Dr Christian answers your penis questions
There’s a row of bumps around the head of my penis and after some research I found that they’re called pearly penile papules. What causes this and how can I treat it?Stephen, Sheffield
Pearly penile papules are a ridiculous name for what is a very common growth which I see frequently in clinic. Men often panic that they are genital warts. They are not. They are entirely normal. We are not exactly sure what causes them but they are likely to be slightly enlarged glands that secrete the oils that protect the head of your penis. I would not advise any sort of treatment be done to them whatsoever as they do not pose a health risk. If they do cause you extreme distress, a urologist may help you to reduce their appearance but definitely only do this after seeking specialist advice from a reputable surgeon.
My boyfriend complains that the curve of my penis makes it hard for him to bottom. How can I make the process for him more enjoyable without having surgery?
Jaryd, Northampton
I would advise experimenting with a variety of different positions. Certain positions will be better for your partner than others. There is no real answer and I would not try investigating any sort of contraption that promises to change the shape of your penis. It will inevitably not work and may well cause a seriously painful injury. You on top, you on the bottom, and you on the side, there will be a position that works for you both. Have fun working together to find the position that best suits you both. However, if the curve of your penis is causing you pain it may be an indication of Peyronie’s disease, which usually affects men over 40 but it can happen to anyone. Just to be entirely sure I would advise visiting your GP or local genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic to rule this out.
What are the symptoms of HPV and should gay men get the vaccine to prevent unnecessary worrying?
Jonathan, Leeds
Should gay men get the vaccine? Yes they should! There are around 150 different strains of HPV which can cause no problems at all or it could result in warts on various parts of the body, right through to cellular changes that can in the long run lead to cancers of the mouth, throat, anus and penis. If you have had multiple sexual partners over your lifetime some people argue that the HPV vaccine will be less effective as you have already been exposed to a number of those viruses. I still think as a gay man it is worth looking into, and if you are a HIV positive gay man then it is definitely worth having. Although the vaccine is only for around 6 or more different species it does offer a lot of cross protection against lots of others as well. The HPV vaccine is not currently offered to men on the NHS but can be completed privately at a cost of around £150 per injection of which there are three.
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