The penis shrinks suddenly

Besides being able to enlarge due to an erection, did you know that the penis can also shrink? In general, the size of the penis when it is "flaccid" is 5-10 cm, while when erect it can expand to 13 - 14.5 cm. Influenced by various factors, the penis can even shrink by two centimeters or more. What are the causes of a shrinking penis? Find out the answer in this article.

Various causes of penis shrinkage that you may not be aware of

1. Aging

Natural aging is the most important cause of penis shrinkage. The reason is, the older you are, the more fat will accumulate on the walls of the body's blood vessels. Narrowing of blood vessels can reduce blood flow from the heart to the penis.

Not only that, over time, small injuries that occur repeatedly in the penis area due to sexual activity or sports can form scar tissue.

The combination of these factors can shrink the size of the penis under normal conditions and during an erection.

2. Overweight

A distended stomach or being overweight due to obesity can make the penis appear smaller, when in fact your penis size has not changed at all.

This is because part of the shaft of the penis is covered by belly fat. In very obese men, abdominal fat can even cover almost the entire shaft of the penis so that only the tip of the head of the penis can be seen from above.

3. Side effects of prostate surgery

Nearly 70 percent of men have reduced their penis size after recovering from surgical removal of the prostate gland. This procedure in medical terms is called a radical protatectomy.

Experts are not sure what causes penile shrinkage after a protatectomy. However, it is believed that abnormal muscle contractions in the groin can cause the shaft of the penis to push inward, making the penis appear smaller.

Usually the penis will shrink about 2-7 centimeters after prostate surgery. Even so, this condition will vary for each man. The reason is, some men do not experience a reduction in size at all after prostate surgery. There are also men who experience only a slight shortening and others who are shorter than the average penis size.

4. Side effects of drugs

The side effects of certain drugs can also cause the penis to shrink. Quoted from the Very Well page, here are some drugs that might shrink the penis:

Adderall, is usually prescribed for hypersensitivity disorders or ADHD.
Antidpressants and antipsychotics.
Dutasteride (Avodart), is used to treat an enlarged prostate.
Finasteride (Proscar), is used to treat enlarged prostate and hair loss.

5. Peyronie's disease

Peyronie's disease is an abnormally bent penis caused by the build-up of plaque that builds up and hardens into scar tissue along the shaft of the penis (often appears on the top side). This thickening of the scar tissue over time will make the penis curl and bend. This is what makes the penis appear smaller.

A curved penis is actually a common condition, but if it was caused by Peyronie the angle of curvature was very sharp and looked unnatural. Crooked penis due to Peyronie's also accompanied by pain or even inability to have sex.

Can a smaller penis return to normal size?

Whether or not the penis has shrunk back to normal size depends on the cause.

If a smaller penis is caused by being overweight, the most effective way to return to normal size is to lose weight.

If using certain drugs, review whether the drug you are taking is included in the list of drugs that have a risk of affecting penis size or not. If yes and you are concerned about this side effect, consult a doctor. Your doctor may decrease the dose to minimize this risk or change your prescription.

If it is caused by Peyronie's disease, treatment focuses on the procedure to remove the scar tissue under the surface of the penis with medication, surgery, ultrasound, and other steps. Talk to your doctor about the best treatment for your needs.

In addition, the following simple ways can also help normalize your shrinking penis size: