Between the anus and the scrotum is an area called the perineum. For men, pain can be due to a number of reasons. Here are a few of the more common causes of perineum pain.
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Injuries
If you’ve recently fell, been assaulted or had rough intercourse, your perineum may have been injured via bruising, scratches or tears. In addition, some health conditions, such as diabetes, can cause nerve damage. Try sitting in a sitz bath and take over-the-counter pain relievers. If you don’t feel better in a day or two, you may want to make an appointment with your doctor.
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Infection
Prostatitis, which is a fancy name for inflammation of the prostate, can occur suddenly but may last for a long time, depending on the cause. If your prostate is inflamed due to a bacterial infection, your doctor can prescribe an antibiotic. In the meantime, you can try to treat the pain at home with a sitz bath and pain medications. One symptom that may help you determine if the prostatitis is due to an infection is if it hurts when you urinate. In addition, if you feel an abscess or cyst near your perineum, it can be a sign of infection. An infected cyst may need to be removed surgically or at least drained but leave that up to your doctor to decide.
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Hemorrhoids
There are two types of hemorrhoids: internal and external. Internal hemorrhoids may cause pain and bleeding during a bowel movement. External hemorrhoids may cause bleeding and pain, but also itching. Hemorrhoids may put pressure on your perineum, causing the pain to radiate into your rectum. For most cases, hemorrhoids can be treated at home by:
- keeping the area clean
- using hemorrhoid wipes
- soaking in a sitz bath after a bowel movement
- using hemorrhoid cream
- eating lots of fiber complemented by drinking plenty of water (to prevent constipation and straining during a bowel movement)
If necessary, hemorrhoids can be removed with surgery.
