Your GP should be able to diagnose balanitis by the redness and inflamed (swollen) appearance of the glans.
You may initially feel embarrassed about visiting your GP with the symptoms of balanitis, but it’s important that you do.
This is because your symptoms could be a sign of a more serious underlying condition, such as diabetes.
You or your child may also need prescription-only medication, such as antibiotics or antifungals (see treating balanitis for more information).
Seeing your GP
To determine what is causing balanitis, your GP will examine your (or your child’s) penis and ask a number of questions to help determine the cause. They may ask:
- how often you clean your penis
- whether you may have been exposed to irritants, such as soap or bubble bath
- whether you have a history of skin conditions, such as eczema
- whether you may have damaged the head of your penis during sex
For children, your GP may also ask:
- whether you have noticed your child playing with their foreskin
- for younger children, how often they have their nappy changed
Further testing is usually only needed if the symptoms are particularly severe or do not clear with treatment. This usually involves taking a small sample of cells from the head of the penis (a swab) and testing them for infection.
In addition to taking a sample of cells from your penis, your GP may refer you for blood and urine tests to measure your blood sugar levels. This is to check whether you have developed diabetes, which may be making you more vulnerable to infection.
Your GP may also recommend that you are tested for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). They may refer you to a sexual health clinic.
Comments are closed.