Does your penis smell bad? Find out when penis can stink
Formation of Smegma
Accumulation of dried semen, dead skin cells, natural oils secreted by the skin on the penis, all together pile up at the head of your penis. You will be able to see this as white thick substance when you move the foreskin to the backside of the penis.
The build up smegma can cause redness on the head of the penis, irritation, obstruct the free movement of the foreskin. This is mostly seen in men who are not circumcised. Ignoring the smegma formation and not taking care of it can result in bacterial infection.
What to do when you see smegma forming on your penis?
Just wash your penis regularly with mild soap when you take bath. Make sure you move the foreskin behind the head of the penis and clean it gently. Also make sure you pee and wash your penis after having sex, with or without a condom.

Balanitis
Balanitis is a condition when the head of the penis is inflamed due to an infection or another reason. Inflammation is a condition when you see swelling, redness, pain on the head of your penis, see a good doctor as soon as possible.
Causes of Balanitis:
- Not keeping your body and penis clean
- Infection
- Psoriasis
- Allergic reaction to any chemical, soap or condom used.
Sexually Transmitted Infections
Chlamydia and Gonorrhea are the two sexually transmitted infections that can make your penis stink.
Symptoms of Chlamydia are:
- White, watery discharge from penis
- Pain in testicles
- Pain when peeing.
Symptoms of Gonorrhea are:
- Green, white or yellow discharge from penis
- Pain or burning sensation when peeing
- Inflammation of the foreskin.
Visit the ‘Chlamydia’ and ‘Gonorrhea’ articles to know more about the infections and available treatments at our Chennai Sexology Clinic, Metromale Clinic & Fertility Center.
NGU – Non Gonococcal Urethritis
Urethra is the tube running from the prostate gland till the tip of the penis. This acts as a passage for urine and semen to exit the body. When a person is infected with Chlamydia, one of the very common sexually transmitted infection, the urethra can get inflamed.
In some men, urethra gets inflamed even without any infection. This condition is called Non Gonococcal Urethritis. The exact cause of the infection is not known yet.
Symptoms of Non Gonococcal Urethritis are:
- White discharge from penis, can be cloudy sometimes.
- Pain and burning sensation when peeing
- Frequent urge to urinate
- Irritation or soreness at the tip of the penis.
Yeast Infection
Vaginal yeast infections are very common in women. Similarly, yeast infection can also affect a man’s penis, though not as often as women face the issue. Yeast infection is said occur when the ‘Candida’ fungus gets accumulated on the penis. Apart from bad smell, you can also notice burning or itching sensation on the penis, white substance like cheese on the penis, unusual moisture on the penis etc.
Urinary Tract Infection
Similar to yeast infection, UTI is less common in men (than women) but it does occur. UTI occurs when bacteria or virus enters the urinary tract in a man. Urinary tract includes urethra, bladder, ureters and kidneys in a man’s body.
Symptoms that can be noticed when a man has UTI:
- Smelly penis
- Pink coloured or cloudy urine
- Burning sensation when peeing
- Urge to pee frequently.
Urinary Tract Infection should never be ignored and must be treated as soon as you notice any symptoms. Delay in getting it treated can spread the infection to the kidneys, complicating the otherwise simpler medical condition.

Doctor I have a bit OCD
So inorder to remove the last drop of urine from penis I often apply great pressure/ strain at end of urination
And from some days before when I apply strain a mucus like clear thin fluid comes(at end of urination) and covers the tip of penis, it is slightly sticky. It is not coming when I urinate without straining
would I be tensed? and is it is normal to feel slight viscous feeling/softness in skin at opening of penis & skin of glans penis?
I doesn’t have any noticeable discharge, I can even only feel the mucus like thin when I apply strain, if I touch at the tip of penis.
Doctor is there anything to be panic about??( 20 yrs age, Doens’t have any itchiness, no pain while urinating)
It might be from the prostate. Don’t worry, don’t squeeze. Use a toilet paper to wipe off the last drop gently and flush the toilet paper.
Having a bad smell from a lady after having sexual intercourse with her , when i put my finger on the tip of my penis I smell the same odour i smell from the lady. And is very bad odour. Please what is it?
Avoid intercourse with the lady, stay away.. there can be numerous reason for a bad smelling vagina including infections.