A Taiwanese urologist has shared a shocking case involving a man in his 20s who ended up in the emergency room after contracting a sexually transmitted disease following a casual hookup arranged through a dating app.
Speaking on the TV programme Doctors Are Spicy (《医师好辣》), urologist Dr Kao Wei-Tang said the man arrived at the emergency department claiming that his “genitals were rotting”.
Upon examination, doctors found that the skin of the man’s genital area was badly damaged, swollen, inflamed and oozing pus. The affected skin had also stuck to his underwear and could not be removed without tearing.
Further questioning revealed that the man had arranged a sexual encounter through a dating app after being single for a long time. About a week later, he began experiencing intense itching in his genital area.
Instead of seeking medical help, the man tried to relieve the itch by repeatedly washing his genitals with hot water. While the heat temporarily eased the itching, the excessive washing worsened the condition, causing severe skin irritation, peeling and repeated scratching.
The situation escalated when he woke up one morning to find his genitals stuck to his underwear due to discharge. When he tried to pull it away, a layer of skin tore off, prompting him to rush to the hospital.
Tests later confirmed that the man was infected with gonorrhoea.
Dr Kao warned that improper self-treatment, especially using hot water or excessive cleaning, can severely damage sensitive skin and worsen infections. He advised anyone experiencing unusual symptoms after sexual contact to seek medical attention immediately rather than attempting home remedies.
