Often when a man talks about safeguarding his penis health, he’s specifically talking about making sure that he doesn’t come down with an STI (sexually transmitted infection). Certainly, an STI can be bad news for a man and any of his partners. It can severely limit his sexual activities and if not caught and treated in time can (depending upon the specific STI) have serious long-term consequences. Thus, a man may be on the lookout for any abnormalities that could signal the presence of an STI. This raises the question, "What about penis bumps? Could they mean that an STI is present?"

Penis bumps and STIs

The short answer is that yes, penis bumps can be a warning sign that alerts a man to the presence of an STI. But it’s also important to remember that (1) penis bumps are not always associated with an STI, and (2) they are not associated with all STIs.

In general penis bumps aren’t associated with some of the more severe STIs, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea or syphilis. (That’s not to say that a person cannot have one of these conditions and have penis bumps, merely that the bumps are not likely to be a symptom of the infection.) However, penis bumps are associated with several other STIS, including:

- HPV. Also known a human papillomavirus, HPV is the most common STI in the United States. In many cases, HPV does not cause immediate health problems. However, sometimes it is accompanied by the presence of genital warts. These can be very unsightly and most men will want to have them removed. A doctor can prescribe medicines that are typically effective in their removal. Of long term concern is the fact that HPV is associated with an increased risk of cancer, especially in women.

- Herpes. Both herpes simplex1 and herpes simplex 2 can cause outbreaks that resemble penis bumps. These small round bumps resemble blisters and are often quite painful, especially which touched. Fortunately, there are antiviral medications that can be used to help bring an outbreak under control.

- Molluscum contagiosum . Commonly just called MC, molluscum contagiosum are small, often flesh-colored bumps that often appear in clusters. They are benign and do not typically cause pain, except when irritated by excessive friction - which can occur when the penis is sexually active. Treatment usually involves freezing the bumps off. MC can be obtained by means other than sexual interplay; however, the virus that causes it often is passed on during intercourse.

A man with penis bumps that he believes could have an origin with an STI should consult with a doctor immediately.

Of course, while the above STIs can be associated with penis bumps, there are many other causes that have nothing to do with sexual contact. Pearly penile papules, Fordyce spots, ingrown hair follicles, blocked oil glands, food allergies and reactions to chemicals or friction can all describe or bring about penis bumps of one kind or another.

Hopefully, any penis bumps that occur on individuals reading this article will not be symptomatic of an STI. Attending to overall penis health through the use of a superior penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) can help the penis bounce back from non-STI-related bumps. It’s wise to select a crème that includes a wide range of vitamins, such as A, B5, C, D and E; applied through a topical crème, these vitamins will target the penis directly to receive their multitude of benefits. The crème should also include L-carnitine, which has neuroprotective properties that keep the penis sensitivity at a key level, even after rough handling.