Penis Health

What can affect a penis health?

1. Hormone level: Hormonal imbalances in a man’s body can affect penis health. Deficiency in testosterone hormone, too much prolactin hormone can cause erectile dysfunction which is inability to attain and/or maintain an erection.
2. Psycho-social problems: Depression, over working, can make someone to experience low libido. Failure to attain an erection may also lead a man into thinking too much about it thus complicating an erectile dysfunction. Also past traumas e.g. Child abuse can affect a man’s desire for sex.
3. Cardiovascular problems and diabetes: Any condition that restricts smooth blood flow in the body e.g. diabetes, too much cholesterol, (atherosclerosis) – hardening of arteries can cause erectile dysfunction.
4. Sexually Transmitted Infections: All types of STIs can easily be acquired due to unprotected sex, and can in turn have a negative impact upon penis health.
5. Smoking: Smoking is not only bad for your respiratory system; it also increases the risk of getting erectile dysfunction.
6. Some medications and treatments: Some drugs can induce erectile dysfunction. Some treatments too like surgical removal of prostate gland might cause erectile dysfunction.
7. Old age: Old is not gold for erections. Testosterone levels normally decline as a man grows old. Older men need more stimulation in order to attain an erection, may have weaker erections, and might also take longer to attain another erection.
8. Neurological conditions: Any malady that interferes with the transmission of nerve impulses from the brain to the penis may cause erectile dysfunction. Examples are stroke, spinal injury, multiple sclerosis etc
9. Aggressive sex or masturbation: A sudden change in penis direction when erect can make the penis to “break”. When this occurs, it should be treated as an emergency case, otherwise permanent damage is possible.

Maintaining a healthy penis

1. Be physically active. Moderate physical activity reduces the risk of getting an erectile dysfunction.
2. Avoid stress in life. Seek to solve issues causing stress in your life either through conflict resolution, counseling or medication.
3. Be sexually responsible to avoid acquiring a sexually transmitted infection. Also be careful with how you have sex, some contortionist sex styles can “break” your penis!
4. Quit smoking. Limit alcohol intake or quit from taking alcohol too. Avoid drug abuse.
5. Use your penis regularly to keep it in top shape. Frequent sex maintains the penis health.
6. Discuss any medication that you are taking with your doctor to know if it will affect your penis health.
7. If you are uncircumcised, regularly wash beneath your foreskin with clean water and soap.
8. Learn some penis exercise that promote blood circulation and other penis functionalities and regularly exercise your penis. Examples are kegel and jelq.

Problem indicators that might warrant visiting a medic

1. When you begin to bleed during ejaculation or urination.
2. Bump, wart, or rash in any area of your penis that was not there.
3. When you begin to experience pain or burning sensation during urination.
4. When you experience unusual discharge from your penis.
5. Severe penis pain after penis trauma e.g. after rough sex.
6. Severe curvature on your penis that interferes with your sexual activity.
7. A drop in your libido that lasts long enough to notice that you are unable to have nocturnal and morning erections.
8. Change in ejaculation mode e.g. sudden dry ejaculations. This may indicate retrograde ejaculation.