Considering the incredible emphasis placed on penis size in modern culture, it’s not surprising that most men would react with concern and/or fear at the possibility of encountering any personal shrinkage where their boys are concerned. That’s not to say they don’t know that temporary penis shrinkage does occur; any man who has ever taken a refreshing dip in an icy cold river is aware that the penis and balls may withdraw for a little while – but they always come back. However, less temporary shrinkage is something that can and does occur, sometimes as a penis health issue, and men are advised to know of the situations in which this may occur.

Factors

What are some of the factors that can cause penis size to diminish? There are several things to consider, including:

- Obesity. Technically, obesity does not cause the penis size to diminish, but it does affect the ability of people to see all the penis. When a man gains too much weight, the “pad” surrounding the penis also becomes fat. As this happens, it folds over the base of the penis, in a sense “engulfing” the base. All of the penis is still there; it’s just that a significant portion – often an inch or more in really obese men – is now hidden away underneath the fat pad. In addition, when the penis is surrounded by a large belly, it also tends to appear smaller than it actually is.

- Getting on. The body changes with age, and so it’s no surprise that the penis might as well. For many men, aging includes the buildup of fat deposits in the arteries, which in turn makes it more difficult for blood to get through. This can have two consequences in terms of penis size: (1) less blood means less delivery of oxygen, which can mean that some affected tissue – such as penile skin tissue – can actually atrophy. And (2) hampered blood flow means less blood getting to the penis during the erect phase, meaning it may not swell up to its full potential.

- Prostate surgery. One survey found that more than 70% of men who underwent prostate surgery had penis shrinkage as one of their complications. Exactly why this occurs is unclear.

- Smoking. It’s no surprise that smoking is bad for the health, but it may be a surprise that smoking can actually cause a change in penis size. Smoking, plainly put, damages blood vessels in the penis, so that the penis cannot become as erect or as firm as it once did.

- Peyronie’s disease. When a man has a severely bent penis, he is said to suffer from Peyronie’s disease. This is a situation in which scar tissue has formed in the penis, causing the penis to bend abnormally – and often, painfully. It also prevents the penis from reaching its full length.

Shrinkage of penis size can be due to many factors, but it seems less likely to occur if a man’s penis health is secure. To attain that goal, daily use of a top-notch penis health creme (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) is urged. Keeping penis skin nice and supple helps the penis to stretch to its fullest potential, so use a crème with both a high-end emollient (like shea butter) and a natural hydrator (such as vitamin E). Also advised: use a crème with a potent antioxidant, such as alpha lipoic acid, which can seriously help fight oxidative stress and damage. Alpha lipoic acid targets and battles free radicals, which create the oxidative stress that can weaken skin significantly.