Physical and functional changes in the penis can affect a man’s health and wellbeing. Photo / Jane Darnell
Physical and functional changes in the penis can affect a man’s health and wellbeing. Photo / Jane Darnell
All parts of your body age and the penis is no exception.
Changes to how your penis looks or works can be signs of underlying health issues and can affect your quality of life. So understanding which changes are normal and when to seek help is important.
Here’s what youcan expect to happen to your penis as you age, and when to be concerned.
Will my penis shrink?
There is no definitive evidence your penis length and girth will naturally change as you age, despite what you may read.
This is because there is no study that follows the same adults and their penis measurements over decades; existing studies compare penis size only among adults of different ages.
There are also many ways to measure penis size — including stretched, flaccid (floppy) and erect. This makes it difficult to compare studies.
However, for some people, conditions associated with ageing can appear to decrease penis length. These include:
Erectile dysfunction affects 15 per cent of men in their 50s to almost 90 per cent of men over 80, according to an English study of more than 6000 people. Existing health conditions increased the risk significantly, and the risk was more than doubled in those who rated their health as fair to poor.
Medications such as sildenafil (Viagra) and tadalafil (Cialis) can help. But they do not reverse the underlying blood vessel and nerve damage that cause erectile dysfunction. Eventually, other treatments — such as injections or penile pumps — may be options.
Semen volume and the force of ejaculation decrease with age. The time taken to “recover” from ejaculating and become sexually responsive again (known as the post-ejaculatory refractory time) also increases with age.
Reaching orgasm is “impossible” or “moderately difficult” for 33 per cent of men in their 70s.
Will the shape of my penis change?
The shape of your penis is not usually expected to change with age. However, Peyronie’s disease (an abnormally bent or curved penis) becomes more common with age. This may be because of accumulation of damage from minor injuries over time.
This condition affects 6.5 per cent of men over 70 and can cause short-term pain and long-term erectile dysfunction.
No, your penis doesn't automatically change shape as you age. But you might notice other changes. Photo / 123rf
Will I pee more?
Lower urinary tract symptoms such as incontinence, a weak urine stream, problems with starting and stopping peeing, and nocturia (frequent night-time urination) increase as we get older.
These symptoms are moderate to severe in almost 50 per cent of men over 65, and in 70 per cent of men over 80. This is probably due to higher rates of benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate) as men age, and has various effects, including on urine flow.
Changes can take their toll …
Physical and functional changes in the penis can affect a man’s health and wellbeing.
Problems with erections or ejaculating can reduce someone’s quality of life if they still want to have sex. So open discussion with a partner, seeking support and professional advice can help.
Lower urinary tract symptoms can also affect a man’s mental health and personal relationships.
Be open with your partner about any concerns. Photo / 123rf
… but can be sign of disease
Erectile dysfunction can also hint at serious health problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and disorders of the nervous system.
In this way, the penis reflects vascular health in the rest of the body. So having erectile dysfunction can predict your risk of a future heart attack or stroke.
Lower urinary tract symptoms are also often associated with sexual dysfunction, and can increase the risk of urinary tract infections and chronic kidney disease.
Normal ageing includes changes to the penis’ blood vessels, nerves, and associated organs, such as the prostate. So, as you age, it is normal to have:
minor changes in the size and shape of the penis
a gradual decrease in erectile function and sensitivity
mild urinary symptoms that don’t bother you.
Staying healthy and regularly seeing your GP to check for common conditions (such as high blood pressure) should slow down these age-related changes. Other health conditions (such as diabetes) accelerate these changes.
However, it is important to seek medical attention if:
there is a significant change in size or shape of the penis, or if you develop unusual lumps
there is pain or discomfort in or around your penis
erectile dysfunction becomes persistent or bothers you
urinary symptoms occur suddenly or bother you.
Rob McLachlan is a professor and clinician in fertility medicine at the Hudson Institute. Jinghang Luo is an andrology fellow at the Hudson Institute. Tim Moss is an adjunct associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Monash University.
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