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Topics: Health
Brenna Cooper
A health expert has revealed the seven reasons why your penis could shrink as you get older.
Maintaining their size is most likely the most pressing thought on any man's mind, although they're probably loathe to admit it.
In fact, when it comes to the majority of conversations around genitalia and sex, most people begin to feel a little bashful about the topic, thanks to decades of being told anything remotely related our bodies' sexual organs was taboo.
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Thankfully the internet has no shortage of doctors and sex experts who are more than happy to provide answers to the burning questions you may have.
Chemist Click's Abbas Kanani recently sat down the The Sun to explain the main reasons why your penis can shrink over time.
The superintendent pharmacist explains that penile atrophy - which is the medical term for a shrinking manhood - can happen for any number of reasons, with age, diet, lifestyle and health conditions being the main factors.
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So here are the seven reasons why your member may decrease in size:
It's no secret that smoking is bad for our bodies, but were you aware that it could have an impact on your penis size?
"There are chemicals found in cigarettes, such as nicotine and carbon monoxide, which cause blood vessels to constrict and reduce blood flow," Kanani explains.
"They also decrease the production and availability of nitric oxide, which is vital for the dilation of blood vessels and the initiation of erection."
Now you may be surprised to learn that your body weight and physical activity are linked to maintaining a healthy manhood, but everything is connected when it comes to the body.
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"Poor circulation and hormonal imbalances can occur if you do not exercise enough or are overweight," Kanani adds.
Certain medications can also change the appearance of your member
Kanani reveals that hair loss treatments, antidepressants and blood pressure tablets can alter your body's hormonal balance and blood circulation, which can cause penile shrinkage.
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However this isn't a reason to stop taking prescribed medication without consulting your GP.
By now you'll be more than aware that any change to your body's health will have a knock on effect when it comes to the penis.
Kanani says that chronic health conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease can limit blood flow downstairs, causing a decrease in size.
He said: "Blood vessel damage caused by high blood sugar levels in people with diabetes impair the supply of blood to the penis.
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"As a result, tissues can become deprived of oxygen and nutrients causing shrinkage.
"Cardiovascular disease causes plaque to build up in the arteries and restricts blood flow around the body, including the penis causing it to appear shorter in length."
Testosterone plays a crucial role in maintaining your penis, which any change your hormones will impact your manhood.
"Testosterone preserves your penis' structure, the function of smooth muscle and connective tissue," he explains, adding that aged-related decline in hormones will inevitably lead to shrinkage.
It's a sad fact of life that our bodies change as we get older - and your genitalia is not immune to this.
"As men get older, blood flow reduces and penile tissues receive less oxygen and essential nutrients," Kanani says.
"Blood flow issues also cause the tissues to lose elasticity, making it more challenging to stretch and maintain your penis' normal length and girth size."
Last on the list is a condition called Peyronie's disease. For those who are unaware, Peyronie's disease causes the penis to curve when erect, which (yep, you guessed it) can cause shrinkage.
Explaining how the condition occurs, Kanani said: "Fibrous plaques form within the penis and this can prevent the penis from expanding evenly, causing it to painfully bend, during an erection.
"If this happens over time, the penis can shorten typically where the plaque is situated on the penis."