Can a guy’s big toe be an erect penis problem just waiting to happen? How can something that’s all the way at the other end of the body have any impact on penis health? It may seem strange, but a recent study does indeed suggest that gout - a condition which typically manifests in the foot, especially the big toe - may be connected with erect penis issues in some men.

Gout? Really?

When most people think of gout (if they think of it at all), they very likely picture an old, overweight man, probably from the Victorian era, wincing in pain as he sits with his heavily-bandaged foot raised on an ottoman. He’s likely to be cursing himself for indulging in too many rich foods.

Although gout has long been associated with a rather greedy attitude towards fatty foods, in truth, dietary factors are the sole cause of gout only in 12% of the cases. Genetic factors, medical conditions (such as metabolic syndrome or kidney failure), and some medications (including diuretics) are other frequent culprits.

But what is gout exactly? It’s a form of inflammatory arthritis which occurs when there is too much uric acid in the blood. This brings about an intense swelling in a joint or joints - about 50% of the time in a big toe. When there’s too much uric acid, it crystallizes, and these crystals find their way into the joints, where they lodge and cause swelling and significant pain.

And the erect penis?

So what does this admittedly painful situation have to do with a man’s erect penis? A study from the United Kingdom suggests there is a relationship between gout and the erectile process. In some cases, an erectile issue predicts gout and in others gout warns of potential erect penis problems.

The study looked at 48,000 men over a period of 10 years. It found that men who had gout were 31% more likely to also report erectile dysfunction issues than men without gout. And these men were 63% more likely to have the erect penis issue a year before the gout presented itself. (Conversely, after gout was diagnosed, a man was 77% more likely to come down with erectile issues over the next two years.)

Cause or effect?

So this presents a chicken-or-egg situation: does gout play a role in causing erectile dysfunction, or does erectile dysfunction help bring about gout? The study isn’t able to say. However, it does seem likely that the presence of excess uric acid is a component in difficulties in attaining an erect penis. Different men metabolize things differently, so in some men gout may act as a predictor, in others it may act as a respondent.

One theory is that the higher levels of uric acid lead to plaque buildup in the blood vessels, which impedes the erectile process in the penis. It can also lead to cardiovascular issues, which a man definitely wants to avoid.

Bottom line: Men with gout may want to take steps to prevent erectile issues from developing and guys with erect penis problems may want to ask a doctor to check uric acid levels.

An erect penis can be affected by many factors other than gout, including the state of a man’s general penis health. Regular use of a high level penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) is an excellent way to keep the penis in good condition. Be sure to choose a crème with both L-arginine and L-carnitine. The former is an amino acid that plays a key role in the development of nitric oxide, which is crucial for keeping penile blood vessels open and flowing. And L-carnitine has neuroprotective properties that help it restore diminished sensation in an overworked penis.