Many men who have had them claim they produce the most intense pain they’ve ever experienced – and sometimes that translates to serious penis pain. Yes, kidney stones may not form in the penis, but they definitely can have an impact on penis health.
What they are
Also called renal lithiasis or nephrolithiasis, kidney stones are hard deposits made of minerals and salts that form inside your kidneys. Urine naturally contains minerals and salts, which dissolve in the urine. But sometimes the amount of minerals and salts is too large to dissolve properly. The urine “thickens” up, and the minerals crystallize, forming what we know as kidney stones.
Kidney stones can vary greatly in size. Some of them are hardly bigger than a few grains of sand; others are the size of golf balls. They develop in the kidneys, and since a kidney is only about as big as a man’s fist, it’s easy to see how one of the larger stones could create problems.
Smaller kidney stones often cause few problems; sometimes a man is unaware he has them. Other times, they may cause some small discomfort, but not enough for a man to really focus on them.
But the larger stones can cause severe pain. Once they leave the kidneys, they can become lodged anywhere along the urinary tract, including the ureter and the bladder. When this happens, they can cause an intense pain in the back or the side. When passing through the urethra, they can create severe pain in the penis. In some cases, they may block the whole flow of urine, causing it to back up, which can create an additional painful situation.
Why do they happen?
There are between 1,000,000 and 2,000,000 reported cases of kidney stones annually in the U.S., with men typically accounting for about 4/5 of the cases. Some 10-20% of these kidney stone attacks result in hospital stays.
But why does mineral content become so concentrated in urine that it forms the stones in the first place? Generally, it has to do with one or more factors, such as too much calcium, too much uric acid, or a urinary tract infection.
Some people are at a greater risk of developing kidney stones than others, such as those:
– With a genetic predisposition for kidney stones;
– Who experience dehydration, especially over a long term;
– Whose dietary calcium intake is too high;
– Whose uric acids levels are too high;
– Who are not physically active enough and/or are obese;
– Whose diets are too high in salt, sugar and/or protein.
Treatment
Sometimes stones pass unobtrusively. With small stones, drinking plenty of water and taking pain relievers such as ibuprofen – and being patient – can sometimes be all the treatment that is needed.
At other times, a doctor may prescribe tamsulosin or another medication to help open up the ureter so the stone can pass. With more difficult situations, ultrasound therapy may be utilized to break the larger stone into smaller ones. Sometimes surgery becomes necessary, especially if the stone is lodged in the kidney and cannot get out.
Kidney stones may cause severe penis pain, but most sore penis problems are due to less complicated reasons. Using a first class penis health creme (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) can help alleviate everyday penis soreness. Keeping the penis healthy by using a crème that includes a wide range of vitamins (A, B5, C, D and E) helps it withstand common causes of penis pain. It also helps if the crème contains alpha lipoic acid, a potent antioxidant. This ingredient discourages free radicals, which when unchecked can create oxidative stress that damages and ages sensitive penis cells and skin.
