Whether it’s a saucy one-night stand or a tantalizing tryst with your significant other, there is a lot to enjoy about sex. Looking up reasons for a “sore penis after sex,” is not one of them. But it can happen.
Although a sore penis after sex is not something you hear a lot about, it can be relatively common and is in fact, quite normal.
“Most commonly, penile soreness is due to a lack of lubrication or prolonged intercourse,” shares Vikas Desai, MD, a urologist at Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital. If a sore penis after sex is associated with skin color changes (bruising) that is not normal and you should seek medical attention, he advises.
Some other signs of a sore penis after sex that indicate a visit to the doctor include pain that lasts longer than four hours and does not get better even after applying a cold compress and taking ibuprofen or Tylenol, a “popping” sensation during intercourse, significant bruising or skin color changes on the penis, significant swelling, and sudden or painful loss of an erection. Here’s a look at the most common reasons for why your penis hurts after sex.
Allergic Reactions
Allergic reactions are common and can include a reaction to chemicals or materials found in sexual health products like condoms, fabrics, gels, lubricants, sex toys, and skin care products like soap. Symptoms of an allergic reaction can include blistering of penile skin, dry or cracking skin, itching, redness, or scaly or rough/thickened skin.
Dr. Desai recommends abstinence (from masturbation, too) until the skin reaction has resolved—and sorry, that can take up to several weeks. However, you can use OTC topical creams like hydrocortisone. If you have an allergy to that, opt for bacitracin or Neosporin. If you are treating blistering and redness, try clotrimazole (a common product is Lotrimin) or betamethasone.
A good rule of thumb is if the OTC creams do not start improving the situation after 48 to 72 hours of use, then seek medical attention for more treatment options.
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Balanitis
A sore penis after sex may be the result of balanitis, which according to the Cleveland Clinic, is inflammation and pain on the head of the penis. This often occurs in guys who are uncircumcised.
Balanitis may cause discoloration of the penis (gray, purple, red, or white) or may form in discolored patches on the head of the penis. The penis may also be red in color and may exhibit certain spots that are shiny and swollen.
The best way to prevent a bout of balanitis is to clean your penis more often and thoroughly, especially after sexual intercourse. If you are already battling balanitis, contact a medical provider who will most likely recommend an antifungal cream or for more severe cases, an antibiotic.
Delayed Ejaculation (DE)
Another reason for a sore penis after sex may be due to delayed ejaculation or DE. Delayed ejaculation is the inability to achieve climax within a reasonable amount of time; usually 30 minutes or more.
Things like anxiety, stress, hormonal imbalances, and pelvic or spinal nerve damage can all cause delayed ejaculation. Some of the most common reasons for delayed ejaculation include hormonal imbalance in prolactin, serotonin, or testosterone, according to UCLA Health. Some guys taking SSRI antidepressants can suffer from delayed or loss of ejaculation as well.
The solution? Dr. Desai says to check any side effects of the medications you are taking including antidepressants, anxiety/stress medications, and hair loss treatments.
If a sore penis after sex continues even after you have checked all of your medications, consider medical attention, as this could be a sign of a prostate or urinary infection. It could also potentially relate to possible spinal cord or pelvic nerve damage especially if you have a history of such trauma, shares Dr. Desai.
Friction or Lack of Lubrication
Friction from sex with not enough lubrication may be the culprit for a sore penis after sex. If your last sexual encounter was particularly rough and vigorous with some forceful thrusting, irritation and friction could be to blame, especially if there was not enough lubrication.
The best way to treat a sore penis after sex that stems from friction or a lack of lubrication would be to abstain from sex for a few days to allow the upper layer of skin to heal. Or try new erotic ways to please you and your partner.
Once you are ready to get back in there, use an ample amount of lube next time, and make sure you select a product that does not cause any allergic reactions. (Refer back to point one).
Mondor’s Disease
Penile Mondor’s disease, or PMD, is a hereditary condition that causes painful swelling of the vein that runs along the top of the penis, according to the University of Miami Health System. Other signs and symptoms of Mondor’s Disease include difficulty urinating, edema (swelling of the penis), and pain along the top of the penis that typically worsens during an erection.
The vein at the top of the penis may also start to feel like a hard rope. If you think you may have Mondor’s Disease, schedule an appointment with your doctor so they can perform a thorough examination and recommend a course of treatment, which can be anything from a topical cream to surgery, in severe cases.
Nonvenereal Sclerosing Lymphangitis
Nonvenereal sclerosing lymphangitis is a rare penile lesion that involves the hardening of a lymph vessel connected to a vein in the penis, explains Dr. Desai.
Sexual abstinence, together with or without the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, is often recommended as a treatment, states a 2022 report published in the journal Cureus.
Peyronie’s Disease
Peyronie’s disease is a disorder in which scar tissue, called plaque, forms under the skin of the penis. As it develops, the plaque pulls on the surrounding tissues and causes the penis to curve or bend, usually during an erection. Curves in the penis can make erections painful and may make sexual intercourse difficult, painful, or in some cases even impossible.
There are treatments for Peyronie’s disease. During the active phase, which occurs during the first six months of treatment, you usually get NSAIDs will for any pain along with a combination of penile modeling and stretching as well as the use of traction devices such as Restore-X and Xiaflex.
During the non-active phase, where the curvature has been stable, there main be some pain from intercourse but the curvature should no longer be generally painful.
Post-Orgasmic Illness Syndrome (POIS)
Postorgasmic illness syndrome (POIS) is a rare condition in which a person develops flu-like and allergy symptoms after orgasm of any type—whether with a partner, through masturbation, or spontaneously during sleep, according to the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences.
Symptoms may develop within seconds, minutes, or hours after orgasm, and usually last for 2 to 7 days before going away on their own. The underlying cause of POIS is unknown, but some scientists believe that in men, an allergic or autoimmune disorder causes an inflammatory reaction to a substance in a man’s own semen.
The good news is Post-Orgasmic Illness Syndrome (POIS) is usually self-resolving, says Dr. Desai. However, you can also try antihistamines, benzodiazepines, SSRIs, and diclofenac 1-2 hours prior to intercourse and continue for 24 to 48 hours post intercourse. Some research suggests there is a kind of allergy desensitization treatment you can do where docs inject your own semen into your forearm. But there really is no single-effect treatment.
Prolonged Sex
Sometimes a quickie just will not do. Longer stints of sex may mean more time erect, which may strain the muscles or tissue. If you have a sore penis after sex, consider a short hiatus until the penile tissue has had time to recover. A few days should do the trick.
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
In some instances, a sore penis after sex may be the result of a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Although most STIs are asymptomatic, a sore penis after sex may accompany some STIs including chlamydia, genital herpes, gonorrhea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis shares Dr. Desai.
Unfortunately, a sore penis after sex that occurs from an STI will only fade with treatment. Get tested, get treatment. It’s that simple.
Phimosis
Phimosis is defined as the inability to retract the skin (foreskin or prepuce) covering the head of the penis according to the UCSF Department of Urology. Phimosis may appear as a tight ring or “rubber band” of the foreskin around the tip of the penis, preventing full retraction.
It may also be accompanied by other symptoms such as color changes in the foreskin or tip of the penis due to lack of blood flow. There may also be itchiness and rash. A sore penis after sex caused by phimosis will only get better with treatment, so if you think you may have it, schedule an appointment with your doc.
Prostatitis
Prostatitis is a frequently painful condition that involves inflammation of the prostate, and sometimes the areas around the prostate write the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease. As a human anatomy reminder, the prostate is a small gland located under the bladder that helps to produce semen.
In some cases, a sore penis after sex resulting from a case of prostatitis can clear up on its own after a couple of days, but if the pain persists, schedule an appointment with your doctor.
Some signs that may indicate prostatitis include burning, difficulty urinating or pain during urination, pain during ejaculation, or pain in your abdomen or lower back. You may also experience chills, fever, and foul-smelling urine.
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
A urinary tract infection (UTI) is caused by bacteria in the urinary tract, which includes the bladder, prostate gland, urethra, and ureters. One or all of these parts can be affected by a UTI.
Men rarely get urinary tract infections before age 50, but they are more common in men over age 50, according to The University of Texas at Austin University Healthcare Services.
If you have a sore penis after sex and exhibit other symptoms like bloody, cloudy, or dark urine, burning or pain with ejaculation or urination, and a frequent or strong urge to urinate with little urine released, you may have a UTI.
Like with most of the items on this list, symptoms only get better after treatment, so if you think your sore penis after sex is due to a UTI, contact your healthcare provider.
Yeast Infection
According to the Urology Care Foundation, a yeast infection is one of the most common medical annoyances that is caused by an overgrowth of the candida fungus. This can result in a sore penis after sex as well as other symptoms such as burning, irritated skin that looks scaly, itching, rash, and unusual discharge. For this one, too, call a doc; yeast infections need to be treated by a medical professional.
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