Penis Size: Avoiding Shrinkage

Considering the incredible emphasis placed on penis size in modern culture, it’s not surprising that most men would react with concern and/or fear at the possibility of encountering any personal shrinkage where their boys are concerned. That’s not to say they don’t know that temporary penis shrinkage does occur; any man who has ever taken a refreshing dip in an icy cold river is aware that the penis and balls may withdraw for a little while – but they always come back. However, less temporary shrinkage is something that can and does occur, sometimes as a penis health issue, and men are advised to know of the situations in which this may occur.

Factors

What are some of the factors that can cause penis size to diminish? There are several things to consider, including:

- Obesity. Technically, obesity does not cause the penis size to diminish, but it does affect the ability of people to see all the penis. When a man gains too much weight, the “pad” surrounding the penis also becomes fat. As this happens, it folds over the base of the penis, in a sense “engulfing” the base. All of the penis is still there; it’s just that a significant portion – often an inch or more in really obese men – is now hidden away underneath the fat pad. In addition, when the penis is surrounded by a large belly, it also tends to appear smaller than it actually is.

- Getting on. The body changes with age, and so it’s no surprise that the penis might as well. For many men, aging includes the buildup of fat deposits in the arteries, which in turn makes it more difficult for blood to get through. This can have two consequences in terms of penis size: (1) less blood means less delivery of oxygen, which can mean that some affected tissue – such as penile skin tissue – can actually atrophy. And (2) hampered blood flow means less blood getting to the penis during the erect phase, meaning it may not swell up to its full potential.

- Prostate surgery. One survey found that more than 70% of men who underwent prostate surgery had penis shrinkage as one of their complications. Exactly why this occurs is unclear.

- Smoking. It’s no surprise that smoking is bad for the health, but it may be a surprise that smoking can actually cause a change in penis size. Smoking, plainly put, damages blood vessels in the penis, so that the penis cannot become as erect or as firm as it once did.

- Peyronie’s disease. When a man has a severely bent penis, he is said to suffer from Peyronie’s disease. This is a situation in which scar tissue has formed in the penis, causing the penis to bend abnormally – and often, painfully. It also prevents the penis from reaching its full length.

Shrinkage of penis size can be due to many factors, but it seems less likely to occur if a man’s penis health is secure. To attain that goal, daily use of a top-notch penis health creme (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) is urged. Keeping penis skin nice and supple helps the penis to stretch to its fullest potential, so use a crème with both a high-end emollient (like shea butter) and a natural hydrator (such as vitamin E). Also advised: use a crème with a potent antioxidant, such as alpha lipoic acid, which can seriously help fight oxidative stress and damage. Alpha lipoic acid targets and battles free radicals, which create the oxidative stress that can weaken skin significantly.

Small Penis Fear: Unnecessary Worries about Shrinkage

As any man who has taken a dip in an icy cold lake can attest, there is such a thing as penis shrinkage. But, aside from some "normal" shrinkage which may or may not come with age - the jury is still out on its prevalence - penis shrinkage is typically short term, as in the case of swimming in icy cold water. Although having a small penis in no way affects penis health, some men can be so hung up on the size of their penis that they may go to extremes in worrying about it.

This can lead to "koro," a situation in which a man worries that his big penis is becoming smaller and smaller - and may shrink away altogether.

Koro

"Koro" comes from a Malaysian word meaning "the head of a turtle" and it’s an apt name. A turtle’s head does bear a certain resemblance to a penis, and since turtles are known to withdraw their heads so they disappear into the shell, it’s easy to see why this name would apply to a fear that a guy’s penis is shrinking away to nothing.

Examples of koro go back for centuries, at least to 300 BC. Usually, the shrinkage fear is extreme, with the belief not the man will have a small penis, but that he will have no penis whatsoever and that somehow his death will occur as a result.

It’s generally classified as a psychological disorder, and one which can inexplicably appear in groups of men at the same time, a form of mass hysteria. It is often associated with a belief that an outside force, such as witchcraft or a chemical secretly dispersed by an enemy, is behind it. Many psychologists posit that it may be related to instances in which a man (or group of men) are feeling disempowered by society or circumstance. There may also be an element of guilt involved, such as shame about masturbating.

Serious

While it may seem koro is nothing but an unfortunate delusion, it can have some drastic real world consequences. In one area in which a man claimed witches had made his penis disappear, a group of missionaries were blamed and burned to death.

The hysterical nature of koro makes it seem all too real to those who suffer from it - and makes them feel genuinely panicked and in fear for their lives.

Shrinkage

There is absolutely no reason to believe that actual incidences of koro - that is, real penis shrinkage leading to death - have ever occurred. But can real penis shrinkage of a more modest kind occur?

Yes, in fact, although the frequency and severity of the shrinkage is generally not so severe. For example, if a man has Peyronie’s disease, which causes unnatural bending of the penis, there may be a loss of some length. This is because the bending may restrict tissue stretching, making the penis a little shorter than it would otherwise be.

Similarly, when men have erectile issues, it may be that their erections are somewhat shorter. This can happen when the dysfunction does not prevent an erection from happening but does impact how "full" the erection is.

Also, when a man gains a considerable amount of weight in the belly area, he may appear to lose some length in the penis. This is because the flab in his midsection covers up some of the base of the penis.

Even if a man has a small penis, due to some degree of shrinkage or just genetics, most men are capable of performing sexually, both for themselves and their partners. Whatever the size of the manhood, it’s always wise to use a first class penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) to keep the penis in good shape. A crème with L-arginine, an amino acid that helps produce nitric oxide, can play a role in maintaining penile blood vessel health. And one with L carnitine is valuable for helping protect from loss of sensation in the organ.

Small Penis Worry: Avoiding Unwanted Shrinkage

It’s something all men have heard, yet it still doesn’t always sink in: It’s not the size of the wand but the magic inside it that counts. Yet men still would rather have a big penis than a small penis, even when their current equipment functions exceptionally well and provides pleasure to their partner(s). While maintaining adequate penis health is at the top of most men’s list, so is making sure that no shrinkage occurs on this most favorite of their organs. But is that something men need to really worry about?

The answer is a qualified yes.

Perspective

First off, if a man is already comfortable with his manhood and really knows he is an expert at using it, he is far less likely to be concerned with his penis size. Even if he possesses what some might consider a small penis (and not just by comparison with the unrealistic monsters that parade across the screen of so many porn videos), if he is satisfied with the work he produces, he will hopefully be free of the curse of constant size comparisons and worries.

But many men do feel that their sense of masculinity is inextricably linked to the size of their member, and for these men, the possibility of losing (or appearing to lose) even a little length might be cause for concern. So for these men, what are some of the possible causes of penile shrinkage?

- Age. Sorry to say, but the sad fact is that most men do experience some shrinkage when they get older. Not several inches, but a loss of a half-inch or so over time is not unusual. This typically comes about due to a loss of testosterone. As a man ages, his testosterone production generally declines, which has an impact on the firmness of his erections and consequently on his erect length. Staying active and fit helps to maintain testosterone, but so does frequent ejaculations - so maintaining sexual activity (whether alone or with a partner) can help to diminish shrinkage.

- Weight. The obesity problem continues to grow in our society, and one of the side effects of this is that it may contribute to penile shrinkage. It’s not that the penis actually gets smaller, but excessive weight can pad the midsection, causing portions of the base of the penis to be covered with fat. Thus, there is less of the shaft actually showing, making the organ appear shorter.

- Smoking. Smoking is simply bad news for health in general, but it can specifically add to small penis woes. How so? Smoking can cause calcification in the blood vessels, including those in the penis. When this happens, penile tissue diminishes in size. (It also can bring about erectile dysfunction - another reason to kick the butt habit.)

- Dehydration. Just as smoking can affect penile tissue, so can lack of water. Dehydrated tissue contracts, and when that happens in the penis, the size of the penis itself contracts as well.

Men who are concerned about their penis size can take simple steps to help maintain their current length. Exercise, proper diets, staying hydrated, quitting smoking and ejaculating regularly can all help.

Avoiding shrinkage can help avoid a small penis, but whatever one’s size, keeping the penis health up is essential. To that end, using a first class penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil,>which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) is critical. Since hydration can be an issue, selecting a crème with appropriate skin moisturizers is advised; look for a crème that includes at least two, such as Shea butter (a high-end emollient) and vitamin E (a natural hydrator). And active penises are prone to suffer from peripheral nerve damage due to rough (if enjoyable) handling. Use a crème with acetyl L carnitine, an amino acid which protects against such damage, to help prevent a devastating loss of sensation in the penis.