WHILE many men dream of a bigger penis, the sad truth of the issue is that they are only likely to see it getting smaller, if anything.
It can be a hard pill to swallow, but men can lose up to an inch off their manhood for a variety of reasons.
When blood flow to the penis is restricted it can cause the erectile muscle to waste away.
Sometimes it is nothing to worry about. But for others, it could be the side effect of a serious condition, or leave them chronically embarrassed.
It is very important to remember there is no “normal” size or shape for a penis.
That of everyone is different.
Most men’s penises are somewhere around 9cm (3.75in) long when not erect, the NHS says, but it is normal for them to be shorter or longer than this.
Research has discovered the average erect penis size varies from around 13cm to 18cm (5in to 7in).
But no matter where your member sits on the scale, there are a few factors that can cause him to drop a few sizes – and we are not just talking about a cold swimming pool.
Here are some of the causes;
1. Ageing:
Ageing is a sad enough fact of life but we have got some upsetting news, boys.
As you age your penis is likely to change, just like the rest of your body.
But remember it is a normal part of ageing and, unless your concerned about the functioning of your penis, it does not need medical attention.
The penis can appear smaller when you are older because it is harder to get an erection (although this doesn’t happen to all men).
The arteries that supply the penis become more congested and narrow, making it harder for blood to flow into the penis and cause it to stiffen.
The spongy tissue that triggers an erection may also degenerate due to less blood flow.
Meanwhile, a build up of scar tissue, from years of small injuries during sex or sports, can cause shrinkage, Healthline reports.
In fact it is not just your old fellow that shrinks – your testicles are also likely to get slightly smaller, too.
They may sag lower down due to the skin losing its elasticity.
2. Smoking:
If there is anything that will cause you to quit smoking, maybe it is finding out it will harm your todger.
There are certain toxins in a cigarette that damage the blood vessels in your penis, according to Medical News Today.
Unfortunately, not only does that mean the muscle cells in your member could waste away, it could also spell difficulties in the bedroom.
Damage to the blood vessels in the penis may mean that no matter how turned on you are, you struggle to get an erection.
The problem with reduced erections is that the penis is no longer being stretched regularly. This can cause it to lose length over time.
A good sign that the penis is healthy is waking up with an erection, because this signals the nerves and blood supply is working.
Healthy men have an average of three to five erections per night, lasting up to 3 hours in total.
3. Medication:
All medication comes with unwanted side effects, but some measure up worse than others.
Adderall, often prescribed for attention deficit disorders, is the most well-known for leaving you with less length down there.
Some antidepressants and antipsychotics may have the same effect.
Some drugs used to treat prostate problems can also cause your penis to shrink.
4. Weight gain:
As your stomach gets bigger everything else starts to look smaller… you get the drift.
Weight gain is a concern for most men, not just because it can cause an array of worrying health concerns, but because it also makes their member look a lot less impressive.
But the good news is that your penis does not actually shrink when you gain weight.
It simply looks like it has, more like an optical illusion.
The reason it looks a little on the shorter side is because the erectile muscles are attached to your abdominal wall.
So when your belly expands it pulls your manhood inward.
It can also be reversed by dropping those extra pounds.
5. Prostate surgery:
Men who have their prostate removed may experience a loss of size.
In fact, it happens in about 70 per cent of men who have had this surgery, called a prostatectomy, to treat prostate cancer.
Experts don’t know exactly what causes this to happen, but one theory is that a man may experience muscle contraction after the surgery it pulls their member farther into their body.
7. Covid-19:
Covid has the ability to affect almost every system in the body. So of course, it wants to wreak havoc down there, too.
Experts have said a shrinking penis as a symptom of long Covid is likely a result of erectile dysfunction that occurs due to virus infection.
When the virus enters the endothelial cells of the blood vessels found in the penis, it can prevent proper blood flow.
A smaller penis was reported by 3.2 per cent of men who had long Covid in a King’s College London study.
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