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Topics: Health, News, Sex and Relationships, UK News, Weather
Olivia Burke
Topics: Health, News, Sex and Relationships, UK News, Weather
The change in the seasons can have quite the profound effect on your penis - but it can also trigger an unfortunate side effect, too.
Doctors have warned blokes that although the 'summer penis' phenomenon may boost the appearance of their manhood, it can also leave them struggling in the bedroom.
Essentially, it's quite the double-edged sword.
The spike in the mercury can also cause a similar dramatic change to men's testicles, so lads really ought to prepare for things to get a lot tighter in the crotch-region of their trousers.
During the summer, males might notice a big alteration in the appearance of their manhood which is known as a 'summer penis'.
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This isn't an official medical term, but it is a phrase used to 'describe when a male's penis seems a bit bigger or fuller during hot weather'.
Dr Chun Tang, a GP from private healthcare clinic Pall Mall Medical, explained why this occurs.
"The idea is that in warmer months, especially when it’s hot and humid, the heat causes your blood vessels to expand a bit, which can make things down there look a bit different," he previously told The Sun.
"When it’s hot, your body naturally tries to cool down by widening the blood vessels, which can make more blood flow to places like your hands, feet, and even your penis."
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The medic said that blokes may notice that their mini me looks a 'little larger, especially when it's flaccid' because of the heat.
However, the increased blood flow to your private parts might also make it 'feel a bit softer or more relaxed than usual'.
Not all men get to experience the 'summer penis' phenomenon during a heatwave, even though this is the most likely time for it to strike.
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There's not an exact temperature which triggers it, Dr Tang said, so its largely down to pot luck.
Still, there are some fellas who are more prone to it than others.
The health expert explained that lads who are particularly sensitive to temperature changes are more likely to end up with a 'summer penis'.
If you aren't a fan of the effect the warmer weather has on your nether regions, Dr Tang recommends keeping as cool as possible.
Offering some tips to lessen the effect of the 'summer penis' phenomenon, he added: "Avoid too much heat, wear loose clothes, and stay well-hydrated."
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Although it might cause the size of your manhood to swell, 'summer penis' can also hamper a man's efforts between the sheets.
Dr Donald Grant, a GP and senior clinical advisor at The Independent Pharmacy, explained that the heat can leave blokes suffering from impotence.
"The warm weather can affect many health conditions, exacerbating symptoms," he told the Daily Mail. "This includes erectile dysfunction (ED).
"One of the main ways warmer weather can affect ED symptoms is through dehydration.
"When we become dehydrated, our bodies reduce blood volume, making it more difficult for men with penile issues to achieve and maintain an erection."
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As well as this, the high temperatures can leave us struggling to sleep and therefore, we wake up feeling fatigued - which also doesn't bode well for blokes when trying to become aroused.
"The warmer weather forces our bodies to work harder to maintain a safe internal temperature, which can often trigger fatigue," Dr Grant said.
"Poor sleep can have a direct impact on hormone production, limiting the amount of testosterone produced, which, in turn, worsens ED symptoms and makes achieving an erection more difficult."
On top of all this, Dr Grant explained that as blokes are usually camped out in beer gardens throughout the summer, this also increases the risk of erectile dysfunction.
"Alcohol can have an extremely negative impact on ED symptoms, lowering blood pressure and affecting blood flow to the gentile area," the medic added.
"Long-term, unhealthy alcohol consumption can damage nerves and blood vessels, further impacting men with this condition."