It’s natural to put money in the bank, perhaps jewels in a safe deposit box; these are normal ways to protect valuable assets. But a man can’t remove his penis, one of his very most valuable personal assets, and put it away somewhere. No, he has to practice good penis protection in a more direct, hands-on way. Of course, maintaining penis health is one of the biggest penis protection strategies, and to do that properly, it pays to know some of the enemies from which one is protecting the penis.

And in the world of penis protection, many of the enemies belong to that group known as sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Here are some of the more common ones from which to protect the precious penis.

Gonorrhea. One of the most common STIs, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports an estimated 1.14 million new cases of gonorrhea per year. In men, gonorrhea can cause infertility and serious infection. As with many STIs, many people experience no symptoms and so do not know they have gonorrhea until complications set in. Among the symptoms that CAN (but do not always) occur are pain when urinating, pus at the tip of the penis, soreness and swelling in the balls, anal itching and/or bleeding, swollen lymph nodes in the throat, eye soreness, and joint pain.

Syphilis. This bacterial infection is another common STI – one that is usually cured through the use of penicillin, fortunately, but that needs to be caught early to improve the chances of a cure. Syphilis can cause significant damage to the brain, the heart, and other organs and can in some cases lead to death. Symptoms vary but usually begin with a sore where the infection entered the body – the mouth, the anus, the genital area.

Chlamydia. According to the CDC, chlamydia is the most commonly reported STI in the United States. It is one that often goes undetected because it may not produce symptoms. When symptoms are present, they can include pain when urinating, a discharge of pus from the penis, and pain in the balls. There may also be pain or a discharge in the anus if a man was infected through anal sex. In some cases, complications may include infection of the balls and/or prostate gland, as well as development of a form of arthritis known as Reiter’s syndrome.

HIV. The human immunodeficiency virus can lead to developing AIDS, a potentially life-threatening condition that seriously affects one’s immune system. Common symptoms, usually appearing 2 to 4 weeks after infection, include those often associated with the flu, such as fever, aches, headaches, joint pains, sore throat, and swollen glands.

With most STIs, the best way for a sexually active man to avoid infection is through the use of condoms. While they cannot provide 100 percent protection, they do cut down significantly on the risk of getting many STIs. People who are at risk of acquiring HIV/AIDS should consult with a doctor about PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), which, when used properly, can significantly decrease the risk of HIV. Also crucial for a sexually active person is to be tested on a regular basis; many sexual health professionals recommend testing every 3 months so that the chances of detecting an STI in its early stages is greatly increased.

Knowing one’s enemies helps with penis protection, as does maintaining regular penis health. This is aided by regular use of an excellent penis health oil (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin). Find an oil that includes a wide range of vitamins, such as A, B5, C, D, and E. Then be sure that the oil also includes alpha lipoic acid, a powerful antioxidant that strengthens penis skin by fighting unwanted free radicals.