Losing the hair on your head and having it reappear in weird places like your ears isn’t bad enough, with age can also come a shortening of the penis. This decrease in penis length is due to atrophy.
- Less Testosterone – With age, testosterone
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levels often decline.
levels often decline.- Less Erections – With a lower level of testosterone in the body, there’s an associated drop in the libido. Lower sex drive means less erections.
- Use it or Lose it – As with the other muscles in the body, when they aren’t being used regularly, they begin to atrophy, which results in less muscle mass and a smaller penis.
There are other reasons why you may experience a smaller penis. Some of these are within your control; others are not.
- Weight Gain – Gaining weight is a cause of the shortening of the penis that is completely withing your control. As you gain weight, fat is deposited in the pubic area, expanding the fat pad over the pubic bone. Although your penis actually stays the same size, the usable length is reduced. For every 30 pounds you gain, you lose 1/4-inch of your usable penis length. Obesity is also associated with heart disease, and reduced blood flow can lead to penis shortening. In addition, being overweight increases your chance of erectile dysfunction.
- Peyronie’s Disease – Development of Peyronie’s disease is another reason why a man may experience a shortening of the penis. As plaques form in the penis, it causes a curvature in the penis, shortening the length directly from base to tip.
- Prostate Surgery – One of the side effects of prostate surgery is potential nerve damage. This can result in a shorter penis.
- Inborn Defects – Congenital cordae, also known as a tethering of a penis, can cause the penis to be shorter. Chromosomal abnormalities also can result in a shorter penis.