A man can get a sore penis from any number of reasons, including using his equipment too much or not keeping his manhood well lubricated during extended sexual encounters. There can also be some penis health concerns, such as a sexually-transmitted disease, that might cause a sore penis as well. But sometimes that soreness comes from a medical issue that goes beyond the penis - and such can be the case when a guy has Behcet’s disease.

What it is

Also called Behcet’s syndrome, Behcet’s disease is named after a Turkish doctor who is credited with discovering it in the 1930s. It is both an autoimmune and an autoinflammatory disease.

Autoimmune means that the body, for some reason usually unknown, starts to sense a normal body part or function as abnormal and therefore initiates a defense against it; in other words, the body starts fighting itself. Autoinflammatory diseases come about when a genetic mutation is the reason that the immune system starts fighting against a normal body part of function.

With Behcet’s, this brings about serious inflammation in blood vessels. When this happens, it may manifest in several different ways: as skin rashes, as sores in the mouth, as red eyes, as arthritis pain in joints - or as penis sores. And those penis sores can make for a sore penis.

There are an estimated 16,000-20,000 people with Behcet’s disease in the United States, and it is more likely to occur in men than in women.

Sometimes it can be severe and cause pain and inconvenience; in other people, it may be very mild and hardly noticed. While the sore penis can be a problem, there are other potential complications, including vision loss or stroke, that are of greater concern.

Many men find that when a Behcet’s disease flare-up occurs and results in penis sores that their sex lives are affected. The sores can give the impression that the penis may have a sexually-transmitted infection when, in fact, Behcet’s is not contagious. But even if a partner is willing, many men find that the sore penis impacts the pleasure that they would otherwise feel from engaging in sex.

Treatment

Scientists still do not understand the cause of Behcet’s, despite knowing there is a genetic component associated with it. Diagnosing it can sometimes take a while, especially if one has only minor symptoms.

In terms of the sore penis, treatment typically involves topical corticosteroid medications. This help reduces the swelling and the pain. If a flare-up is mild, the sores may resolve on their own without intervention.

However, especially with more severe cases, it often is necessary to maintain continuing treatment in order to reduce the number or severity of flare-ups. This usually involves continued use of corticosteroids, but with other medications added to help suppress the overact immune response.

During flare-ups, it’s also important that a person gets sufficient rest. This can help the body "re-group" and aid it in resolving the flare-up more quickly.

Even when sores from Behcet’s disease go away, a guy may still experience a sore penis. Once sores are gone, it may be helpful to regularly apply a first rate penis health creme (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin). Soreness is often a sign of damaged penis skin, so try finding a crème that contains helpful moisturizing agents, such as a high end emollient (look for shea butter) and a natural hydrator (such as vitamin E). Try to locate a crème which also lists vitamin D among its ingredients. Vitamin D has proven benefits in fighting diseases and supporting healthy cellular function and can provide important health benefits.