Men: What To Do If Your Privates Are Shrinking

Reviewed by Kelly Brown MD, MBA

When you think of your private parts shrinking, you might think of what happens after you’ve taken a cold shower or bath.

A shrunken private part is typically a temporary, sometimes embarrassing situation that can be fixed when you warm up, or if you get aroused and increase flow to the blood vessels in the private part.

But for some men, private part shrinkage can be a permanent issue that keeps their members at a reduced size. Private part shrinkage, also known as atrophy, is often tied to aging but can occur for other reasons.

We’ll dive into what causes private part shrinkage and the available treatment options to help you manage this condition.

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Causes of Shrinking (Atrophy)

Before diving into the world of private part shrinkage, let’s discuss why private part size is such a popular topic among men.

According to a review of studies, many men feel that their private part is not large enough or that they have a small private part compared to other men. In addition, the review found that 45 to 68.3 percent of men wished they had a larger private part.

But is it actually true that all these men have private parts that are “too small?” Most are probably pretty average, but some people may actually have private part shrinkage.

There are limited studies on why private part shrinkage or atrophy occurs — especially compared to other men’s health issues like ED and PE.

From the evidence available, there are a few reasons why shrinkage or atrophy occurs — some of which are preventable or reversible, and some are of which are not. We’ll go through each risk factor one by one.

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Aging

A common question is “Do private parts shrink with age?” According to research, there may be a connection.

As you age, you can expect your body to undergo different changes. You stop growing, your hair turns gray — and your private part may get smaller.

According to a review, atherosclerosis of the private part, an age-related condition that causes the thickening or hardening of arteries, can also cause changes in collagen. This can make it difficult to get aroused, possibly contributing to shrinkage.

Have you ever heard the terms “grower” and “shower?” Growers are men whose length significantly grows in length when they go from flaccid to aroused, while showers do not have this increase in length between the two states.

In a review of studies involving 274 patients who had private partmeasurements, and a private part duplex Doppler ultrasound (PDDU), the majority of younger men were more likely to be growers, while older men were more often showers. This may lead to the perception of private part shrinkage.

Another reason for atrophy as you age? Research shows that as you age, you experience an increase in visceral fat and the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and certain cancers.

Visceral fat is the fat stored deep in your abdomen. An increase in visceral fat can negatively impact function, potentially leading to ED and other health problems.

Along with how much fat you have, your levels of testosterone, a hormone that gives you all your masculine characteristics, can change as you age. And when your testosterone levels are out of whack, you may face dysfunction.

A study involving 47 older patients with ED revealed that testosterone deficiency can cause fibrosis, which is any fibrotic disorder that affects the functioning of your private part.

It can also cause organic ED, which is the inability to get an arousal for intimacy or sustain an arousal until the deed is done, specifically due to physical causes like vascular issues, Peyronie’s disease and side effects from medication.

The study also shows that there’s a strong association between age and testosterone deficiency, reaffirming that aging is a significant risk factor for atrophy.

Because of these conditions, shrinkage can become a multifactorial issue for older adults, meaning it can arise from the many health problems that develop as you age.

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Weight Gain

As we briefly covered in the last section, having a lot of fat can lead to dysfunction problems.

So, if you are overweight or have obesity, you increase your chances of function issues like atrophy. Weight and ED go hand-in-hand, as the more body fat you have, the more likely you are to deal with impotence.

One study found that a high body mass index (BMI) is closely related to a reduction in aroused private part size, and weight gain can shorten the length of a limp or flaccid private part.

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Prostate Surgery

Radical prostatectomy, a surgery that removes the prostate and is used as a treatment for an enlarged prostate gland or cancer, can cause complications that affect a man’s performance.

Research involving 105 patients who were treated for prostate cancer with radical prostatectomy showed that their private parts shrunk an average of one centimeter 12 months post-surgery but tended to recover their size in 1–3 more years.

ED after prostate surgery is also possible, alongside other complications like urinary incontinence.

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Diseases and Congenital Causes

Private part shrinkage may also arise due to congenital issues, or conditions that one has since birth.

Peyronie’s disease, or curvature, is a disorder where scar tissue forms in the tunica albuginea, under the private parts  skin. This scar tissue, also known as a plaque, causes the private part to curve or bend during an arousal.

Peyronie’s disease can make intimacy painful, challenging or downright impossible.

While this disorder is commonly found among older men, a study revealed that 8.2 percent of men presenting with Peyronie’s disease were under the age of 40.

According to one study, private part shortening is associated with medical conditions like Peyronie’s disease and congenital anomalies.

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ED

While it has not been confirmed that ED is directly tied to atrophy, there are some potential connections that you should make a note of — especially if you have ED caused by radical prostatectomy.

Research suggests that this dysfunction problem may be an independent risk factor for private part shrinkage and atrophy.

Another study involving men with and without impotence revealed that those with ED tend to have shorter private parts.

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Radiation and Hormone Suppression

Certain cancer treatments, as well as hormone replacement therapies (HRTs), are linked to a change in private part size.

While we previously covered prostate cancer surgery, there’s research that indicates radiation therapy for prostate cancer may also contribute to atrophy.

According to a study of 948 men, 2.63 percent of them complained of reduced private part size after receiving prostatectomy or radiotherapy consisting of external beam RT or brachytherapy with or without androgen deprivation therapy.

The study also mentions that these men felt that their shorter private part contributed to problems in their relationships and led to treatment regret.

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Atrophy Treatment Options

Okay, so now that you know what can cause shrinkage, you’re probably wondering how to fix it.

First, it’s important to keep in mind that there isn’t a ton of evidence to determine if a man’s private part size is associated with his ability to get aroused and his performance. So, while you probably want to address any underlying condition, your private part size may not really affect your intimate life at all.

But that doesn’t mean it won’t affect things like your self-confidence or your libido, both of which are worth addressing.

The good news is there are some options to combat the causes of shrinkage, increase length, bolster your confidence and improve health.

Let’s look at what treatment options are available to treat or manage private part shortening and increase private part size.

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Vacuum Arousal Devices

Vacuum devices (VEDs) are devices with a closed-ended clear plastic cylinder and a vacuum pump. The device uses negative pressure to increase blood flow to the private part to help with ED. VEDs can be manual or battery-operated.

According to a review, these devices are becoming the first-line treatment for ED and rehabilitation of functioning following prostate cancer treatments. The review showed that vacuum devices are effective in combination with private part injections or oral medications.

Another review of studies involving men who’ve underwent radical prostatectomy found that the use of VEDs may be effective for preserving private part size, but further research is necessary to confirm.

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Oral Medications

There are prescription medications that can help you manage ED.

PDE5 inhibitors (PDE5is) are first-line drugs to treat ED. They work by stopping the action of the PDE5 enzyme, resulting in increased the blood flow to your private part. PDE5 inhibitors can help you obtain and sustain an arousal in the bedroom.

Here are the PDE5 inhibitor medications available on the market:

• Viagra (sildenafil)

• Cialis (tadalafil)

• Stendra (avanafil)

• Levitra (vardenafil)

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Other Medications

If your private part is shrinking because of an underlying medical condition, such as low testosterone, taking medication to address the underlying cause could help with private part size and appearance.

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Implants

An implant or prosthesis is another option for treating atrophy. These devices are approved by the Food and Drug Administration for ED. They help improve function with cylinders implanted into the tissues of the private part, which can increase your rigidity.

Other conditions where implants can be helpful include Peyronie’s disease, fibrosis, post-priapism spongiofibrosis and psychological impotence.

For the right patient, out of all the ED treatments, implants can have a high satisfaction rate and deliver predictable and reliable results.

But surgery under anesthesia is required to insert the implant, and because a prosthesis is one of the most invasive treatments for ED, it’s the least popular. It also can come with potential complications, such as device failure, improper device insertion or infection.

While research shows that implants don’t lengthen your private part, there’s one FDA-cleared implantation device called a Penuma implant that has been proven to aid in increasing private part circumference.

Speak with your healthcare provider or urologist to discuss the best treatment for ED and atrophy.

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Other surgeries

Depending on what’s causing your shrinkage, other types of surgeries might also help. One enlargment surgery involves cutting the suspensory ligament that holds the aroused private part upright, which may result in a longer-looking flacid private part, but has other downsides.

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Lifestyle Changes

Lifestyle habits could contribute to shrinkage.

If you have obesity, it could help to lose weight through diet and exercise. You may also want to stop using, if you’re a smoker, as there is a relationship between it and ED.

If you want to make lifestyle changes, make sure to get medical advice from a healthcare provider first.

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The Bottom Line on Shrinking

So, can a private part shrink? Absolutely.

From aging to prostate cancer surgery, there are many reasons why you may lose some private part size. But don’t fret — solutions are available to lengthen your private part, increase performance and boost your self-confidence in the bedroom.

• The main reasons you may notice some private part shrinkage are aging, weight gain, prostate surgery, certain conditions like Peyronie’s disease, ED or hormonal issues.

• Depending on your individual situation, some treatment options are available, such as ED treatments, implants and vacuum devices. Additionally, maintaining an overall healthy lifestyle can help improve your health.

You can never learn too much about your privates, so check out our blog on privates facts, which briefly covers shrinking, and learn about what jelqing is.

• Related: A Therapist’s Guide to Dating With Intention
• Related: How Depression Affects Your Intimate Drive— And What to Do About It

This article orignially appeared on Hims.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.

Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.