Definition:
A male genital sore is any sore or lesion that appears on the penis, scrotum, or male urethra.
Alternative Names:
Sores - male genitals; Ulcers - male genitals
Considerations:
Symptoms may include itching, painful urination, drainage from the penis, or pain at the site of the sore. There may be one or many sores. They may also be found elsewhere on the body (such as the mouth and throat).
Common Causes:
Sores or lesions on the male genitalia have many causes. Often, the lesions of most concern are those seen with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). For example,genital herpes simplex, syphilis, chancroid, granuloma inguinale, and lymphogranuloma venereum are all associated with ulcers on the genitals. Other lesions in this area may be caused by venereal warts, molluscum contagiosum, allergic reactions, Behcet's disease, and non-sexually transmitted diseases.
References:
Link RE. Cutaneous diseases of the external genitalia. In: Wein AJ, ed. Campbell-Walsh Urology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 13.
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