epispadias

Problems with the penis can cause pain and affect a man's sexual function and fertility. Penis disorders include:

• Erectile dysfunction - inability to get or keep an erection
• Priapism - a painful erection that does not go away
• Peyronie's disease - bending of the penis during an erection due to a hard lump called a plaque
• Balanitis - inflammation of the skin covering the head of the penis, most often in men and boys who have not been circumcised
• Penile cancer - a rare form of cancer, highly curable when caught early

The urethra is the tube that allows urine to pass out of the body. In men, it's a long tube that runs through the penis. It also carries semen in men. In women, it's short and is just above the vagina. Urethral problems may happen due to aging, illness, or injury. They include:

• Urethral cancer - a rare cancer that happens more often in men
• Urethral stricture - a narrowing of the opening of the urethra
• Urethritis - inflammation of the urethra, sometimes caused by infection

Urethral problems may cause pain or difficulty passing urine. You may also have bleeding or discharge from the urethra.

Doctors diagnose urethral problems using different tests. These include urine tests, x-rays and an examination of the urethra with a scope called a cystoscope. Treatment depends on the cause of the problem. It may include medicines and, in severe cases, surgery.