What is glans necrosis?

Now that the second child policy has been opened, many people are thinking about having a second baby. There are also older couples in the hospital who undergo physical examinations to see if they can get pregnant again. The items that male friends are more concerned about checking are definitely related to their genitals, such as the glans. If there is a problem with the glans, then the probability of having a second child is also very problematic. The glans may become necrotic, or in other words, the glans may atrophy. Patients with this condition must go to the hospital for medical treatment immediately. What does glans necrosis look like?

The glans, also known as the penis head, refers to the spherical object at the front end of the penis. It is formed by the expansion of the front end of the urethral corpus spongiosum. There is a urethral opening at the end of the front end, which is the common outlet for urine and semen.

The penis can be divided into the glans penis, the body penis, and the root penis from front to back. For men with foreskin that is too long, the foreskin must be pulled down to see the glans penis. If an adult's foreskin cannot be pulled down to reveal the glans penis, this is commonly known as phimosis and the patient needs to go to a regular hospital for a circumcision. The area near the coronal sulcus of the glans is a place where dirt and grime accumulate. After urination, the residual urine will accumulate between the glans and the foreskin, causing the substances in the urine to precipitate, bacteria and fungi to multiply, and a large amount of urine scale to form and concentrate in the coronal sulcus. Generally speaking, urine scale should be cleaned once every one or two days to avoid inflammation. The glans penis and foreskin must be cleaned before sexual intercourse.

Fungal balanitis

It is caused by a fungus called Candida albicans and usually occurs in circumcised patients. The glans penis is shiny red with small pustules or papules on the surface. You can take clotrimazole or ketoconazole and apply clotrimazole ointment to the affected area.

Psoriasis

It may only occur on the penis and not in other parts of the body, so it is difficult to identify. It manifests as erythematous papules with clear edges on the head of the penis, without the silvery-white scales that are unique to general psoriasis. If it grows on the penis shaft, there may be scales. Hydrocortisone ointment can be applied externally to control the condition.

Balanoposthitis

This is the most common disease of the glans and foreskin. Almost all patients have phimosis or prepuce that is too long. Between the glans penis and the excessively long foreskin, a warm, moist bacterial culture medium is formed due to the desquamated epithelial cells, glandular secretions and smegma bacteria, which can cause inflammation once the bacteria enter.

In the early stages of balanoposthitis, edema and congestion can be seen on the surface of the glans and foreskin, redness, wounds and erosions may appear around the urethral opening, and may develop into superficial ulcers with purulent secretions flowing out. The patient will feel itching or burning sensation at the glans penis, followed by pain. After ulceration, pus may flow out and have a foul smell. In severe cases, there may also be fatigue, low fever, swollen and tender inguinal lymph nodes.

In addition, if it is candidal balanitis caused by fungal infection, it is often manifested by erythema of the glans mucosa, local edema, smooth appearance, mild desquamation of the edges, and papules and small pustules that expand to the surrounding area to form glans erosion. Recurrent candidal balanitis can cause foreskin cracking, fibrosis, and sclerotic changes in the glans.

Tingling pain in the glans penis

There are many reasons for glans pain, and different reasons will cause different symptoms:

1. At the beginning, there is local flushing, the skin of the penis becomes red and swollen, and there is a burning sensation in the glans. When the inner surface of the foreskin and the glans penis are turned over, they are congested and eroded, with exudate and even bleeding. After secondary infection, small ulcers may be seen with foul-smelling milky white purulent secretions.

2. The initial symptoms of the glans caused by gonorrhea are redness, swelling, itching and slight tingling at the urethral opening of the glans. The redness and swelling develop to the entire glans and part of the urethra. The secretions change from thin to dark yellow pus, and frequent urination, painful urination, difficulty in urination, and difficulty in movement occur. There are often painful erections at night.

3. Caused by non-gonococcal urethritis, men often have itching, burning, and tingling in the glans urethra, congestion or redness and swelling of the urethral opening, serous, mucopurulent or thin white secretions, or mouthfuls in the morning.