6 Weird Things That Happen to Your Penis as You Age, According to Doctors
VICE • • health
Key Points:
- The penis undergoes natural changes over time, including drooping skin due to collagen depletion, which can be slowed by healthy lifestyle choices like quitting smoking, eating well, and exercising.
- Actual penile size can gradually decrease with age, especially with weight gain, as fat around the penile base can bury length; losing weight can effectively increase visible length.
- Conditions such as Peyronie’s disease, characterized by painful curvature from scar tissue buildup, and phimosis, where the foreskin tightens, become more common with age but can be treated with medical interventions.
- Erectile dysfunction (ED) becomes more prevalent in older men, often linked to reduced blood flow, and shares prevention strategies with heart health, including diet and exercise; various treatments are available if lifestyle changes are insufficient.
- Penile skin cancer, though less discussed, is a real risk, particularly for tanning bed users and uncircumcised men, highlighting the importance of good hygiene and prompt medical evaluation of unusual lesions.
