OUR bodies all change with age.
Our ears get longer, our skin starts to droop and our muscle mass takes a nose dive.
Getty – Contributor
But one thing you probably didn’t know was that your penis can actually shrink as the years pass by.
Fatty deposits build up in the arteries as we age – causing reduced blood flow to the penis.
A lifetime of sporting injuries can also lead to shrinkage due to a buildup of scar tissue.
And getting older is also accompanied by muscle atrophy and a decline in testosterone – both of which can be associated with a slight decline in penis size.
Thankfully there are a few things you can do to try to halt the ravages of time down below:
1. Have more sex and masturbate more
Harvard Medical School experts say you’ve got to “use it or lose it”.
“Some research suggests that when the penis is flaccid for long periods of time — and therefore deprived of a lot of oxygen-rich blood — the low oxygen level causes some muscle cells to lose their flexibility and gradually change into something akin to scar tissue,” their report said.
“This scar tissue seems to interfere with the penis’ ability to expand when it’s filled with blood.”
Ever wondered why you sometimes get those phantom erections at night when you’re not feeling particularly horny? Well, it may be the body’s way of keeping your penis’ blood vessels in good working order.
No partner? No problem. Masturbating is also supposed to help promote blood circulation – reducing the risk of penis shrinkage.
Like you needed an excuse.
2. Give your bush a trim
No one’s suggesting you go to get a wax but keeping your bits looking neat and clean may help transform your performance.
There have been loads of studies linking positive self-image with increased sexual satisfaction – and more erections and orgasms are what you want to keep that youth-proving blood flow going.
3. Keep cool
It’s not just your todger that gets small with age; after 40, your testicles also start to shrink.
To slow their decline, try keeping them cool.
Wear boxers rather than briefs so you’re getting more air up there and avoid very tight trousers which may restrict blood flow.
4. Lose weight
Getty – Contributor
Who isn’t worried about a growing gut as they age?
But a bulging waist-line won’t just put you more at risk of heart problems, diabetes, cancer and fatty liver disease.
Carrying extra padding can make your todger look smaller.
The penis is attached to the belly wall and when it expands, it pulls the penis inwards.
Lose weight and it’ll drop back down. Now there’s a weight loss incentive if ever we heard one.
5. Drink more water
Great for the skin and kidney function, drinking enough water is also crucial to maintaining penile health too.
According to physiologist Simon Thornton, keeping red blood cell and plasma levels stable is crucial in avoiding shrivelling. And one-way to do that is to ensure you’re drinking enough water to get that blood circulating.
When you’re properly hydrated, you also produce more of a hormone called angiotensin, which has been found to be deficient in men struggling with erectile dysfunction.
6. Quit smoking
Smoking is responsible for a tonne of diseases and conditions. Cancer aside, it can also be responsible for shrinking your penis.
The chemicals from cig smoke can damage the blood vessels in the penis – stopping it from filling with blood.
A study carried out in 1998 by the Boston University of Medicine examined the erect penises of 200 men.
Scientists found that smokers had shorter erect penises compared to men who did not smoke. They believed this is because smoking inhibits blood flow, preventing the penis from stretching, which might reduce penis length.
7. Brush your teeth
Blokes who fail to brush their teeth twice a day are more likely to be a flop in bed, a recent study revealed.
Scientists from Jinan University, in China, analysed the teeth and sexual performance of 213,076 men.
They found guys with gum disease were 2.85-times more likely to suffer erectile dysfunction.
Gum disease is thought to lower levels of the sex hormone testosterone and increase inflammation.
Like impotence, it is also linked to poorly functioning blood vessels.
Alamy
8. Moisten up
Moisturiser isn’t just good for keeping your face nice and youthful.
Some claim that it can keep penises looking younger too.
Dr Joshua Zeichner, the director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital’s Department of Dermatology, told Men’s Health to apply light lotions “rather than heavier creams or ointments that can leave your skin moist and more susceptible to bacterial or fungal overgrowth.”
9. See your GP
While penile shrinkage does happen with age, it’s still definitely worth getting checked out by your GP if you notice an obvious change.
It’s all about knowing what’s normal for you; if your peeing regime changes, your sex life takes a nosedive or you’re worried about cancer, make an appointment to see your GP.
They might suggest other lifestyle changes you could make, put you on medication or refer you for scans and blood tests to see exactly what’s going on.
Until then, ditch the cigs, up your H2O and get more active in the bedroom.
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