Most men are quite familiar with their own equipment, but sometimes something comes up that leaves them scratching their head. The penis is a surprising organ and most men - having only one penis of their own - have little basis for comparison and may wonder, "Is this normal?’ There are many peculiarities of the penis; learn about some of them here, as well as some tips for maintaining a healthy penis in spite of some odd behavior.
It gets nervous - Ever have to pee really badly, but when stepping up to the plate at a public urinal, nothing comes out? Well, as many as 1 in 10 men suffer from bathroom stage fright, known as paruresis. Anxiety or nervousness causes the pelvic floor to tighten, pinching off any hope of getting that pee out. If this is a problem, try focusing on relaxing thoughts or pop into the bathroom stall for more privacy.
Shrinkage - Shrinkage is a real thing, not just a great punch line on TV. Just like a cashmere sweater in a dryer, the penis - and its two little friends - shrivel up when wet. The reason behind this embarrassing phenomenon is actually evolutionarily sound. The boys need to be kept at a relatively constant temperature to keep the swimmers healthy and intact, so when they are thrust into icy cold water, the muscles retract them and bring them closer to the body for more heat. The opposite effect occurs when stepping into a hot sauna, when the boys sag like an elephant’s ankle skin in an attempt to cool off.
Leakage - Much like the hose continues to leak water even after the spigot has been turned off, the penis continues to drip a bit of pee after the bladder otherwise feels empty. Luckily, a few drips are not a sign of an aging penis, but occurs because the urethra is a long tube that even the most diligent shaking does not fully empty. A gentle squeeze in a downward motion can help drain as much urine as possible from the penis, but even that may not fully eliminate the problem. The best fix? Buy colored underwear to avoid nasty yellow pee stains. Problem solved.
It curves to the left - Yes, it is a fact that nearly every man’s penis has a slight twist in it, and yes, every penis curves to the left. Scientists are, to this day, hard at work trying to figure out why. Okay, maybe not hard at work, scientists probably have more pressing things to research -- but they do all twist in a counter-clockwise direction. This naturally occurs in utero as the body is developing. Some men have a more pronounced curve than others, but it is perfectly normal unless the penis has a marked curve of more than 90 degrees, which could have been caused by injury.
It changes colors - Remember those t-shirts that changed color when warmed? The skin of the penis is a little bit like that. The skin is very thin compared to the rest of the body and is therefore more susceptible to color change with changes in blood flow. When aroused, the penis is engorged with extra blood and the head may turn pink or red as a result. When the penis is flaccid, with no extra blood, it may appear bluish or purple, much like the veins easily spotted in one’s arms. Various shades of pink, purple, and blue are normal, but a bright red penis that is accompanied by itching and burning is likely infected and needs medical attention. Likewise, a penis that suddenly turns black is not receiving sufficient blood flow; thus, an emergency trip to the hospital is needed.
Keeping the penis healthy
For all its quirks, the penis certainly performs many important functions in a man’s daily life. Its functions include life-sustaining actions, a la excreting one’s waste; life-giving, otherwise known as baby-making; and, life-living, i.e. sex, the fun part. With so many vital functions being carried out by the penis, it is utterly important to keep it healthy and well. Using a daily penis vitamin formula packed with vital nutrients (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil) can keep the penis functioning, while also improving sensitivity so that it runs better and feels better in the process. Talk about a win-win.
Visit www.man1health.com for more information about treating common penis health problems, including soreness, redness and loss of penis sensation. John Dugan is a professional writer who specializes in men's health issues and is an ongoing contributing writer to numerous online web sites.