Doctors issue warning for 'winter penis' and reveal who may be most at risk
Niamh Shackleton
Featured Image Credit: Getty Images/skynesher/Getty Images/peakSTOCK
'Winter penis' is back with a vengeance, and some men may be more likely to experience the unwanted physiological change.
As per the name, 'winter penis' is what happens to your manhood in the colder months — December through to February, to be precise.
Depending on the temperature, some men might see shrinkage of up to 50 percent in length if exposed to any air temperature below 60°F, Dr Darius Parduch, a sexual health specialist, previously told Men’s Health.
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You may also experience 20 to 30 percent shrinkage girth wise, as well as your testicles getting smaller - and the reason they do this to retain heat.
Parduch further explained: "When you’re cold, your blood vessels constrict, which limits blood flow to your penis."
He also warned it could cause some pain and discomfort if you get 'winter penis' (also known as vasoconstriction).
A way to prevent this from happening is by wearing sport boxer briefs to prevent your appendage moving around and causing unwanted friction.
A doctor may also prescribe you erectile dysfunction tablets to encourage blood flow to your penis (not so you'll get a hard-on).
And speaking of not getting boners, if you struggle erectile dysfunction you might be more susceptible to getting 'winter penis'.
Asda Online Doctor, Dr. Crystal Wyllie, told The Sun: "Those with erectile dysfunction (ED) are most at risk as they could find their symptoms more difficult to manage."
As well as having ED making someone more likely to suffer with 'winter penis', ED can also be more common in the colder months — and you can thank you cold weather and lack of sunshine for that.
"While [erectile dysfunction] can occur at any time of the year, it's more common in winter as lower levels of sunlight affect the brain and increase amounts of melatonin, a hormone that makes you feel sleepy," Pilot explained.
"With this lower sunlight, you'll also experience a reduction in how much serotonin your body produces which is linked to depressive symptoms."
An estimated 30 million men in the United States suffer from erectile dysfunction, says the National Institutes of Health.
But it's not just the lack of sunlight in the winter months you have to worry about as dehydration can also make 'winter penis' worse.
Dr Saransh Jain, a world-renowned sexologist, told GB News that men should focus on staying hydrated during the winter months as 'dehydration exacerbates the effects of vasoconstriction'.