So, since this is TMI... I recommend you stop reading if reading about, erm, anatomical details makes you uncomfortable.

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You have been warned

So, this question is for the guys, but ladies -- maybe there's a parallel? I've been having some... ahem. SORENESS lately. On a very, ahem, private part of my body. OK, we're all grown ups here -- on my penis. Specifically, it's external, on the underside.

As a sexually active male, the first time I realized this was going on, I immediately freaked out and rushed to the doc. for a full STD screen. I play safe, but... you can't be too careful, right?

Well, the doc tested me for everything we could think of, from simple to scary, easily dealt-with to chronic, viral and bacterial. I had blood drawn, I got to have my doctor man-handle my junk (oh, joy), I peed in a cup. The good news is: I'm clean. The bad news is: I still have no idea what's up.

So what's going on? Why's Mr. Happy sore all the time? The doc couldn't tell me, but he told me not to worry about illness or disease, because he couldn't find anything with about a dozen different tests. I was thinking about it yesterday and I realized something: I'm skinnier. I mean, a lot skinnier. Two years ago, I was wearing giant, baggy, 48 inch waist jeans, now I'm finding that my 36 inch waist jeans are "comfy" and I can easily fit into 34 inch waist jeans when I feel like being all 'sexy'. The soreness could just be -- drum roll, please -- chafing! I realized that it hurts in EXACTLY the place where Mr. Happy would be rubbing against my boxers when I'm out walking in my new, snug jeans! Couple that with the fact that I tend to wear fairly loose-fitting boxers (and they're made of cotton, which is warm and snuggly, but can turn into sandpaper with enough movement!) and you may well have a recipe for OUCH.

Today I'm wearing 36 inch jeans instead of 34 inch, and I'm wearing my snug-fitting lycra boxer/briefs instead of the cotton boxers -- they fit much snugger, and they have a very smooth, almost silky texture. That, plus the looser jeans, and I bet you I'll discover that all of my scary "soreness" goes away within a few days.

Such are the joys of being a man, and a hypochondriac, and losing lots of weight. Gents, be warned!

Dont you mean " sterner stiff stuff" lol jk

Good topic. How long has this been going on? Stop and think, did it start to happen shortly after you started working out? Did it start after you started a particular workout? Do you live in a really humid environment? I have a couple of recommendations. Shower immediately after a workout. If you can change your underwear twice a day, do it. If you changed laundry detergents, switch back. Try to find clothes that make you *ahem* "adjust" less often. How do I know this? My husband is forced to wear a full army uniform no matter what the temperature is (and we live in TX). He calls it swamp crotch. Good luck! I hope you feel better soon!

Good topic. How long has this been going on? Stop and think, did it start to happen shortly after you started working out? Did it start after you started a particular workout? Do you live in a really humid environment? I have a couple of recommendations. Shower immediately after a workout. If you can change your underwear twice a day, do it. If you changed laundry detergents, switch back. Try to find clothes that make you *ahem* "adjust" less often. How do I know this? My husband is forced to wear a full army uniform no matter what the temperature is (and we live in TX). He calls it swamp crotch. Good luck! I hope you feel better soon!

Thanks for the advice. Part of the reason I saw the doctor (and got the full STD screen) was that I realized that this has been going on for a LONG time, which worried me. Since the discomfort is mild... somewhere between an itch and a slight chafing/burning feeling... I paid it no heed. Now that I know it's not anything serious, I am definitely open to figuring out the cause, since there's no need to live in pain (in the "junk" or anywhere else). I almost wonder if there haven't been some dietary causes, too; my nutrient levels are all good (according to the massive bevy of blood screens my doc just did), but maybe I have a mild food allergy or something. Or, it could all just be topical -- ill-fitting clothing, or something. I shower and wear clean clothes every day, and I haven't changed my bathing products or laundry detergent for a long, long time, so I doubt it's a sensitivity or allergy to that.

I'm just curious why the soreness is on the underside.

I'm just curious why the soreness is on the underside.

My suspicion is because that's how I... er... dress. I'm NOT going to go into that level of anatomical detail

My suspicion is because that's how I... er... dress. I'm NOT going to go into that level of anatomical detail

Zipper... I'll say it lol

Have you tired any of the sugestions? Is anything helping?

*laugh* Seriously? I didn't even use any naughty words, just hinted at crazy-good-times! I thought you were made of sterner stuff

Oh, I am made of sterner stuff. Working in a prison definitely kicks the sissy-girl out of you. But, this is still a g-rated forum. I couldn't find anything to say in response to your post that I thought would stay within TOS guidelines.

Oh, except maybe Whoo Hoo!

Still too soon. I tried just changing my pants (slightly looser) and underwear (snugger and 'smoother') yesterday and it... SEEMS a little less today. But I'm guessing that if I've sort of "rubbed myself raw" over a period of weeks or months, it will take more than a day to fix things. I'll do the same clothing changes today, and if things seem to be on the mend, I'll make a habit of it. If not, I may try some of the other suggestions!

I have been cackling away at this thread - thanks for the belly laughs folks. BTW if you get some arnica tabs, it is amazing for speeding up healing from wounds, chafing, bruising, etc hope your junk gets better soon ... :-D

Try putting a little corn startch on when you get dressed, it isnt going to hurt you it is very soft and wont cause any friction. Hope you feel better soon :-)

My suspicion is because that's how I... er... dress. I'm NOT going to go into that level of anatomical detail

It's okay, my imagination has it all worked out. Poor Mr. Happy.

Monkey but Cream and Powder works wonders on my baby neice and nephew so I'm sure I'm positive it will help your "um" Sensitive areas. LOL

Tinea Cruris look it up.. aka crotch rot, jock itch. They are all the same thing. Have you tried any over the counter medication for jock itch? You can get a cream Nystatin percribed. Also wanted to add that cotton underwear are better than any other materiel. I would try to avoid the tight jeans until it gets cleared up.