People go to the gym because they want to improve their physical appearance (among other reasons). With this emphasis on appearance, some men may find themselves with concerns about an issue over which they have little control - namely, their penis size. Although men know that penis health is more important than penis size, the size issue still matters to a lot of men. And they may find themselves concentrating on it while in the gym locker room, when they may have no choice but to put their equipment on display, at least temporarily. So knowing how to handle this situation is important.

Not just small

Ironically, it’s not always concern about showing a potentially small penis in a public space that men feel. Some men with an exceptionally large endowment also feel conflicted about revealing themselves in the locker room or shower at the gym.

It’s not uncommon for men to steal a glance at other men while changing or showering; comparing penis size doesn’t stop after high school. And it can be done very subtly, with just a glance, or overtly, with one guy commenting - whether mockingly or admiringly - on another’s endowment. And while it may be more flattering to get comments about how much action a man’s big penis must get rather than comments about how a woman even knows when a small penis is inserted, it can still make a man feel uncomfortable.

What to do

Of course, some men don’t mind the comments and attention at all, whatever their penis size. For some men, public nudity and the attendant comments or wisecracks is part of healthy male bonding; it makes them feel connected and more at home with other men.

But for those who find revealing their penis size at the gym to be stressful, the following suggestions may be helpful.

- Contact a professional. Being a little insecure about penis size is normal, but if it causes severe distress, it may be a good idea to contact a mental health professional to discuss why it produces such feelings. They may also be able to help develop strategies to feel more comfortable about penis size and to be less concerned about how other men view it.

- Bring a towel from home. Gym towels are often on the small size and may not comfortably wrap around a guy’s waist. Bringing a larger towel from home that wraps all the way around can help conceal the penis from other men’s gazes. Some men prefer to wrap the towel around before removing their underwear before showering. After showering, they may also keep the towel wrapped as they put on a clean pair of underwear.

- Accept that erections happen. Many men worry about getting a boner in a communal shower or while changing clothes. This is something that, at some point in their lives, has happened to most men. (In fact, lots of guys get a kick out of showing off their erections this way.) If a penis pops up at an unwanted time, the best thing to do is to accept that this happens and continue on without panicking. But if it happens frequently, a man may want to consider thinking "erection-deflating" thoughts before stripping down. Some men who pop erections frequently find it helps to masturbate before going to the gym, just to make an erection less likely to occur.

- Give back. Sometimes it pays to respond to comments about penis size, either playfully - "Hey, at least you don’t need a microscope to see mine!" - or directly - "Keep your eyes on your own penis, buddy."

At the gym, feeling comfortable about penis size is important, but so is the healthy appearance of the member. Regular use of a first rate penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) with powerful moisturizers is crucial for good penis skin. The crème should include both a natural hydrator (vitamin E) and a high-end emollient (Shea butter). It also helps if alpha lipoic acid, a powerful antioxidant, is part of the crème; this fights free radicals that cause oxidative stress damage to penis skin.