Why Does My Penis Smell?

Are you having a problem with a smelly penis? Don't worry; there are many people facing this issue, which is a lot more common than you might think. Penis smelling bad can be because of poor hygiene or more serious conditions like an infection or an STD. 

Penis odor is normal. But if you notice a sudden change in the scent and it seems foul, then there might be an underlying condition you are not aware of. This might make you keep wondering, “Why does my penis smell?” So let's get to the detailed answers on “Why does my penis smell?” or “why does my penis stink?”

Smegma: when moisture, dead skin, debris, and oil build up on the penile skin, it leads to a condition called Smegma that causes smelly dicks. Although all men can get smegma, uncircumcised men get it more often. Lubrication is necessary for the penis, but when there is too much of it, it causes infections. Sweating excessively and having poor hygiene can increase the risks of acquiring smegma. You might face other problems like irritation, swelling, and redness of the penis when you have smegma. 

Balanitis: If your penis smells bad, one possible cause could be balanitis. It is an inflammation of the penile head that can caused by unprotected sex, smegma buildup, infection, irritation from certain products, or skin problems like eczema and psoriasis. When you ask, “Why does my penis smell bad?” you can also look for other symptoms like swelling and redness of the penis, burning urination, irritation and itchiness, and fluid buildup in the penis. Leaving balanitis untreated can tighten the foreskin and make it hard to retract. 

UTI: A bacterial or viral infection of the urinary tract can lead to urinary tract infections that often cause smelly cock. If you ask, “why my penis smells bad?” it might be because of a UTI caused by kidney stones, sexual activities, diabetes, swollen prostate, or urinary retention. Besides a smelly dick, you can experience frequent and urgent need to urinate, burning urination, and cloudy urine.  

Yeast infection: Another common cause of why your penis smells foul could be a yeast infection. It occurs when the fungus Candida overgrows on the penis. You might also feel irritation, burning, and itchiness on the penis. This type of infection happens when you don't maintain proper hygiene and don’t keep your penis clean. It can transmit from one person to another through sex.

Chlamydia: you can contract Chlamydia through unprotected vaginal, anal, and oral sex with a person infected with it. Chlamydia may or may not cause symptoms, but you will experience stinging urination, discharge, and swollen testicles when they occur. It can also be the reason for “Why does my penis smell?” as the discharge from the penis can cause a bad smell. Chlamydia should be treated as ignoring it will cause long-term health issues like reproductive disorders.

Gonorrhea: It is an STD that rarely causes symptoms. But whenever it does, you will notice that your penis smells bad, along with other symptoms like penile discharge, burning sensation, pain, and bleeding. Gonorrhea is caused by a bacterial infection that can cause infertility if not treated. It takes about seven days to recover from gonorrhea, although it depends upon each individual. Avoid sex during the treatment as you can still be contagious. 

NGU (non-gonococcal urethritis): Firstly, urethritis is the term used for the infection of the urethra. And non-gonococcal means something not related to gonorrhea. So, NGU is a bacterial and sometimes viral infection that can spread through unprotected sex. Chlamydia is a common example of an NGU; however, there are other microorganisms that can cause non-gonococcal urethritis in a person.

Some common NGU symptoms are painful and burning urination, irritation and sores on the penis tip, discharge, and “stink penis.” If you are often saying “my penis stinks” and can't find the cause yet, it could be NGU. 

Having good hygiene should be sufficient to keep your penis from smelling foul. But many people often come with the question, “Why does my penis smell?” because there is usually an underlying problem with persistent penis smell. You should visit your doctor if you see white chunks building up on your penis, rash in the genitals, thighs, anus, abnormal discharge, swelling of the penis and testicles, and itchiness in the area. 

Your answer to “Why does my penis smell?” could be an STD. In that case, you should see a doctor to get the appropriate treatment. You can also visit an STD clinic to get STD tests that would confirm which infections you have. Maintaining good hygiene should keep you from asking, “Why does my penis smell?” But only treatment can stop it if there is a problem behind it.

Talking to your doctor will give you the answer to “Why does my penis smell?” and also help you learn how to deal with it. So don't shy away from talking about your problems relating to sexual health; you are not alone. You can find the solutions to your problem only if you talk about it to a professional and won't need to ask, “Why does my penis smell?” every now and then!