Have you ever noticed that your penis stinks while you are taking it out to urinate? There is a good chance that you are familiar with the unpleasant odor of body odor. Due to germs, glands, and chemicals, the human body makes many different smells on its own. What about the privates, though? Smelling something unpleasant can leave you questioning if it’s normal. Is there such a thing as a “normal” penile odor, and what does it smell like?
If you’ve been active all day, whether by working out, sweating, or just generally moving about, you’re bound to have a bit of an odor. This is because germs love to hang out in the dark and warm environment of your groin. On human skin, about a thousand species of bacteria and eighty families of fungi can be found.
The foul odor
Having a penis condition sometime in your life is nothing new for any male. This happens often after hard physical activity, the morning after a night of partying, or after a long day at work. In most cases, a fast wash and some proper penile care will solve the problem of a smelly penis. But some guys have to deal with a strong, fishy smell in their penises that doesn’t go away no matter what they do.
When you perspire while wearing undergarments like briefs and pants, you create an ideal habitat for germs to multiply and release an offensive odor. If you don’t take care of basic hygiene, you can throw off the delicate balance of your body’s microbiome, which can cause a lot of bad things, like a strong smell.
There may be identifiable causes for this unpleasant odor, and the good news is that it may be eliminated with the right kind of care and attention.
Why does my penis smell like fish
If a man’s penis starts to smell bad, it’s important to rule out less obvious causes. Diseases of the urinary tract A guy with a urinary tract infection (UTI) will likely experience the following three signs: An overactive bladder can cause pain while urinating, a strong need to urinate even when there is no urine in the bladder, and a feeling of a full bladder even after the bladder is empty.
However, there is also the odor, which is typically that of very potent, slightly fishy-smelling pee. The symptoms of a urinary tract infection Smells can become unbearable if even a small amount of pee is left on the penis and its surroundings. Antibiotics are effective in treating UTIs, so you won’t have to worry about that stinky penis odor for very long.
Candida overgrowth
Although females are more likely to have this condition, males are not immune to getting yeast infections. One of the signs is a discharge that looks like thin cottage cheese. Other signs include itching, swelling, and redness of the penis. Regardless of how well a man takes care of his penis, the persistent odor caused by this discharge can be overpowering.
Fixing Fishy Smelling your genitals at home
A guy can take special care of his penile area at home to lessen or get rid of that awful smell. He can also see a doctor and take any medicines for infections as directed.
Wash at least once a day. Excellent cleanliness is vital to ensuring that the usual penile odor doesn’t occur. It also helps find other sexual problems, like infections, before they can get in the way of a man’s private life.
To resolve the stinky penis condition, take all medications as prescribed by your doctor. In spite of seeking help, some men will quit taking their drugs as soon as they start to feel better. You should not do it! When therapy is stopped too soon, the infection can return, sometimes worse than before. Never stop short of completing a prescribed treatment course.
Should we be worried about this nasty odor?
As discussed, penises with unpleasant odors are common. But if the smell has changed or gotten stronger, it could be a sign of a more serious problem. The vast majority of medical issues are not life-threatening and have simple solutions. Men who haven’t been circumcised may, for example, have a buildup of skin cells in the area under their foreskin. The lack of attention paid to personal cleanliness is usually to blame for this.
Odor is another possible symptom of sexually transmitted diseases (STIs). Penis odor can be treated using antifungal medicine, which is often applied topically but can also be taken orally. A man who wants to get rid of the smell of fish in his penis can do so by using a penile health crème (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for the skin). You have to choose one that provides him with retinol, which is a form of vitamin A. It is well known that the antibacterial capabilities of this vitamin can eliminate penile odor right where it begins.
Read on to find out what might be causing your symptoms, what else you should look out for, and how to get better.
So let’s dive in and see what there store for us
1. Smegma accumulation
Some men have a problem with a white coating that builds up on the penis, which is most noticeable at the crown. This is smegma, and it consists of things like dead skin cells and oils from your skin. Since bacteria can take hold and multiply rapidly in smegma, the smell of a fishy penis is not out of the question if there is a buildup of the substance.
The problem can be avoided and penile odor eliminated with diligent cleanliness practices. Smegma is a buildup of oil, dead skin cells, and sebum around the penis shaft. When a man isn’t circumcised, the condition is more likely to show up under the foreskin.
The mixture serves to lubricate the area under the foreskin. If you sweat a lot or don’t clean your penis often enough, smegma will build up and turn into white chunks that smell bad and can help bacteria grow. You risk penis inflammation and infection if you don’t get it checked out.
Here’s what you can do to remove smegma from your penis:
- Get your foreskin back.
- Using gentle soap and water, clean your penis.
- Wash your privates.
- It might be helpful to pat the penis dry. Cease rubbing.
You can put your foreskin back over your penis once you’ve removed the smegma.
The odor should be gone after the smegma has been wiped away. If smegma persists, follow these measures once a day.
If any of these symptoms persist, medical attention is recommended.
- Redness
- irritation
- Swelling
- The foreskin does not retract.
2. Balanitis
When the penis cap becomes inflamed, a condition known as balanitis develops. Inflammation of both the foreskin and the genitalia is known as balanoposthitis.
This may occur due to:
- engaging in sexual activity without proper protection
- bad hygiene
- infection from smegma, soaps, and body washes with strong fragrances,
- psoriasis and eczema, and other skin disorders caused by dry skin.
There are a number of potential reasons why your penis might be stinky. These and other symptoms may also occur:
Symptoms include a burning sensation when you urinate, redness, itching, swelling, and a buildup of fluid under the foreskin.
Balanitis is more common in people who have not been circumcised. Foreskin tightening and an inability to retract may result from untreated balanitis. In medical terms, this is called phimosis.
Is there anything you can do?
In order to reduce swelling and pain, Epsom salt baths are highly recommended.
If your symptoms last longer than a couple of days, you should see a doctor. They’ll be able to determine what’s going on and come up with a treatment plan that works for you.
Numerous choices include:
- Hydrocortisone (Cortaid) or bacitracin/polymyxin (Polysporin) ointment/cream for irritation;
- Clotrimazole (Antifungal Cream) or clotrimazole (Antifungal Cream) for fungal infections; (Lotrimin)
3. An infection of the urinary tract (UTI)
When bacteria or viruses enter the urinary tract, a UTI develops. Infections typically result from:
- sexual act
- UTIs are known to cause a fishy stench in the penis.
- failing to empty one’s bladder completely (urinary retention)
- managing diabetes with a catheterized urinary system
- A swollen prostate can cause kidney stones (benign prostatic hyperplasia)
These and other symptoms may also occur:
a constant urge to urinate accompanied by scant output; burning pain during urination; murky or pink urine
If you are not circumcised, you may be at a higher risk for a urinary tract infection (UTI). Although UTIs typically aren’t life-threatening, they can progress into kidney infections if left untreated.
Is there anything you can do?
See a doctor if you think you have a UTI. Until your visit, you may find pain relief and infection control using OTC drugs like phenazopyridine (Azo).
Antibiotics will be prescribed by your doctor if a UTI has been identified. Numerous choices include:
If you get UTIs often, your doctor may give you low-dose antibiotics like fosfomycin (Monurol), cephalexin (Keflex), or nitrofurantoin (Macrodantin) for a few months.
4. Yeast infection
If the Candida fungus on the penis grows too quickly, it can cause yeast infections, also called thrush. Your penis may develop a “moldy” odor from the proliferation of fungus.
Other possible symptoms include:
- inflammation or redness,
- penis skin that is unusually wet, white, or shiny,
- itchy or burning patches containing white, chunky substances.
If you don’t wash your penis enough, especially if you haven’t been circumcised, you could get a yeast infection. They can also spread during sex with a female partner who has a yeast infection.
Yeast infections can lead to inflammation and even more infections if not managed.
Is there anything you can do?
Do not delay in seeing a doctor if you think you have a yeast infection. A prescription to combat the fungal infection will be prescribed.
Numerous choices include:
- affirmative action for fluconazole (Diflucan),
- miconazole (Desenex), clotrimazole (Lotrimin AF), and
- imidazole (Canesten).
Some of these drugs can be bought without a doctor’s visit as well as with a prescription.
5. Non-gonococcal urethritis
Inflammation of the urethra, the tube through which urine leaves the body, is known as non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU). Non-gonococcal refers to the fact that it is not caused by gonorrhea.
Vaginal, oral, and anal intercourse can spread bacteria and, less commonly, viruses. Although chlamydia is a common cause of NGU, it is not the only possible agent. Reliable Reference
A few examples of common symptoms are:
- a burning feeling when you urinate.
- a hazy, pale, and sometimes smelly discharge from the penis.
The infection from an NGU might progress to the testicles or the prostate if not addressed. Possible infertility outcome
Is there anything you can do?
See a doctor if you think you could have NGU. Following a proper diagnosis, your doctor will likely prescribe medications to treat the illness.
Azithromycin (Zithromax) and doxycycline are two popular choices (Monodox). The average time to feel better following treatment is 7 days. Sexual activity should be avoided until therapy is finished to prevent the spreading of the virus.
6. Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is an STD that is spread through sexual contact. The virus can spread when a person’s mouth, genitalia, or anus is touched directly. It can spread to the penis, rectum, and even the throat.
Although symptoms are common, gonorrhea doesn’t always manifest itself. In the presence of symptoms, you might detect an odor or go through the following:
- pain during defecating;
- a burning sensation; green, yellow, or
- white discharge from the penis; soreness,
- bleeding, or itching around the genitals or the anus;
Is there anything you can do?
Do not delay in seeing a doctor if you suspect you have gonorrhea. Your doctor will likely prescribe an oral drug like azithromycin (Zithromax) or doxycycline in addition to an injection of ceftriaxone (Rocephin) once a diagnosis has been made (monodox).
The average time to feel better following treatment is 7 days. You shouldn’t do anything sexual until you’re done with your treatment because the virus can still be spread at this point.
7. Chlamydia
Another STI is chlamydia. The most common way to get HIV is through oral or vaginal contact with someone who already has it.
It is not usually obvious when someone has chlamydia. In the presence of symptoms, you might detect an odor or go through the following:
a painful or swollen testicle a burning sensation when urinating
Chlamydia can cause permanent reproductive issues if not addressed.
Is there anything you can do?
You should see a doctor immediately if you suspect you have chlamydia. After figuring out what’s wrong, your doctor will probably tell you to take an antibiotic to treat it. it.
Numerous choices include:
- antibiotics such as amoxicillin,
- doxycycline, and
- azithromycin (Amoxil).
The average time to feel better following treatment is 7 days. Because you could spread the virus, you shouldn’t have sexual relations until you’re done with therapy. Find some relief and stop it from happening again
If you remember the following tips, you may be able to get rid of your symptoms and keep them from coming back:
- If you are not circumcised, you should retract your foreskin before urinating. This prevents discomfort caused by pee seeping in from below.
- Do not neglect to take regular showers. If you are not circumcised, it is especially important to keep the area under your foreskin clean to avoid the development of any unpleasant odors or infections.
- Wring out your penis. If you want to avoid skin irritation, avoid rubbing your penis dry. The area under your foreskin should be dried, too.
- Put on some cotton briefs that are comfortable and loose. This type of underwear lets air flow around the groin area. This keeps sweat, bacteria, and other chemicals that can cause bad smells and even diseases from building up. This type of underwear lets air flow around the groin area. This keeps sweat, bacteria, and other chemicals that can cause bad smells and even diseases from building up.
- Remove excess hair from your private parts. Water, filth, and germs can all get trapped in long pubic hair.
- Avoid fully shaving your pubic area, but keep it short.
- Always use condoms if you’re planning on having sex. This can stop the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and other chemicals that could be harmful.
- Stay away from someone who is showing signs of having a sexually transmitted infection. If you or your partner are experiencing any of these signs, you should be careful before getting sexual.
- After you’re done having sex, make sure to clean your penis. Cleaning your penis in this way helps get rid of any irritants or bacteria that may have settled in there.
- Make sure you use a lubricant that is water-based. Avoid introducing bacteria to your penis by not using spit or oil-based lubes.
When you should see a doctor
If you have any of the following, you must see a doctor right away:
White patches on the genitalia, a burning sensation or pain when urinating, a rash on the genitalia, the anus, or the thighs, an abnormal discharge, itching, irritation, redness, swelling, and so on are all symptoms of syphilis. In most cases, regular cleaning is all that’s required to eliminate a urine odor. Most of the time, a popular smell in your penis doesn’t mean you have a more serious health problem.
Bottomline:
Determine if your penis is the source of your bad odour. Once you’ve narrowed down the potential causes, you may employ the right do-it-yourself strategies to alleviate the burning sensation while you wait to make an appointment with the doctor.
Finally, it is important for uncircumcised men to keep the area under their foreskins clean to prevent the accumulation of dead cells and other situations that can cause a noxious odor in the penis.
A smelly penis could be caused by sweat, not enough air, not being clean, a sexually transmitted infection, or a buildup of smegma. Good cleanliness and the use of soap are essential for eliminating odor-causing germs.
If you have any of the above symptoms, don’t wait to see a doctor. Some of these conditions can get worse if treatment is put off.
Disclaimer:
This information is for educational purposes only, and no medical advice should be inferred from it. Before changing your diet or adding supplements, please talk to your doctor.
The author’s views are his or her own. The facts and opinions in the article have been taken from various articles and commentaries available in the online media and Eastside Writers does not take any responsibility or obligation for them.
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