Does the penis shrink as you age? Study reveals answer to age-old question

A medical expert has finally answered the question that’s been plaguing “most men”: Can the penis really be shrunk?

Sure, one could argue that there are bigger things to worry about in the world, but apparently that hasn’t stopped men from worrying about their masculinity for a long time.

While it’s technically impossible to drastically shrink your penis, it turns out there are a range of different factors that can affect a man’s erection, making it smaller during intercourse than it was before.

Mary Samplaski, MD, a urologist and director of male infertility at the University of Southern California, warns that a man’s age and lifestyle choices can negatively impact the penis’ ability to maintain a consistent level of erection.

Swelling is a medical term for the normal engorgement of erectile tissue with blood, signaling sexual arousal and possible readiness for sexual activity.

“There is currently no medical tool that can measure the degree of penis shrinkage,” Dr. Samplaski said. Men’s Health.

“We do know that smoking and age can lead to a decline in testosterone production.”

Studies have shown that smoking damages blood vessels and impedes normal blood flow, which in turn has a knock-on effect on erections.

While doctors don’t fully understand the link between testosterone and erectile dysfunction, studies have shown that a drop in testosterone can affect erection strength.

Dr. Samplaski also says that conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, or thyroid problems can also cause changes in erection strength.

Obesity may be another culprit. Fat contains an enzyme that converts testosterone into estrogen, which can lead to erectile problems and testicular shrinkage, Dr. Samplaski explains.

“Exercise is a natural way to increase testosterone levels in men. Testosterone is essential for the health and well-being of male functioning organs,” she told the publication.

Oddly enough, having “too much” sex is also thought to be able to reduce the size of a man’s penis over time, as excessive sexual activity can cause damage, which can lead to a buildup of scar tissue.

However, medical experts warn that while it is possible for the penis to decrease in size, penis shrinkage is extremely rare.

Research 18 months ago found that the average length of the penis has increased by 24% over the past 30 years.

That sounds like good news, but researchers behind the study, published last year in the World Journal of Men’s Health, warned that it was actually a “worrying” finding.

“Any overall developmental changes are worrisome because our reproductive system is one of the most important parts of human biology,” study author Dr. Michael Eisenberg told the Stanford Medical Blog at the time.

“If we see changes this fast, it means our bodies are undergoing powerful changes.”

This shocking data was obtained from 75 studies conducted on more than 55,000 men between 1992 and 2021, which analyzed the length of the erect penis.

Dr Eisenberg said: “Over the past 29 years, erect penis length has increased, from an average of 4.8 inches (12.1 cm) to 6 inches (15.2 cm).

More research is needed to confirm the findings and “determine the causes of the changes.”