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Many men worry about their penis size.
Some common thoughts that riddle a man’s mind may be: “Can a small penis still perform well in bed?”, “Does a small penis indicate I’m not masculine enough?” “Will my potential partner see me differently with my smaller-than-average manhood?”
Penises come in various sizes and shapes, regardless of ethnicity. And the average length is probably much smaller than you think. However, if you believe that your penis has been shrinking over the years, that’s a different story.
If you’re developing symptoms of penile shrinkage, it can be a sign of a medical condition that needs to be addressed by a medical professional specializing in sexual health.
But, in some cases, penile shrinkage can also remedy itself on its own with the help of some consistent lifestyle changes.
Let’s look into the possible causes of penile shrinkage, as well as potential ways to combat it.
Average Penis Sizes of 10,000 Men
According to BMJ International, the average size of a man’s penis falls within the ranges below:
- Flaccid penis: 3.6 inches or 9.16 centimeters
- Flaccid stretched penis: 5.3 inches or 13.24 cm
- Erect penis: 5.2 inches or 13.12 cm
The study was conducted with about 9,000 to 10,000 participants in a clinical setting. The greatest variability that the researchers found was when measuring the flaccid stretched penis sizes of men.
What Causes Penile Shrinkage?
Penile shrinkage can occur for a variety of reasons. For many, it’s caused by aging, but it may also occur through the following means:
1. Medications
There are some forms of medications that can lead to your penis shrinking. This includes:
- Avodart: Used for treating an enlarged prostate
- Proscar: Used for treating hair loss and an enlarged prostate
- Antidepressants: Used for treating clinical depression
- Antihypertensive: Used for treating high blood pressure
- Adderall: Used for patients with attention-deficit hypersensitivity disorder
If these medications are vital for your well-being and health, consult a medical professional before altering your dose or taking a new form of medication.
You wouldn’t want other bodily functions to get progressively worse in hopes of increasing your penis size.
2. Side Effects of Prostate Surgery
Maintaining a healthy prostate is critical to male sexual health. Research has found men who had their cancerous prostate glands removed in a surgical procedure may experience penile shrinkage. In particular, around 70% of menwho had radical prostatectomy experienced a decrease in penile length and girth.
The reason this occurs is due to the damage that occurs between the blood vessels and the nerves between the colon and the prostate gland.
The resulting injury causes scar tissue to build up, reducing blood flow to the penis and causing erectile dysfunction.
3. Injury in the Penis (Peyronie’s Disease)
Many of us men dread the thought of having a broken penis. But the hard truth is: it’s a possibility that may occur during rough sex or physical accidents that can cause the penis to fracture.
When this happens, it’s considered a medical emergency and would need immediate attention from a doctor to repair the damage. It’s also needed to prevent the onset of Peyronie’s disease.
Peyronie’s disease affects 4 out of 100 men between 40 and 70. It’s a disease where scar tissue caused by cumulative minor injuries from sexual activities builds up and prevents proper expansion of the penis.
Treatment plans for this disease depend on the severity level. Doctors often recommend injection treatments, traction therapy, and surgery for moderate to severe instances of Peyronie’s Disease.
4. Weight Gain
Obesity is a major contributor to penis shrinkage. As your belly or lower abdomen grows in size, your penis may appear to retract and be buried in your body. This is because the fat in your abdomen hides the shaft of the penis.
This doesn’t only apply when the penis is flaccid; your erect penis can’t extend further from the body because of the large fat pad.
In addition, weight gain can lead to cardiovascular and blood flow issues, which may contribute to erectile dysfunction.
5. Smoking
One report showed that smokers experienced shorter penis lengths compared to their non-smoker counterparts.
Chemicals found in cigarette smoke can injure blood vessels in the body—the penis included. Due to injury, the penis won’t be able to expand as much, leading to penis shrinkage.
How to Treat Penis Shrinkage
Fortunately, with some lifestyle modifications and recommendations from a medical professional, you may be able to restore your penile length back to its former glory.
1. Become Physically Active
Exercise is beneficial to the body because it helps circulate healthy blood flow throughout your vessels. As an extension, this includes your penis as well.
Strenuous activity also acts as a way to combat excessive weight gain.
Exercises you can perform to combat penis shrinkage include:
- Running
- Cycling
- Swimming
- Walking
- Calisthenics
- Jogging
- Yoga
2. Eat A Nutrient-Rich Diet
A good diet plays an important role in your overall health. Avoid eating carb-rich foods and red meat, and instead substitute them with fruits, green vegetables, and seafood rich in omega-3 fats.
You may also take supplements like Vitamin D and Vitamin C to ensure that your body achieves the proper daily volume of nutrients.
3. Quit Vices such as Smoking and Drinking
Not only does smoking regularly cause erectile dysfunction, but smoking inhibits blood flow to other parts of your body as well.
If you want to improve your overall sexual and physical health, you have to cut out smoking. Alcohol and caffeine also have negative relationships with erectile function, so removing these vices from your life entirely is a step toward restoring your erect penis length.
4. Adjust Medications
Adderall and antidepressants can cause penile shortening. Review your medication history with a doctor to find out if they’re affecting the size of your penis.
If there’s a relationship, you may want to ask for appropriate alternatives that can work best for you.
Consult Cleveland’s Top ED Specialists about Sexual Dysfunction for a Diagnosis
Talking with a medical professional is the best way to work towards a recovery plan to achieve a normal penis size.
Medical treatments, such as penile traction devices or penile enlargement surgery, may be viable treatment options upon consultation by a trained specialist. Alternatively, improving the strength of your erection and time that you are intimate may support in resolving the performance anxiety that often comes along with penile shrinkage.
If you’re having issues with erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation, call the team Precise Men’s Medical Center in Cleveland now to schedule an appointment to have a consultation with their experienced and specially trained medical staff. We are a leading men’s clinic providing ED therapy, PE therapy, Acoustic Wave therapy, hormone therapy, and much more.