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What Causes Irritation On The Penis After Intercourse?
Question: My boyfriend and I are in a year-long committed relationship. After having an unprotected sex, however, he often develops irritation on his penis. It usually happens the day after, lasts 1-3 days, and clears up on its own. Both of us have been tested negative for STD's and I was also negative for yeast infection. I experience no symptoms after unprotected sex with him. None of my ex's had this symptoms, and he never had this with any of his ex's. Could this mean that he is allergic to my vaginal secretion? I would really appreciate your help on this.
Brief Answer:
Allergy due to any substance exposed to during foreplay, sex or afterwards.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
It may not be an allergy to your vaginal secretion. Should you both be using any gel or lubrication jelly that can cause irritation to the penis. I would like to hear from you if there is any possibility of using any water or alcohol based substances during sex. The possibility of washing up with any particular soap after having sex may also have a role to play in causing skin irritation. It can also be due to the use of rubber sex toys to which your partner might be allergic.
Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Allergy due to any substance exposed to during foreplay, sex or afterwards.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
It may not be an allergy to your vaginal secretion. Should you both be using any gel or lubrication jelly that can cause irritation to the penis. I would like to hear from you if there is any possibility of using any water or alcohol based substances during sex. The possibility of washing up with any particular soap after having sex may also have a role to play in causing skin irritation. It can also be due to the use of rubber sex toys to which your partner might be allergic.
Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dear Dr. XXXXXXX
Thank you for your quick reply. However, none of the possible causes described by you applied to us. We do not use any jell or lubricants, or toys. Our sex life involves only two of us and nothing else. He is also not allergic to rubber and he shows no symptoms when we have sex with a condome on. He uses one kind of soap for all occasion. It seems to me that if he takes a shower right after sex, he doesn't get the symptom.
Can it be he is reacting to candidas in my vaginal secretion even if the level of candidas I have is not high enough to be diagnosed as yeast infection? Could you recommend any tests I should have to get correct diagnosis?
Thank you for your quick reply. However, none of the possible causes described by you applied to us. We do not use any jell or lubricants, or toys. Our sex life involves only two of us and nothing else. He is also not allergic to rubber and he shows no symptoms when we have sex with a condome on. He uses one kind of soap for all occasion. It seems to me that if he takes a shower right after sex, he doesn't get the symptom.
Can it be he is reacting to candidas in my vaginal secretion even if the level of candidas I have is not high enough to be diagnosed as yeast infection? Could you recommend any tests I should have to get correct diagnosis?
Brief Answer:
Please find further explanation below.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
Please excuse me for being a little graphic in discussing your partners problems.
I have mentioned the commoner reasons above and since they are not applicable, there is a need to think in detail based on your statements.
The possibility of having yeast is least likely as this is disappearing by itself as mentioned by you.
Other possibilities which can be thought of include
1. Any personal hygiene products which you are using regularly and this is settling on his penis skin and causing some sort of contact dermatitis. This is more likely as you say that if he takes a shower soon after then the rashes do not occur.
2. You might be secreting a more than normal amount of vaginal secretions which are keeping the penis skin moist and along with the friction involved, it is causing transient rashes on the skin. Frictional dermatitis is defined as an eczematous process in which physical frictional trauma contributes to the induction of a dermatitis process. This can also explain if the rashes appear when having sex in a particular position and there is more pressure on the penis which causes irritation, when using condoms the pressure is not felt and hence rashes do not occur.
3. Any perfumed or medicated tissues that he uses to clean up after intercourse.
Instead of skin tests, a visit to a dermatologist when he gets the rashes would be justified.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Please find further explanation below.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
Please excuse me for being a little graphic in discussing your partners problems.
I have mentioned the commoner reasons above and since they are not applicable, there is a need to think in detail based on your statements.
The possibility of having yeast is least likely as this is disappearing by itself as mentioned by you.
Other possibilities which can be thought of include
1. Any personal hygiene products which you are using regularly and this is settling on his penis skin and causing some sort of contact dermatitis. This is more likely as you say that if he takes a shower soon after then the rashes do not occur.
2. You might be secreting a more than normal amount of vaginal secretions which are keeping the penis skin moist and along with the friction involved, it is causing transient rashes on the skin. Frictional dermatitis is defined as an eczematous process in which physical frictional trauma contributes to the induction of a dermatitis process. This can also explain if the rashes appear when having sex in a particular position and there is more pressure on the penis which causes irritation, when using condoms the pressure is not felt and hence rashes do not occur.
3. Any perfumed or medicated tissues that he uses to clean up after intercourse.
Instead of skin tests, a visit to a dermatologist when he gets the rashes would be justified.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Note: Consult a Sexual Diseases Specialist online for further follow up- Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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