Vasovagal Response Caused Issues - Need Advice

About a little over a month ago, I went to the doctor to get an HIV test. I was given pills and a shot in case I had syphilis or Gonorrhea (even though I had no symptoms of it). I feel like this alone might be medical malpractice since a urologist I went to said they should not have given me that if I didn’t show symptoms. The same day of the test, after about 3 min, I felt a stomach ache, very lightheaded, extremely weak, and nearly fainted (but I didn’t faint) and had to lay down - but this is a story for another time.

Anyways, I go back home the same day and noticed that the head of my penis was extremely discolored (lacked blood - looked white). I could not get an erection and decided that maybe it was due to the medication (maybe some anxiety as well). My penis felt VERY cold and a feeling of it being wet even though it was completely dry. It was also numb, specifically in the head area. I was extremely scared at this point so I set up an appointment to see a urologist (the earliest was about a week after the issue began). By then, the discoloration went away, I was able to get an erection, and numbness went away. However, my sexual desire was very low and my erection quality was was also not nearly as good as it used to be (in terms of hardness and how much the penis would stand up) and I still felt a feeling of disconnect with my penis. I also would try flexing the muscle on it’s own (when flaccid) and it would not move.

The urologist checked me - said blood flow seemed normal (the penis was a good color and you could touch the head and see the blood come back), and he checked my for a reflex response as well.

The doctor said that I had a Vasovagal response to the shot and that it was literally impossible for those medication to cause penis issues. Rather, it was a “fight or flight” response my body had to the shot and pills in combination with some anxiety and that the body decided to allocate blood flow from my urinary system to other parts of my body. He mentioned that because I’m very young (in my early 20’s), my fight or flight is very strong and had a more prolonged response. He said everything should go back to normal.

However, things didn’t go back to normal - at least not yet (it’s been about a month and 5 days since the original issue).
-When I try to flex the muscle on it’s own, it doesn’t move much (specifically when flaccid). It moves, but like only the base and not much else. Back then, before the issue, everything would move back towards my body when flaccid)
-I’m still not able to push out the last bit of urine after completely urinating (at the end of my urination, it just drips out even if I try to flex to push it out). There are sometimes where I am able to flex and it does push out the last bit but not very convincingly.
-My erection quality is still not as good as it used to be. Before, when I would get erect, my penis would point almost completely towards me. Now it just points straight out and is not very hard no matter how aroused or “in the mood” I am.

So I went to another urologist for a second opinion (this was almost two weeks after the original urologist visit). He said the same thing (which put me at ease) and said it was probably the combination of vasolvagal and the fact that I didn’t eat before the medication, which caused low blood pressure too. Said he does not think there is any permanent damage.

It’s been about 3 weeks since then. Still have the same issue so I looked up kegels a learned about a “weak pelvic floor” and thought maybe the vasovagal response weakened my pelvic floor (given that blood was allocated elsewhere). So I tried doing some kegel exercises (starting last week), but not very heavy (something like holding it for 5-8 seconds for about 10 - 15 reps, maybe 2-3 sets a day) but I was only consistent for about 3-4 days and decided not to be too consistent until I learn more about this.

So My questions are:

1. What do you all think of the situation?
2. I know jelqing can cause damage (which I’m not going to do), but can kegels cause damage too? I’ve read elsewhere that doctors sometimes recommended this exercise, which makes me think it’s safe - then again, I don’t really trust doctors too much anymore :(
3. How long do you all think it would take to return back to normal if I do kegels vs not doing them? Should I just not do them?
4. Could this still be maybe a lack of blood flow issue? Maybe a vein or something?
5. Any suggestions moving forward

Thank you all so much for your time. I will be watching this thread like a hawk for any responses. Also, sorry if this is in the wrong place (I can only post in 3 sections).

You over reacted to the shot plain and simple. No shot causes your penis to get numb and your pelvic floor to get wild. That is your mind.

Thank you - I’m actually kinda glad to hear that, believe it or not.

Any suggestions moving forward? Since the effects of the response I had to the shot are still very real.

Go to the beach, hang out with women in very skimpy bikinis, have a beer, and chill. If you don’t take that advice I will.

Sorry to hear that you’ve had a bad time lately.

Remember that there are a lot of factors that can affect our libido and our erection quality. Stress, diet, hydration, medication etc. I know that for most guys, the more we worry about our EQ the more likely it is to be poor. I agree with Jimmybob55. Try to relax and not stress about it. Take comfort in the knowledge that 2 different urologists corroborated that there is no damage. Good luck and stay in touch.

True, maybe I am over reacting, and trust me when I tell you that those words are very comforting. This makes a lot of sense when it comes to erection quality.

I still don’t see how my sexual desires would effect my flaccid penis and my urination :(

My problem is that it’s very hard for me to relax unless I know how things work down there in relation to the issue at hand. However, I guess the burden of research and finding that information is on me and not on strangers on the internet lol.

But I’ll still be going to the beach and hanging out with women in hopes that it will “heal” me ;)

Do your research at the beach; I’m sure they have wifi in some of those bikinis. Maybe a cold Corona with a slice of lime might help in the signal. Hey do prefer lemon or lime slice in a Corona?

I prefer lime and ill give it a shot man, haha.

My guess is nothing serious. Just stressed.

I could point you to prostate infection, thus the urination issue and the stomach ache, or tensed pelvic floor muscles.

For the first one you need antibiotics. Make a blood test and urine analysis first, it will show it if it is there.. For the second one stop kegeling to test if your penis moves when flaccid. Let it be.

Something else you want to consider is reaction to the shot and pills you took. In that case the doc was right, sideeffects will dissapear gradualy.

Appreciate the response.

I have notice that when I pass stool, I have a little more difficulty now, but I always had difficulty, it’s just a bit different now so maybe I should check that out.

I have had a urine test done with both urologists, and nothing came up. Have not done a blood test with a urologist though.

I will stop doing kegels. I was confused about what state I am in though and maybe you could help.

When I am flaccid, my penis barley moves at all when I try to flex the muscle. However, after I am erect, if I ejaculate, my penis tends to stay a bit firm even when going down to flaccid (so even when I’m at a semi erection of lower, it tends to be firm - up until it’s completely down and then it’s soft again). It also kinda takes longer for me to become completely soft.

So, in the event that I do have some pelvic floor issues, would you happen to know if it is little tense or a bit loose?

Either way, I’ve decided to just leave it alone regardless.

PS: The gains you have made thorough the exercise is awesome Congrats!

Well, I don’t know if they are real gains or better EQ but my penis is bigger than before. I’ ll take it and I ‘ll maintain it.

As for what you are describing, I find it nomal.

You can’t move a completely flaccid penis mate. There is not enough blood in it. It’s soft. You need some blood in it for your pc muscles to be able to move the penis and if you could do it sometimes in the past, it was probably IMO because you had a semi erection, which sometimes happens, leaving the penis looking down in a flaccid state. Now, if you observe the falccid at that time, is fuller, a bit thicker. That is beacuse there is some extra blood in the penis which is not enough for a full erection, but it is enough for the pc muscles to be able to move it. Many mistaken this as a normal flaccid when it is actually a semi erection. You can have from 10% to 30% semi erection which looks completely like your penis is flaccid cause it is still pointing towards the floor and it feels kind of soft in touch. It’s not flaccid. Flaccid means no extra blood in it at all.

About, your firm flaccid after ejaculating. It happens to me all the time, before PE and post PE. I don’t mind it, no big deal, perhaps it is a tensed PC muscle issue. It’s ok, it doesn’t stay like that for too long . If you observe you will see that after 10-15 minutes your flaccid is soft again.

So maybe all this is Pelvic floor muscles issue.

You know what, when masturbating and fucking, try not to kegel blood in the penis to achieve a faster and better erection, that can put extra stress in the muscles. Take your time and let the blood fill the penis slowly, don’t rush it. Much more relaxed and much more enjoyable.

You can kegel when fapping or fucking, just don’t do it all the time.Only when you are in a hurry. Don’t be always in a hurry.

Well that is a comforting theory - still I am 100% sure that I used to be able to move considerably when it was at nearly all stages of “flaccid”.

I feel like there is a difference between moving it while flaccid and moving it while erect. When flaccid, it would always move towards/ in me (almost like my body is trying to pull it back in). When hard, it would strictly move up (even though it might be the same pulling motion happening in me).

I feel like not being able to push out the last bit of urine from flexing (something I was able to do without fail before) is an indication of something being weak.

Then again, the whole “firm when going flaccid” makes me think otherwise, but maybe this particular thing is something I just noticed now that I’m critically analyzing myself.

However, I feel like you know more about this stuff than I do and I trust that I will get better, but I know for sure that it would retract much more when flaccid flexing before. I also just remember something else and that is that my penis has not really fully retracted when flaccid for quite some time since the issue. It’s about .5 - 1 inch extra when flaccid, which is a considerable difference. It would only fully retract back to what it used to look like if I do a kegel exercise.

I guess I should just try my best not to think about it and it should all go back to normal within the next several months.

I have nothing else to say mate.

My opinion was given to you.

Can’t think of anything else.

I agree completely. Time for a different focus. Good luck.