The penis is important to overall health partly because of its urinary and reproductive functions. If your penis is not working well, it may be because of other problems like diabetes or heart disease. You should pay attention to how your penis looks and works so you can discuss any problems with your healthcare provider.
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Keeping your penis healthy is important to keeping you healthy. A healthy penis removes urine, allows you to enjoy sex and to reproduce.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
Your healthcare provider can sometimes get helpful clues about your health from problems you may have with your penis. These can indicate problems somewhere else in your body, including diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. A problem called erectile dysfunction (ED) can be from poor blood flow to your penis. If you have ED, your doctor will know to check for these other problems.
There are many conditions that can affect your penis. Some are:
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Common STIs include:
Each STI has its own set of symptoms and method of treatment. Symptoms of STIs include:
There are some signs and symptoms that might tell you that your penis isn’t healthy.
One way to tell if there’s a problem is to check to see if your penis looks healthy. You shouldn’t have:
Other signs that your penis isn’t healthy or that you might be having other issues include:
Visually inspecting your penis on a regular basis is one way to stay aware of new signs or symptoms that could indicate problems.
If you have a problem with your penis, you can start with your primary care provider. Your provider may refer you to a specialist, such as a urologist. Urologists specialize in conditions that affect the urinary system and the reproductive system. Your penis is part of both of these body systems.
Some problems need medical attention right away. These include priapism, paraphimosis and penis fracture. Don’t panic. Call your healthcare provider or go straight to an emergency room.
Other penis problems happen over time. You’ll notice changes if you do routine checks of your penis. Your primary care provider will be able to help you manage many of these conditions.
Some people who are concerned about their penis health are afraid to ask to ask questions. It's very important to your overall health to have a good relationship with your provider. It’s important to be able to talk about all of your health concerns, including any questions you might have about your penis.
There are some steps you can take to help maintain penis health and prevent issues from happening. You can:
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Call your healthcare provider if you notice any of the problems listed above. Call if there’s anything that’s different about how your penis looks, feels or functions. Treatment for many penis problems can be successful if started early.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Your body is made up of many parts and systems that work together. It’s important for all of these parts and systems to stay healthy. You can help yourself by staying aware of how you look and feel when you’re healthy so that you can notice any changes that might indicate problems. When you think you might have a problem, you need to be able to speak plainly with your healthcare provider. This is as true for penis health as it is for any other body part or system.
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Last reviewed on 02/18/2022.
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