Balanitis After Syphilis

[John75136]

I'm an uncircumcised male in my late thirties. Back in July I contracted syphilis which manifested as a lesion on the inside of the foreskin. I got treated with a few shots of penicillin over several weeks and it healed the lesion. However, since then I've been dealing with balanitis - a red spot on the head of the penis in the same area where the lesion was. The spot often looks shiny or wet, and gets more red after sex. I've seen a urologist and he prescribed an antifungal steroidal cream: Clotrimazole 1% / Betamethasone .5%. The cream seems to help temporarily but the redness returns after sex. I've been told a circumcision is the ultimate solution but would like to save that as a last resort. Has anyone else had a similar situation? What other medication should I consider? Any advice at all would be greatly appreciated.

[Hidden]

You could try seeing a dermatologist as skin infections are their thing.

[John75136 in reply to Hidden]

Yeah I looked into that today. A dermatologist who specializes in STDs might work, but none of them accept my insurance, unfortunately. So I may have to stick with urologists.

[Hidden in reply to John75136]

If you no longer have an STD then you do not need a dermatologist who specialises in them. You probably need a biopsy (skin scraping) to find out what exactly is going on.

[John75136 in reply to Hidden]

I actually had a biopsy about a month ago. The urologist said there were no traces of cancer or any virus, so he thinks it's chronic inflammation. Although he didn't specifically say it's balanitis, which I intend to ask him about, because based on my subsequent research it seems very much like balanitis. I just figured that in general, a urologist would have more experience with balanitis than a dermatologist?

[8thfloorben]

Hope you get it cured without the need for circumcision, but as someone who was done as an adult I wouldn't fear it. I'd also say that if you are having unprotected sex there is evidence that circumcision offers SOME protection against it.

[John75136 in reply to 8thfloorben]

Thank you. How was your circumcision experience and recovery?

[8thfloorben in reply to John75136]

You're welcome. No pain either during the op or after to my surprise, that was fear 1. No jerking off or sex for 3 weeks worried me but for the first couple of weeks you wouldn't want to and it passes amazingly fast. It is very different afterwards, sex isn't but jerking off takes a lot of getting used to with lubricant. There is a change in sensitivity and you last longer - good for all involved! It's also quite a good feeling having the head exposed all the time. I wasn't pro or anti circumcision but on balance I'd do it again, no regrets and some positives. Good luck.

[John75136 in reply to 8thfloorben]

I really appreciate that. It's good to know that if I must get it done, it's not a terrible experience. How long did it take before you could resume normal sexual activity?

[8thfloorben in reply to John75136]

For masturbation about 2 - 3 weeks because by then I was so pent up all it took was about 5 gentle strokes! Full sex after 4 weeks. I wouldn't recommend it if someone was anti circumcision but if you are neutral you may be pleasantly surprised. You can get an idea by keeping your foreskin retracted for a few days and I'm no doctor of course but maybe fresh air would help your other problem?

[John75136 in reply to 8thfloorben]

I see. Yeah I asked a previous urologist about keeping the foreskin retracted and he said it could cause other problems and advised against it. I used to be anti circumcision but now that I'm going through this, I'm definitely more neutral, hah.

[8thfloorben in reply to John75136]

Guess that's why I'm not a Doc! As you say, just not something to fear if needed.

[John75136 in reply to 8thfloorben]

What you're doing, sharing your experience, is really comforting and appreciated. Cheers mate.

[Karlos_ in reply to John75136]

I myself suffered from balanoposthitis. I also do not recommend wearing a pulled foreskin. The problem can get much worse. That was the case with me. I can highly recommend circumcision. After circumcision, I have absolutely no inflammation. It's super. But it is necessary to find a doctor who does a tight circumcision. Only a completely exposed glans will cure you.My friend had his foreskin completely removed, but his loose skin covered his glans. Balanopostitis remained behind the covered part of the glans (because the moisture remained).

I have left part of the inner foreskin but overall the skin has been much shortened. Glans always bare, dry (although cold water my cock small, but the glans remains completely bare). That's why I'm 100% healthy

[John75136 in reply to Karlos_]

Thanks Karlos for sharing your experience, that is very helpful. I believe I'm experiencing balanitis as opposed to balanoposthitis, because my inflammation is on the head of the penis, not the foreskin. Although when I initially contracted syphilis, a lesion appeared on the inside of the foreskin, but I was treated with shots of penicillin which did heal that lesion, but I still see a little bit of redness there. So I'm not entirely sure.

How was your circumcision experience and recovery? And how does your sex life compare before and after?

[Karlos_ in reply to John75136]

Balanoposthitis is followed by balanitis. These problems are often associated.

After recovering from circumcision, I gradually got used to the new condition.

I have no smell. I have nothing red. I have no inflammation. My partner does oral sex anywhere. I don't need a shower My partner does not recognize if I was shower 1 hour ago or 10 hours ago. I'm still clean for sex.

I now receive more oral sex than before. It is super :-).

I have more confidence.

I didn't regret, that the foreskin was gone forever.

[Hidden]

I’m going through the same thing. I got balanitis from thrush caused by diabetes. The first time I got it I was given antibiotics but they did nothing in fact a doctor told me this could have made it worse. Then I was given a strong steroid anti fungal cream. This cleared me in 3 days. The balanitis came back again after 3 days. I was told to use the cream again for a whole week. This cleared it again but after I stopped using the cream again it came back. This time I was given a different steroid cream and told to use it constantly for 3 weeks then immediately go onto Clotrimazole 1% for 3 months constantly. I’m almost Finished the 3 months. I was told that if this doesn’t work I may need to be circumcised. I really don’t want to be circumcised. I hope when I’m finished that I will be clear. Just a thought but has your partner had a check just in case you are passing it back and forth? I haven’t had any problems since being on the cream.

[John75136 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for sharing. I'm not in a relationship so I'm definitely not passing it back and forth with someone. From what I've read, balanitis is not contagious.

I've seen studies where two other medications have been shown to cure it: mupirocin 2% ointment (antibiotic/antibacterial) and pimecrolimus 1% cream, also known as ELIDEL, a steroid free cream used for atopic dermatitis. I intend to ask my doctors about these.

Best of luck!

[Hidden in reply to John75136]

My cause of balanitis is thrush and I have heard that this is contagious. I have also found that one of the tablets I take for diabetes has thrush/ balanitis as a side affect. I’m waiting to see my diabetic nurse to review this tablet. Best of luck to you too. Keep us updated on your progress.

[The_Rockstar]

Anti viral drugs will definitely sort you out. The reason it keeps coming back is because it’s still somehow “active” and the pills should help. Also stay at least a week or 2 without sex so that the tip of the penis with the wound is fully healed because it’s not that perhaps you are contracting it again but it’s just that you open the wound after sex because it’s not healed.