Doctors have issued a warning over 'summer penis' and reveal who may be most at risk of it.
If you've heard about what happens to your manhood in the winter ('winter penis'), you might be surprised to hear the summer months can also present some problems down there as it's not just the cold that can wreak havoc on intimacy.
It all comes down to temperature, as doctors claim some men might experience shrinkage of up to 50 percent in length when exposed to air temperature below 60°F.
And with the summer heat and hike in mercury, it can make the penis seem slightly larger or fuller, which doesn't sound so bad.
But a doctor has revealed three key reasons why blokes may experience difficulties in the bedroom during the summer months.
Medics say the phenomenon of 'summer penis' is a simple biological reaction to the heat as blood vessels expand instinctively to help cool us down.
Essentially, while the temperature heats up, our sexual activity in the bedroom could be a little less spicy as a result.
Doctor Donald Grant, a GP and senior clinical advisor at The Independent Pharmacy, told The Daily Mail that warm weather can pose 'many health conditions' and 'exacerbate symptoms' like erectile dysfunction (ED).
Dehydration reduces blood volume
Dr Grant explained: "One of the main ways warmer weather can affect ED symptoms is through dehydration.
"When we become dehydrated, our bodies reduce blood volume, making it more difficult for men with penile issues to achieve and maintain an erection."
Fatigue and lack of sleep reduce testosterone
Another issue is likely to come from fatigue and tiredness, not only brought on by a lack of sleep from the tossing and turning in the heat at night but from a biological perspective too.
"The warmer weather forces our bodies to work harder to maintain a safe internal temperature, which can often trigger fatigue," he continued.
"Poor sleep can have a direct impact on hormone production, limiting the amount of testosterone produced, which, in turn, worsens ED symptoms and makes achieving an erection more difficult."
Beer garden booze lowers blood pressure
To cool down, many of us might be inclined to reach for a nice chilled alcoholic beverage, which can also have a detrimental side effect on the genitals.
He explained: "[A]lcohol can have an extremely negative impact on ED symptoms, lowering blood pressure and affecting blood flow to the gentile area.
"Long-term, unhealthy alcohol consumption can damage nerves and blood vessels, further impacting men with this condition."
Meanwhile, doctor Bhavini Shah, a GP at LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor, told the news outlet that stress plays a big part in ED.
"Chronic stress, anxiety, depression and other mental health conditions can make it harder to get and keep an erection," she said.
"When we're stressed or anxious, our body releases hormones that can affect the blood vessels responsible for erections.
"Stress and anxiety can also make us lose interest in sex and have difficulty concentrating. Plus, these negative feelings can make us turn to unhealthy habits like smoking or drinking alcohol, which can make ED worse."
Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Image
If you like to get experimental in the bedroom you might want to take it a bit easier or risk injury to your sensitive areas, according to one doctor.
Keeping things fresh in the bedroom is a pretty vital facet to most healthy relationships.
But just like most things, a trend has emerged on social media with multiple TikTok videos instructing couples to give it a try.
So if you like getting your sexual health tips and advice from randoms on the internet you might have already given it a go.
For the rest of us, I’ll explain..jpg)
The practice essentially involves ramping up the sexual pleasure until breaking point, right up until just before orgasm and then stopping... only to start the process all over again. Otherwise known as edging.
Those in favor of the practice being a mainstay in the bedroom swear it has multiple benefits, can make men last longer, and intensify orgasms, but a doctor has issued a warning against this.
Dr Donald Grant, GP and senior clinical advisor at The Independent Pharmacy, has weighed in on the popularity of the trend.
He explained: “The technique essentially allows individuals to enjoy more arousal before climax.”
However, he did confirm it's not all happy endings, warning that prolonged exposure to edging could also have a 'negative impact' on erectile function.
He explained that our bodies can quickly get used to our habits when it comes to sex and masturbation and long-term use of the edging technique can make a male desensitized to normal intercourse or traditional masturbation (what a phrase).
He continued: “This can have a lasting impact on men’s ability to maintain stimulation, making it more difficult to achieve or maintain an erection — a common sign of erectile dysfunction which may require treatment.”
He also noted that there was an increased risk of injury from the friction as well as tears to the genitals due to ‘overstimulation’. Something that sounds so awful I don’t even want to imagine it.
Despite the risks, the doctor didn’t exactly outlaw the practice.
He said: “Overall, like any masturbation technique or sexual activity, there’s a range of risks to be aware of. Edging varies from person to person in terms of length and frequency.
“I recommend managing how often this technique is used and combining it with normal sexual intercourse and masturbation techniques to help protect against desensitization.”
Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Images
