Can Guys Have a Fishy Smell on the Penis?
Fishy smells on or around the penis aren’t normal and could be due to poor hygiene, skin infections or sexually transmitted diseases like Trichomoniasis.
Your vagina may produce a light scent due to sweat or the occasional bacterial discharge, but a strong and sudden aroma could indicate infection or sexually transmitted infection (STI).
Bacterial vaginosis
Bacterial Vaginosis, commonly referred to as BV, occurs when normal bacteria in the vagina become out of balance and cause discharge with an unpleasant fishy scent after engaging in sexual activity or during their period. While it’s generally harmless, treating it may increase your chances of future infections so it is wise to do so immediately.
Most people with BV do not need to see a doctor; however, if you suspect an infection it would be wise to visit either your GP or sexual health clinic for assessment. They will discuss your symptoms and conduct a pelvic exam, before collecting vaginal discharge samples with a swab for testing under microscope for signs of infection; whiff tests to detect fishy smells will also be done before performing pH tests to measure how acidic your discharge may be – high pH values could indicate the presence of BV.
Antibiotics will usually be prescribed by your GP or sexual health provider in order to treat BV infections, either pills taken by mouth or vaginal gels and creams that must be applied topically. You may need to continue taking these antibiotics for several months until all signs of infection have cleared up completely; failing to complete your course of antibiotics could mean returning symptoms and the possibility that more serious problems might arise later on. It’s vitally important that all courses of antibiotics be completed as skipping even one could lead to another flare up bringing the infection back.
Men with BV don’t need to worry about getting other infections as women can, as BV-infected sexes cannot spread STIs as easily through unprotected sexual encounters. But other conditions that resemble BV can still occur, like penile thrush. Penile thrush occurs when Candida albicans fungus grows overgrow on the penis and causes itching and discharge – something unprotected sexual activity may spread further.
BV doesn’t typically pose serious health concerns for men, but it can make sexual activity or starting a family more challenging. Furthermore, BV increases a woman’s risk of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which increases premature delivery rates and low birth weight babies as well as making pregnancy more complicated by increasing chances of infections and other issues during gestation.
Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection that can cause painful urination, pus-like discharge from your penis and vagina, and an itchy feeling in your throat. While the best way to avoid getting it would be not having sexual relations at all, but this may not always be feasible or reasonable for everyone. One way you can lower your risk for gonorrhea is using condoms when engaging in any anal, vaginal, oral sex as well as limiting how often sex partners you engage in. Finally practicing safe sexual relations will also reduce risks.
When diagnosed with gonorrhea, you will be prescribed antibiotic medicine by a health care provider to treat the infection. Be sure to follow all directions regarding dosage; otherwise the bacteria could continue growing and spreading through sexual contact. Even once all your medicine has been consumed, wait one week before engaging in sexual relations again after both you and your partner have been treated for gonorrhea.
Untreated gonorrhea can spread to other reproductive organs and lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), leading to infertility or ectopic pregnancies. Gonorrhea may also spread directly into your eyes causing pain as well as red, swollen appearance; furthermore it can infiltrate joints causing fever, skin sores, joint pain swelling and stiffness as well as fever rash sores rash joint pain swelling stiffness stiffness stiffness etc.
Gnorrhea can spread rapidly throughout your body, infecting the lungs and heart and leading to sepsis, an extremely serious form of sepsis infection. Furthermore, infection with gonorrhea increases your risk for HIV/AIDS because the bacteria responsible can infiltrate cells that line intestines and other internal organs and lead to life-threatening infections that are difficult to treat with antibiotics.
Chlamydia
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease that can inflict both women and men. It’s particularly prevalent among young people and can lead to infertility if left untreated. Spread via unprotected sexual contact, or from mother-to-baby during childbirth. Therefore it’s crucial that both partners get tested and treated for Chlamydia; additionally sexually active people should inform each other immediately if they suspect having it.
Chlamydia symptoms can develop over weeks, months or years and it is vitally important that young people receive regular screenings for sexually transmitted infections (STI).
Chlamydia trachomatis, the bacteria that causes chlamydia, can be found in various parts of a woman’s cervix, anus, penis and throat. Women who are infected often report pain when peeing (dysuria), mucus-like discharge from vagina and sore throat symptoms (chlamydial tonsillitis). An infection to an anus may result in redness, pain, discharge as well as increased risk for ectopic pregnancy; while symptoms from infection of anus may include pain as well as bloody discharge whereas symptoms of infection in her rectum include pain as well as redness redness and bloody discharge – symptoms of which should never go undetected!
Men can experience similar symptoms as women when infected with Chlamydia bacteria, including pain and mucus-like discharge from their penis. The infection may then spread to the tube that transports sperm from testicles (epididymis), leading to painful swelling as well as an ongoing sense of being full of sand. Urethritis may develop, causing pain, burning and itching symptoms; ultimately these infections could even result in infertility.
Chlamydia can be treated effectively with antibiotics, with most individuals getting better within one week after beginning therapy. Retests should take place every three months after your last dose to make sure that any potential recurrences haven’t returned; additionally it’s wise to inform all sexual partners who share sexual contact that you have Chlamydia so they too can get tested and treated to prevent the spread of infection and subsequent sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Smegma
Smegma is a white cottage cheese-like substance that forms along the folds of men’s penis and under his foreskin, often producing an unpleasant odor. Although normal, improper hygiene could lead to issues associated with it: in addition to its unpleasant odor it could lead to serious medical conditions like balanitis and phimosis that affect more serious organs than others.
Smegma occurs when oil secretions from sebaceous glands around the genitals mix with dead skin cells and sweat to produce fluids that lubricate and cushion the area to protect it from feeling dry or itchy. Though small quantities are produced over time, accumulation occurs more easily if guys fail to regularly cleanse their penis and genital areas.
Men typically experience smegma under the foreskin of their penis; women can experience it between the folds of labia or on a clitoral hood. Smegma’s distinct smell stems from bacteria present on skin that grow in combination with body fluids.
Smegma can be unpleasant to smell but shouldn’t be taken as an indication of sexually transmitted disease; rather, it’s normal and can be prevented by regularly washing the genital area with soap and water.
If a man neglects to clean their penis and genital area on a regular basis, smegma can form hard clumps which become difficult to eliminate from the area, leading to painful itching, swelling, reddened patches of inflammation as well as red, pink or purple patches of inflammation in his penis and/or genital area. Left untreated this can even lead to balanitis causing the head of penis irritation and swelling.
Many men may not realize they have smegma, nor how to treat it, until it becomes an issue in their penile health. By approaching it openly and discussing it, more information about this condition and ways of taking care of their penile health will become clear. A great place to start would be talking to their doctor; they can offer advice about managing it as well as recommend products which could aid the situation.