Expert: Mia - 1/11/2009

Question
Hi there. Im a 20 year old male and recently Ive noticed which I believe is a pimple on the shaft of my penis that wont seem to go away, Ive tried to pop it but its so small that nothing comes out. Any thoughts or ideaS? Thank you.

Answer
Hi James,

It is common to find a bump on your penis; most are normal and nothing to worry about. It sounds like it could be a sebaceous cyst of a hair follicle. If you have hair around the area, or start seeing hair from the bump, this is what is is. Very normal and nothing to worry about. It could also be a lymphocele, which is caused when the lymphatic channels swell and become blocked after sex or masturbation. If you noticed the bump soon after one of these activities, this is a good possibility. Also common and should go away eventually. Bumps can also appear due to any form of trauma to the penis.  

You do not mention whether you are sexually active. If you are, it is possible that it is a wart from HPV, although usually there are more than one. If it starts to grow then this could be a possibility.

I recommend waiting a week and seeing if it goes away. If not, give your doctor a call to have it checked.

I hope this helps. If oyu have further questions let me know.

-Mia