Hard, pea-sized lump formed under skin next to urethra. Looking for more information.

Men's health
1

My symptoms started about a month ago when I noticed that I was constantly discharging small amounts of a clear, smelly fluid from my urethra. My girlfriend had recently got a yeast infection so I figured it must’ve been related and refrained from sex until she finished her clotrimazole treatment. After this, I noticed that it hurt to apply pressure on my urethra during sex and to have my penis at sharp angles while erect. The tail-end of urination started becoming rather painful, the last couple of drops would be accompanied with a strong burning pain. Sometimes I would feel like I hadn’t finished peeing after I finished, and would pee some more 5-10 minutes later, and other times I would pee normally without any pain. On a few occasions I’ve noted very small red dots on the head of my penis visible under a bright light that usually only appeared after sex or a prolonged period without showering.

About a week ago, I noticed a tiny spot just beneath the head of my penis that felt significantly harder than the surrounding tissue. Since then it seems to have rounded off into a solid pea-sized mass. The mass is located right next to my urethra, is not visible from the outside, doesn’t move with the skin when being poked, isn’t painful to touch, and seems to get harder during erections - like a small marble in my urethra.

The different forums and medical websites I’ve read through all seem to suggest my symptoms are typical of a lymphocele, but some things don’t seem to line up correctly, such as how they usually present as vertical or horizontal chords of swelling and how they are usually visible on the skin. I understand they can be caused by particularly rough intercourse and may present with pain, and I do remember this happening but cannot recall if it was before or after the onset of my symptoms.

I am looking for a point in the right direction, some personalized advice or clarification from somebody whose knowledge spans more than a few hours spent on google, and hopefully some reassurance that what I have isn’t penile cancer. If it is a lymphocele, are there any therapeutic methods of treatment besides abstinence?

Some extra footnotes:

  • My girlfriend and I have no history of STDs
  • I have no other lumps or hard spots anywhere else in my genital/groin area
  • My last surgery was a tonsillectomy 3 months ago
  • I haven’t had any strangely colored or bloody urine
2

Hi alex,

I think you are describing two distinct problems that we should try to untangle:

  1. Fine red spots that appear after sex with a partner who has a yeast infection.
    This is likely to be candidal balanoposthitis, the male equivalent to your partner’s thrush/yeast infection. This can be treated with Canesten (clotrimazole) cream applied to the affected area.

  2. Smelly penile discharge, burning and development of a lump inside(?) or beside the distal urethra.
    These symptoms would tend to indicate an infection of some sort. You say you have no history of STDs, but have you re-tested recently (i.e. since these symptoms started)? You shouldn’t assume that if you and your partner tested negative months earlier that all is well. No test is 100% reliable. I would strongly suggest getting re-tested for STDs, esp. gonorrhoea and chlamydia and also have a urine specimen sent for culture. And the lump needs to be examined by a doctor- don’t rely on this forum or any other for a diagnosis. The lump could be a complication of the underlying infection.

Rgds,
Adhari