Causes of penis shrinkage and what you should do.
Date: June 10th, 2022
Penis is a significant organ in the male body and most men are obsessed with the size and look of their penises. However, most men do not know that the organ can shrink over time and leave them shorter than normal.
While this may sound surprising, it is true that penis shrinkage happens, and it’s unfortunate that you will lose some inches if you don’t give them proper care. Discover more about the causes penis shrinkage in the article.
Penis shrinkage is the reduction of the penis size and can be either permanent, other treatable conditions or as a result of habits.
The link between penis shrinkage with age.
Several studies and researches have shown that there is no direct link between the flaccid penis and age. But although, the size of the decrease may be small, the “if you don’t use it you lose it” is always true in men.
Although the penis may reduce as you age due to reduced testosterone levels and decreased blood circulation, remember this is a sign of penile shrinkage. On an average, testosterone reduces by 1% every year and 10% every ten years after thirty years.
What is the normal penis size?
According to the research about normal penis size published in the journal of Urology, the standard size of flaccid penis 3.5 inches or 8.8cm, while an erect one measures 12. 9cm or 5.1 inches.
Interestingly, around 85% of women did not have problems with their partners’ sizes and 45% of men weren’t satisfied with their current length and girth.
These findings points out two things, one, the average erection length is smaller than most people think and second, you can still have sex with a small size. Finally, men are concerned about the look and sizes of their genitals than women.
What are the causes of penis shrinkage?
Penis shrinkage is a widespread issue among men as they get older. However, there are several other reasons that may lead to the causes of penis shrinkage. In the following
a. Weight gain.
As men get older, the issue of weight gain especially around the stomach becomes an issue of concern. Collection of fats around the abdomen hinders the growth of penis limiting its visibility and making it appear shorter.
This can be attributed to the fact that the penis is connected to the abdominal walls which expand and pulls it inward making it appear small. While this notion cannot be classified among the causes of penis shrinkage, it gives men the same feeling as a shrinkage.
Fortunately, this shrinkage due to the expansion of abdominal expansion can be treated via different concerted efforts. Maintain a healthy diet, stay in shape, and always try to improve your health.
Though we hear these advices on daily basis, few people know that lack of them is one of the causes of penis shrinkage.
b. Peyronie’s disease.
This is a condition where fibrous scar tissues develop in the penis and makes the penis curved and painful during erection. Although the curve is always not an issue, it can be big and more painful in some men.
According to reports of the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney diseases, these disease affects 23% of men aged between 40-70 years. It is believed that more men have this disease but fails to report it to medical experts because of embarrassment.
And while it develops with age, pyronie has been found in men as young as 30 years. The disease usually resolves on its own, but can also remain and get worse. Treatment can only be considered if the curve is significant and hinders sexual intercourse or too painful.
c. Smoking.
Smoking produces chemicals that can affect the blood vessels of the penis and prevents the blood from flowing to the area and cause stretching, and erections. Several studies have found that smokers experience shorter erections than non-smokers.
Furthermore, because smoking hinders blood flow, it has been linked with erectile dysfunction. This conditions affects the men’s ability to maintain an erection.
d. Aging.
When men get old, fats get deposited in the artery leading to reduced blood circulation in the body and affects the penis too. The fatty deposits weakens the erectile tubes muscles cells which are responsible for carrying blood to the penis for lengthening and firm erections.
Another one of the possible cause for penis shrinkage because of age is the scar tissue buildup due to long time injury from sports and sex. This scar tissue accumulation affects the penis erectile spongy tissues, leading to penis shrinkage and limiting erections.
e. Prostate surgery.
Prostate surgery is also, one of the major causes of penis shrinkage. Studies show that men who have undergone radical prostatectomy or cancerous prostate gland repair or removal surgery often get penis shrinkage, according to International Journal of Impotence Research.
Although there is still no enough reason why the shrinkage occur after prostrate surgery, it is believed that it is linked to the shortening of urethral tube which is connected to the urethra during the procedure.
f. Medications.
Some medications can be categorized among the causes of penis shrinkage. Drugs such as Adderrall used for treatment of hyperactivity or attention deficit, some antipsychotic and antidepressants, and other medicines prescribed for enlarged prostate.
According to the report published in the Journal of Sexual medicine found out that individuals put on finasteride to cure enlarged prostate reported shrank penis and reduced sensation.
g. Disuse atrophy (the use it or lose it theory).
Like any other part of the body, if you don’t use the penis, it will shrink. Use it regularly to avoid losing it by engaging on more sexual activities.
Doing more of these activities allow blood to reach the penis, and are therefore important for your health. It is good to understand that the penis is designed to be filled with blood and get erection regularly.
Constant flaccid penis encourages erectile shrinkage. Those who stay too long without having an erection, smooth muscle, collagen, elastin, and other genital tissues may weaken hence reducing the penile girth and length and limit your ability to get an erection.
When taken lightly, loss of sexual ability can lead to a further male sexual complication known as erectile dysfunction because poor blood flow to the genitals to a low oxygen in the genital tissues and blood vessels.
The solution for this problem is to exercise the penis regularly by active sexually. Maintain the erectile function, adopt a healthy lifestyle, avoid smoking, and work towards improving your general health.
How to treat penile shrinkage.
Treatment of penile shrinkage can be done in several ways depending on their causes. For instance, shrinks caused by smoking and wait gains can be solved by lifestyle change. And if medication is the cause, then making medical adjustment may address the problem.
For individuals experiencing penis shrinkage due to prostate surgery, the condition may resolve on its own after some months to a year. A type of physical therapy after the surgery known as the penile rehabilitation can help restore erectile function in men while Cialis and Viagra can boost blood.
The treatment recommendation of pyronies disease is aimed at removing the scar tissues from the penis. This can be done either through surgery, medication, or ultrasound method. Penis shrinkage cannot be reversed, but repairing the curve, you reduce pain and increase sexual function.
Conclusion.
Penis shrinkage is a condition where the penis is reduced from its original or average size. It is a bad condition that puts men into worry because men are more obsessed with their genitals than their partners.
Usually, causes of penis shrinkage include age, bad lifestyle habits, medications, or weight gain, and do not call for serious professional attention. Adopting lifestyle change and changing or moderating medication are a sure way of avoiding this problem.
The health of your reproductive and urinary systems is more important factor of consideration when choosing whether to look for treatment for the aging penis or not. It is also an important aspect when undergoing treatment of diseases around the genitals such as prostate cancer.
However, if you are experience shrinkage accompanied by excessive pain, you have concerns about cancer, or you are having other sexually related problems, then it is advised that you see a doctor.