• Phimosis

• Paraphimosis

Here’s what to know.

Balanoposthitis

You already know balanitis causes inflammation of the glans penis (head of the penis). When both the head and the foreskin are affected, the result is balanoposthitis, a relatively common condition among uncircumcised people.

The same contributing factors that cause balanitis cause balanoposthitis: poor hygiene, yeast infections, bacterial infections (including STIs), and chemical irritants.

Treatment

Like balanitis, treatment depends on the underlying cause. It may include antifungal creams, antibiotics, or steroid creams. If the condition persists, your provider might recommend circumcision.

Phimosis

Phimosis is when you can’t pull back (retract) your foreskin over the head of your penis. It can cause a swollen ring around the shaft and lead to a buildup of bacteria under the foreskin, causing balanitis or balanoposthitis.

This can cause symptoms like itchiness, pain, and discharge.

A tight foreskin is normal in young children, but when phimosis happens in adulthood, it can cause significant discomfort and distress.

Treatment

Steroid creams are typically used to reduce inflammation associated with phimosis. If symptoms persist, you may want to consider circumcision.

Paraphimosis

While phimosis refers to a foreskin that won’t retract, paraphimosis is a condition in which the foreskin gets stuck behind the glans and stays retracted.

This can cause poor blood flow, which leads to a swollen foreskin and glans.

Treatment

Paraphimosis is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment to prevent erectile tissue from dying. Treatments include manual compression or aspiration to reduce swelling or circumcision in severe cases.

Penile swelling doesn’t always require medical treatment. If your healthcare provider doesn’t recommend prescription medication or any special procedures, you can help reduce swelling and heal faster with treatment at home.

Here’s what might help:

• Practice good hygiene. Wash your penis with warm water and pat it dry. Don’t use harsh soaps or lotions, and don’t rub your penis too hard. 

• Use over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers. If you aren’t in a lot of pain, use OTC pain relievers like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to relieve discomfort and swelling. 

• Apply ice. Ice helps relieve inflammation in penis tissues, which can bring swelling down.

• Don’t have sex or masturbate — for now. You probably won’t feel like having sex with a swollen penis, but if you do, cool it. When the swelling goes down, be sure to use lube and condoms to prevent friction and STIs.

If problems persist, you might need to see a urologist for a physical examination.

So, your penis is swollen and it’s not because you’re turned on. Try not to panic, and remember the following:

• Penile swelling can have many causes, ranging from mild to severe. Potential causes include allergic reactions, STIs, balanitis, priapism, and other issues.

• Treatment for penile swelling depends on the underlying cause. In some cases, swelling can be treated with topical medications or oral medications. Other times, injections or surgery are necessary.

• You can help reduce swelling with home remedies. Practicing good hygiene, using OTC pain relievers, applying ice, and refraining from sex can help speed up recovery from a swollen penis.

Want more advice on supporting your penile health? Check out these tips for keeping your penis healthy.

Do you think penile swelling is contributing to ED symptoms? Contact a healthcare provider today to figure out what’s going on.