One of the more common issues we come across at PEGym is Penile Dysmorphic Disorder. This disorder can ruin a man’s personal relationships, and can even spill into other areas of his life, as his self-confidence plummets and his obsession grows.

But, what is penile dysmorphic disorder?

And, more importantly, how do you know if you have it?

What is Penile Dysmorphic Disorder?

Penile Dysmorphic Disorder is a penis-specific form of  Body Dysmorphic Disorder.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder, in general, is a mental illness involving obsessive focus on a perceived flaw in appearance.  The flaw may be minor or imagined. But the person may spend hours a day trying to fix it. The person may try many cosmetic procedures or exercise to excess. People with this disorder may frequently examine their appearance in a mirror, constantly compare their appearance with that of others, and avoid social situations or photos.

For Penile Dysmorphic Disorder, this focus in on the penis. This is often centered on penis size, and a feeling that their penis is too small, but can include other aesthetic concerns, such as penis curve, erection angle, veins (or lack thereof) on the penis, or even the color of the penile skin.

In research conducted at King’s College London, the men reported they first started to think their penis was too small around the age of 15 or 16. These men said their penis size became a significant problem for them a few years later, when they were 18 or 19. When it becomes an obsession, penile dysmorphic disorder, this obsession can also lead to sexual dysfunction.

How To Tell if You Have Penile Dysmorphic Disorder

If you want a larger penis, you’re not alone. An online survey of over 25,000 men found that nearly half of the participants were unhappy with their current size, with 45% wanting to be larger and 0.2% wanting to be smaller.  The question becomes, when does a desire to improve yourself actually become a mental obsessive disorder?

Think about these questions:

• Do you measure your penis daily or more often?
• Does your concern about your penis size prevent you from having intimate relationships?
• Have you asked your partner how you rank in size, against other penises they’ve had?
• Do you continue to look up surveys and statistics about average penis size and/or penis size women want, despite previously investigating this information?
• Are you 5 inches in length, erect, but still feel like your penis is too small to be desirable/satisfying?
• Have you avoided non-romantic situations where others may see your penis, because you’re worried about your size – such as showering in a gym locker room.
• Does the thought of a partner seeing you naked make you feel anxious?
• Have you ever had an issue with obsessive compulsive disorder?
• Do you feel like or know that others have mocked you because of your penis size?
• Do you look at photos of other penises and compare yourself to them?
• Do you try to hide the fact that you have a small penis by carefully choosing your clothing?
• Have you considered extreme measures to increase the size of your penis, such as: surgery or implants?
• Has the concern over your penis size caused you distress on a nearly daily basis?

If you’ve answered YES to 2 or more of these questions, you may have an issue with Penile Dysmorphic Disorder.

What to Do if You Think You May Have Penile Dysmorphic Disorder

If you’ve answered yes to 2 or more of the above questions, please talk to a mental health professional. There is definitely a difference between men who are pursuing penis enlargement as a means of self-improvement, to those with this sometimes debilitating condition. Only a mental health professional can diagnose whether or not you have PDD.

Embarrassment and shame are the two reasons why so many men don’t get help with Penile Dysmorphic Disorder. Without treatment, Penile Dysmorphic doesn’t get better. In fact, it likely will get worse – leading to sexual dysfunction (as mentioned earlier) and even severe depression and anxiety – even suicide.

Treatment often includes a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy and medications.  Cognitive behavioral therapy will help you learn how to deal with the negative thoughts and find alternate ways to handle them. Medications often focus on treating the associated depression.