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SYMPTOMS |
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DIAGNOSIS |
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SELF-CARE |
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Do you have any swelling or tenderness in the
scrotum? |
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Go to Question
9.* |
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| 2.
Do you have a discharge, either yellowish or
greenish, from the tip of the penis? |
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Your symptoms may represent a
SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE or an infection
of the mucous glands, URETHRITIS. |
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See your doctor promptly. |
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| 3.
Do you have a burning sensation or pain with
urination? |
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These may be symptoms of a bladder infection,
CYSTITIS, or an infection of the mucous glands,
URETHRITIS. |
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See your doctor. |
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| 4.
Do you have a sore or raw area on the penis? |
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Sores may represent a simple YEAST INFECTION,
HERPES
or other infections, and even
CANCER. |
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See your doctor promptly. |
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| 5.
Do you have a painless sore on the shaft or head
of the penis? |
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This mass may be from a
GENITAL WART,
SYPHILIS, or a form of
CANCER. |
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See your doctor promptly. |
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| 6.
Is the entire tip of the penis tender or
swollen? |
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This may be from an INFECTION of the head of the
penis, BALANITIS. |
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See your doctor. |
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| 7.
Do you have blood in your semen or pain with
ejaculation? |
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You may have an INFECTION of the prostate gland,
PROSTATITIS, or an infection of the seminal
vesicle. |
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See your doctor. Heat and mild analgesics can
bring comfort, as needed. |
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| 8.
Do you have pain with sexual intercourse? |
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A
number of problems, such as ALLERGY to a
contraceptive, ANXIETY,
PROSTATITIS, or INFECTION or DRYNESS in the
partner can cause pain for the male with sexual
intercourse. |
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Talk to your doctor about any pain you
experience during sex. |
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*9. Is the tenderness intense,
and has it occurred without any injury to the
testicle? |
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Your problem may be a severe form of infection,
EPIDIDYMITIS, or a cutting off of the blood to
the testicle, TESTICULAR TORSION. |
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EMERGENCY
See your doctor or be seen in the emergency room
right away. |
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10. Do you have mild
tenderness around one testicle? |
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Your symptoms may be from a
less tender form of EPIDIDYMITIS. |
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See your doctor. |
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11. Is there a hard, painless knot on one
testicle? |
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This type of painless knot could represent
TESTICULAR CANCER, or a noncancerous
SPERMATOCELE. |
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See your doctor. Learn how to do a testicular
self-examination. |
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12. Is there a soft swelling in the scrotum on
one or both sides? |
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A
worm-like swelling is usually a VARICOCELE, and
a soft, "water balloon" swelling is usually a
HYDROCELE. Small CYSTS can occur in the
epididymis. |
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If
these swellings have not been previously
diagnosed, see your doctor for an exam and
instructions. These problems are all benign, but
could require surgery. |
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13. Is there a soft swelling above the testicle
that gets worse with activity, lifting or
coughing? |
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This could be an INGUINAL HERNIA, a loop of the
bowel that protrudes into the scrotum. |
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See your doctor. Rarely, these loops can become
twisted and need emergency repair. Wearing a
truss or hernia belt can sometimes reduce the
discomfort. |
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14. Is there tenderness with bowel movements, or
is there pain behind the penis and scrotum? |
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This may represent an INFECTION of the prostate
gland,
PROSTATITIS, or possibly a more serious
problem. |
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See your doctor. |
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| For more
information, please consult your doctor. If you
think the problem is serious, call right away. |
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