Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Photo
Topics: Sex and Relationships, Health
Yasmeen Hamadeh
Summer…a time to hit the beach, take a break, and check in on your local penis.
As we all know, soaring temperatures in the summer affect us all in different ways.
Some of us get crankier. Dehydration becomes a lot more of a risk. The daily threat of a sun-burn feels as urgent as ever.
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And one particular way high temperatures can impact a person physically, specifically men, is by apparently making their genitalia larger.
The phenomenon, which has been coined as a 'summer penis' (lest we dare compare it to a winter penis), actually has some scientific reasoning behind it.
Dr. Chun Tang, a general practitioner at Pall Mall Medical, tells The Sun: "So, 'summer penis' is a term people use to describe when a male's penis seems a bit bigger or fuller during hot weather."
"It's not an official medical thing, just something people have noticed and talked about," he importantly noted.
"The idea is that in warmer months, especially when it's hot and humid, the heat causes your blood vessels to expand a bit, which can make things down there look a bit different," he explained.
Dr. Tang went on to share that a summer penis is not an indication of any health issue, saying: "On its own, 'summer penis' isn't a sign of anything serious."
"But, if you notice any sudden or unusual changes in your penis — like significant swelling, pain, or discomfort — then it's definitely a good idea to get it checked out by your doctor," he added. "Those could be signs of something that does need attention, like an infection or an injury."
So if you've noticed something unusual going on down there, do pause the celebration for a bit first before getting it checked out.
You really do learn something new every day.