The last thing you need in your ultimate moment of passion is inexplicable pain. Yet, statistics show that as many as 1 in 10 men have experienced this problem. The numbers could be even higher because painful ejaculation often goes unreported. Fortunately, the underlying cause of the pain is usually treatable or manageable so you don’t have to be in pain for long.
8 Conditions That Can Cause Painful Ejaculation
1. Prostatitis
This condition is inflammation of the prostate gland. It can be caused by a bacterial infection or another issue. Depending on the cause, you may experience acute or short-term pain or chronic pain that lasts for more than six weeks.
Prostatitis can usually be resolved with medication. Some of the other symptoms include frequent urination, erectile dysfunction, and pain in the pelvic area.
2. Cystitis
Cystitis refers to an infection in the bladder and leaving it untreated can lead to complications like kidney disease. A few of the other symptoms of cystitis include cloudy urine, pain in the lower abdomen, the frequent urge to urinate, and blood in the urine.
3. A Blockage
Though it’s not common, the ejaculatory duct can be blocked by small stones, inflammation, or scarring. When this happens, your ejaculation won’t be able to leave and pain is the result. This can usually be corrected through surgery. Other symptoms are blood in the semen, pain in the scrotum, and seeing less ejaculation than usual.
4. Nerve Damage
If the nerves in your pelvis have been damaged, you might experience pelvic and rectal pain. Conditions such as multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and injury can cause nerve damage so it will be important to address them. Other symptoms of nerve damage are tingling in the affected area or numbness.
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5. Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
Certain STIs like chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis can cause painful ejaculation. Since these infections won’t go away on their own, you’ll need to see a doctor quickly.
Some symptoms you might experience with these STDs are sores or blisters in the groin area, milky or green discharge, painful urination, and frequent urination.
6. Orchitis
Also known as epididymo-orchitis, this condition describes an inflammation of the epididymis, a tube in the testicle that stores and transports sperm. This inflammation can be caused by an STD or a virus so it has to be treated. A few of the other symptoms you might see include
swollen testicles, nausea, fever, and pain in the testicles.
7. Prostate Cancer
One issue with prostate cancer is that the early stages often have no symptoms. When it does show signs, painful ejaculation is one of the few issues it can cause. Other symptoms can include trouble urinating, blood in the semen, and erectile dysfunction. Of course, prostate cancer is very serious and needs to be handled quickly.
8. Certain Medications
Any medication or treatment can have side effects. Some anti-depressants and radiation therapy can cause painful ejaculation. The best thing to do in this case, is to ask your doctor if there are other options that don’t have that side effect.
How To Manage The Symptoms
The main symptom you’d deal with is pain. You may experience pain during ejaculation and urination, which can be brief or last for a few hours. The pain usually affects the penis, bladder, or rectum. Depending on the level of pain you’re feeling, it might be possible to manage it with some over-the-counter painkillers. However, it’s best to see your doctor to determine the cause of the pain.
When To See A Doctor
In rare cases, the pain might resolve on its own but it’s always recommended that you see a doctor for painful ejaculation. The reason behind that is you never know what caused the pain in the first place. Some of the underlying conditions that caused the problem in the first place can silently get worse without any other symptoms.
Based on what health professionals have to say, painful ejaculation might be a lot more common than they know. However, there’s no need for you to suffer on your own. The problem can be handled easily once your doctor determines what’s causing the pain.