Penis Exam: What to Expect From a Penis Inspection
Opening yourself up and finding a therapist is one thing, but baring all for a professional to probe through your most sensitive bits, sounds about as fun as peeling a coconut with your toenails.
However, while penis exams may not be the most fun activity to sit through, there’s no denying how important this inspection can be for your health and wellbeing.
Think of it this way: taking your car in for a tuneup can help to ensure that your vehicle is in good shape and no surprises will disrupt its performance.
In just about the same way, getting an expert to examine how you perform erectile function can be critical to how well you power through during critical moments.
Examinations also help to rule out any suspected issues affecting your penis, and are instrumental in identifying conditions that could be affecting its performance.
If you’re curious about these examinations, you may have a few questions.
What are Penis Exams?
Unlike full physical exams (which you should also be getting regularly, by the way), penis exams refer to an examination of the male genital region — this means everything that makes up the internal and external bits of the penis, urethra and scrotum.
So, a penis exam is really a genital exam, in that everything in the region gets a looksee.
For a little clarity, an examination will also include parts like the testes, prostate, and epididymis (the duct where semen passes through).
Penis exams are usually carried out by a urologist. Understandably, a fifth of men would prefer someone of the same sex handling and scrutinizing their most sensitive regions, but a urologist may be male or female.
These exams are typically carried out as a routine part of a health evaluation. They are also commonly resorted to when a sexually transmitted disease or other genital condition is suspected.
When undergoing a penis examination, you may notice that your healthcare provider usually observes a standard procedure.
During this procedure, a common thread that’s usually noticed is the atmosphere of privacy, and deliberate caution usually taken by your preferred professionals.
What Should I Expect During a Penis Examination?
When undergoing a physical examination, the urologist will carry out inspections that look into the general health of your penis and its appearance.
This procedure is usually carried out while the penis is flaccid.
While this process is taking place, anything that may affect the performance of erectile function will be focused on.
This means looking out for signs of conditions such as herpes, warts, ulcers, lumps or bumps, fungal infections, foreskin difficulties, urinary tract infection or erectile or sexual dysfunction.
To make these observations, key parts of the penile structure will be examined.
Your urologist may also ask questions about your medical history, sexual history and family history as they pertain to your sexual health, so be prepared for those, as well.
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General Appearance
Penis
While carrying out a physical examination, a health professional will take some time to inspect the external appearance of the penis.
This may also involve facial and body hair, as well as enlarged breasts in the man being examined.
To perform a thorough job during the examination, your healthcare provider may be required to pull back the foreskin in uncircumcised men.
While the penis is flaccid, any pain, scarring, or physical restrictions in the penis are noted.
Penis exams also take into account the presence of any genital warts, as well as the position of the opening from where urine is discharged. Genital warts can signal HPV on the penis.
In examining the general appearance of the penis, signs of hormone deficiency are also observed. Likewise, abnormalities that may affect the production of hormones are also noted down.
Testes
A penis exam will also require an individual feel of the balls to confirm their texture and shape. To get a thumbs up during the inspection, the testes should feel smooth and uniform to the touch.
A look through the testes will also require a peep at the epididymis. The inspection of the latter should produce a similar symmetric and uniform feel.
Also to be examined are the veins of the testicles. These are typically examined standing up, and may be a cause for concern when they appear enlarged.
Prostate Gland
Also included in the penis examination is the prostate. Urologists examine the walnut-sized gland to assess its size and shape.
The prostate should appear to be firm, smooth, and symmetrical.
Because the prostate usually requires entry through the anus, the rectal exam is also used to look out for anal warts, hemorrhoids, or fissures in that region.
In certain cases, the abdomen together with reflexes around the penis and anus are also examined.
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Doppler Ultrasound Imaging
To get a full view of what’s going on in your penis, your healthcare professional will likely carry out an ultrasound.
This procedure is very valuable for evaluating penile conditions such as trauma, priapism, Peyronie’s disease and erectile dysfunction.
Ultrasounds are carried out through transducers, which use soundwaves to create detailed imaging of the penis.
These devices are helpful in ensuring that the images produced during the examination are clear.
How to Perform a Penis Self-Exam
If you’d rather ease into things by taking matters into your own hands, personal examinations may be carried out on the penis.
Likewise, this process is also useful for identifying any differences before, or in-between visits with a healthcare professional.
When carrying a self-examination out, the objective is to explore any changes in the shape or feel of your genitals.
It is also important to be on the lookout for areas where pain is being experienced. This inspection should be carried out at least once a month.
To improve the accuracy of these exams, it is advisable to perform the test in the shower while the area is lathered up. This will help to relax the scrotum, making movement around the penis easier.
Each testicle is to be examined by gently rolling between the fingers. Also included in the check are cords that you should feel at the back of your testicles.
These searches are to be performed with a focus on any hard lumps, or strange bumps around the genitals. They are also to include any changes that you may observe in your privates.
Penis Exams When Erectile Dysfunction is Suspected
In the event that you experience persistent difficulty with achieving or maintaining erections, it’s important to see a professional as soon as possible for an assessment to be made.
Where erectile dysfunction is suspected and your healthcare provider wants to take an ultrasound, the penis examination usually takes place on an erect penis.
This is usually made possible by injecting substances into the penis to induce rigidity. When this takes place, the following can be expected:
Screening for evidence of an endocrine disease such as diabetes and Addison disease ( a reduction in the production of hormones). These conditions may be responsible for erectile challenges being experienced, and are usually observed through laboratory tests.
This will be followed by measuring blood pressure and examining the urine to exclude the chances of diabetes. This condition has been known to affect the nerves, causing weakness or numbness in organ function.
Checking how well the heart and blood vessels are functioning. This will ensure that the penis is receiving an adequate supply of blood in the right measure.
Determining the cause and treatment of erectile dysfunction may also require a mental health exam. During this, the healthcare professional will ask questions and share a questionnaire to identify any non-physical causes of the condition.
When the above are completed, the physical examination as listed above will then be carried out to determine whether or not an erectile dysfunction diagnosis will be given.
Treatment Options If You Can’t Get an Erection
Being unable to tell whether a potential sexual experience will be cut short, or if you’ll be unable to begin in the first place can cause considerable strain in your sex life.
Understandably, managing or finding a suitable treatment for erectile dysfunction is top priority for anyone with an active sexual life.
To help with managing this condition, the following treatment methods come highly recommended:
For an early understanding of what medication may be best suited for you, as well as how each treatment method works — our guide on the most common erectile dysfunction treatments can point you in the right direction.
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Getting a Penis Exam
We don’t need to tell you how important your penis is to your well being.
The first sign of trouble in this organ can send you through multiple google searches, and immediate appointment scheduling with a healthcare provider.
To pre-empt any challenges that you might face with this organ, as well as to ensure that things are in top shape; penis exams — whether by a professional, who will use expert eyes and the correct tools to make observations, or through a little self-probing in the shower, can make all the difference for the health of your penis.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment or medication.
