Can Pearly Penile Papules Interfere With Your Health And Ability To Have Sexual Activity?
Last updated: 2022-10-07
For married and romantic couples, sex is often a measure of a healthy relationship. But individuals vary in how much they give importance to sex in the partnership. That's because sexuality differs from person to person.
Sexuality covers many subjects that impact how we view and respond to sex. Additionally, sexual drive and arousal are affected by various factors, including genetics, mental and physical health, societal norms, and the environment.
Lack of understanding of a specific condition, particularly pearly penile papules on head of a man’s penis, or PPP, may lead to anxiety and fear. Because these growths appear on a man's reproductive area, men can't help but worry about their health and sexual activities.
This article will discuss PPP and its implications on a man's health and sexual relationships.
What are pearly penile papules?
Pearly penile papules are small growths of fibrous tissues and blood that appear on the base of the penile head. In some uncircumcised men, they form under the foreskin and become visible once the skin is pulled back. Penile papules on shaft are highly rare to develop.
The tiny bumps are often whitish, skin-colored, yellowish, or pinkish bumps that measure no more than 4 mm. They congregate in one or more rows, looking like a string of pearls. That said, pearly penile papules can be confused with sexually transmissible diseases.
Up to 48% of males, or almost five in ten, may develop pearly penile papules in early adulthood or adolescence. And while PPP can develop in any male, various studies have discovered that the condition is more prevalent in young uncircumcised males with African ancestry.
What are the symptoms and implications of PPP?
But is pearly penile papules a disease or a symptom? Pearly penile papules is harmful or not? In other words, is pearly penile papules bad?
The short answer is that PPP is neither a disease nor a sign of a certain condition. The medical community considers PPP a normal anatomical deviation with no major health implications.
Besides the bumps around the penis, no other symptoms accompany PPP, unlike most sexually-transmissible infections, which may cause fever, abnormal discharge, and warts or blisters. Conversely, PPP isn't contagious and not health-damaging.
Some researchers suspect these bumps could be vestigial, which refer to valuable features in our ancestors' time but have since been rendered useless in the modern period. Penile papules may be the remnants of penile spines, which according to scientists, may have been present in our ancestors.
These penile features are still present in some primates, like chimpanzees, rodents, and other mammals, to help stimulate ovulation and increase fertilization success.
How PPP impacts health and sexual activities
Unfortunately, because of the sensitivity of PPP, many patients would rather rely on online sources for information about papules. But instead of helping out, some resources may provide wrong information that could harm a patient's mental health.
As it is, pearly penile papules do not impact a person's health and sexual performance. They don't affect a man's sexual performance or libido. However, sex is more than desire or sex drive; numerous elements can influence them.
Physical factors
A man's libido can be influenced by several factors, including serious health conditions. Men who smoke are also more predisposed to having erectile dysfunction, which also leads to low drive and fewer sexual activities.
But how can you quantify a 'low' sex drive? There's not one answer to this one, as humans have different thresholds for their sexual requirements. Research has indicated that American couples have sex at least once weekly, on average.
How much sex should one be getting?
Much has been said about the benefits of sex to a person's well-being. Some studies indicate that frequent sex may improve sleep quality and immune function. Regular sexual activities might make a person happier, calmer, and more confident.
To experience these advantages, middle-aged adults have to make love about once a week, while those in their 20s must be more active and have 80 sessions annually. Those in their 60s must strive to have 20 yearly.
These numbers only serve as benchmarks. If sexual activities generally bother you and your partner or result in depression, stress, and anxiety, consider seeking professional and medical help.
Psychological factors
Besides health and physical aspects, an individual's sexual drive can also be affected by their acceptance of their body image and mental wellness. Stress and anxiety can pose significant challenges to regular sexual activities.
For instance, a PPP patient who's never seen a doctor may have unfounded worries about having these growths, leading to low self-esteem and affecting their sex drive. Men who know nothing about pearly penile papules might also feel concerned about their partners, believing they might pass the condition on to them---falsely believing that the tiny bumps are indications of a sexually transmitted disease.
And because more frequent sex helps boost satisfaction and happiness and creates a stronger bond between the couple, a relationship may not last without it.
These are primary examples of how wrong or lack of information about PPP can impact one's health, sexual activities, and romantic relationships.
Conclusion
Pearly penile papules are considered benign skin conditions. But despite the absence of symptoms, a patient can't help but worry about the potential health and sexual implications. In such cases, scheduling an appointment with a urologist is crucial, allaying fears of papules interfering with a patient's health and sexual activities.