Shrinking Penis Syndrome – When It’s All in a Man’s Head

Many men fret, unnecessarily, about their penis size. For most men, the concern is that their penises are smaller than they "should" be, but this worry doesn’t interfere with their ability to lead healthy, well-adjusted lives and remain sexually active. But some men fear not only that their members are small, but that they are actually shrinking. While there are medical conditions that can cause the penis to retract, some men with perfect penis health think their organs are being pulled back into their bodies. This psychological condition has several names, including koro, shrinking penis and genital retraction syndrome.

Who Gets It?
Genital retraction syndrome can affect both men and women - women who suffer think their vulvas and nipples are being drawn back into their bodies. People with this syndrome have intense anxiety about the suspected retraction, and some believe that they are going to die from it.

Causes
There is no one sure cause of koro, but several factors may influence its development. It is believed to have strong links to culture; though anyone can suffer from it, it is more prevalent in Asia. Cultural myths, themes and beliefs about sex can influence one’s perception of his genitalia. There have even been episodes of mass hysteria involving koro, called "penis panics," in which a group of people simultaneously think their penises are shrinking.

A person may be more likely to suffer from shrinking penis syndrome if he has other psychological or physical issues with sex, including:
- A belief that masturbation is shameful
- Feelings of sexual inadequacy
- Impotence

Koro is only present when the unreasonable belief and anxiety last for a prolonged period of time or recur. If it’s cold out and a man notices his equipment has shrunk, it’s not necessarily a sign of a psychological disorder if he feels a twinge of fear. But if he thinks his rod will never return to normal, or, once it does, he suspects that it’s still retracted, then he has a problem.

Causes of Actual Shrinkage
A man also does not suffer from koro if a physical condition is actually causing the penis to retract or shrink. Such conditions include:

- Stress: Muscle tension caused by stress can affect the pelvic floor muscles, which attach to the base of the penis. If these are tense, they can exert a pull on the member and cause retraction.

- Peyronie’s Disease: This condition is caused by scar tissue that has built up around the erectile chambers of the penis, and it can be accompanied by shrinkage, pain and the inability to perform.

- Clogged Arteries: This isn’t just something that hurts the heart. A sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy diet promote the buildup of plaque in the arteries, which disrupts blood flow throughout the body, including the penis. Without adequate circulation, the member can’t extend to its true size.

- Smoking: Like plaque, smoking affects the ability of blood to flow freely throughout the body. Male smokers have been found in research to have shorter penises than non-smokers.

 
Treatment
Treating genital retraction syndrome generally involves a combination of psychotherapy and education. Information, along with physical reinforcements such as measurements, can challenge patients’ beliefs about penis shrinkage. In therapy, patients may work with a therapist to explore potential origins of their beliefs, identify correlating conditions and reduce anxiety levels.
While obsessive fears about genital retraction constitute a psychological disorder, there’s nothing wrong with taking steps to support optimal penis health as men age. Adding a penis health cream (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil) to the care regimen can help penile tissues stay strong and healthy. Look for ingredients like Shea butter for smooth skin and vitamin C for circulatory support. Such a cream won’t make the penis bigger, but it can support the nerves, blood vessels and skin cells in the member.

Shrinking Penis? Yes, It Can Happen to Any Man

With all of the importance that society - or at least the male portion of society - places on penis size, the notion that a shrinking penis might actually be a "thing" can come as an unwelcome shock. Unfortunately, there are certain issues that really can affect the length and girth of the penis. While some of these are short-lived, there are problems that can lead to more lasting shrinkage of the penile tissue; engaging in adequate penis care is a must to reduce the risk of this unwelcome problem.

Causes of Short-Term or Temporary Shrinkage
 
- Cold. As the average six-year-old boy already knows, jumping into a freezing cold body of water will immediately cause the boys downstairs to shrivel to minuscule proportions. This is a perfectly natural physiological response to the exposure to cold; the penile tissue simply retreats as far inside the body as possible in order to stay warm.

- Physical activity. During a workout, the body tends to direct the bulk of its supply of blood to the large muscle groups needed to carry out physical exercise. As a result, the less critical areas of the body, including the penis, only get the minimum amount of blood required, and therefore, the penis tends to appear much smaller. This is no reason to consider giving up an exercise program, though - the effect is only temporary, and the exercise is beneficial in the long run in terms of penile health and function.

- Being overweight. A few extra pounds on the waistline will not actually cause the penis to shrink, but pads of fat around the pubis can certainly make the equipment appear smaller. Shedding those extra pounds is not only beneficial in terms of overall health, but it can add up to an inch of visible length to the penis as well.

Causes of Lasting Decreases in Penis Size
A shrinking penis caused by medical conditions and other chronic problems may be a sign of penile atrophy, in which there is a measurable reduction in the amount of penile tissue present. The following may be responsible:

- Smoking. There are no good sides to smoking, and plenty of bad sides. One of the more psychologically devastating for men is the effect that a long-term habit can have on the size and function of the penis. Smoking tobacco products disrupts the nerve, muscle and circulatory tissue of the penis, causing it to atrophy and become smaller; men who smoke may experience a dramatic decrease in size over time. Quitting smoking may allow the tissue to slowly return to normal, so there is no better time than the present to snuff the butts for good.

- Poor circulation. When the smooth muscle tissue of the penis is not constantly nourished by a steady supply of blood, it is deprived of the oxygen and nutrients it needs to function properly and carry out self-repair of damaged cells. The result can be loss of ability to achieve and maintain an erection, as well as a perceptible loss in size. Poor circulation can be caused by factors such as obesity, heart disease, long hours spent sitting and even overly restrictive clothing. Getting plenty of physical exercise to increase blood flow to the area may help to counteract this issue.

- Low testosterone. Low levels of male hormone can affect the ability to achieve an erection; without this rush of blood into the penis on a regular basis, the "use it or lose it" rule applies.

- Peyronie’s disease. Connective tissue disorders such as Peyronie’s disease, which is caused by scarring of the tissue surrounding the erectile chambers, can cause shrinkage of the penis, as well as severe pain and loss of function.

- Aging. Over time, the penile tissue - as with the tissue throughout the rest of the body - tends to break down, and some loss in size may occur.

Preventing Penile Atrophy
Often, the risk of penile atrophy can be reduced by making some common-sense changes to a man’s lifestyle. These may include developing healthy eating habits, getting regular exercise, quitting smoking and losing weight. These actions can promote increased blood flow, and thus, better oxygenation of the penile tissue.

In addition, a proper diet and physical exercise go a long way toward keeping bodily functions such as hormone production in balance, so that enough testosterone is available to trigger erections and keep the blood flowing.

Men who are conscious about their overall health may also choose to make a top-quality penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil) a part of their daily personal care routine. A product that is enriched with nutrients such as vitamin C can support healthy circulatory tissue, while L-arginine - an amino acid - triggers the response that allows the blood vessels in the penis to relax and permit a rush of blood to flow in. Antioxidant ingredients such as alpha lipoic acid provide further benefits by helping to slow the aging process, leaving the skin with a supple, even tone and appearance.