How To Maintain Penis Health?
Penis, just like any other body part, deserves your attention. It's a multifunctional and essential body part; that's why penis health stretches beyond erection, ejaculation and reproduction.
A problem in your penis can be a sign of an underlying health condition; after all, the penis is considered a man's overall health barometer.
To keep your penis healthy, you should practice good hygiene, on top of practicing safe sex methods.
This article will discuss what a healthy penis should look and feel like, what can affect penis health, and how to keep your penis healthy and in tip-top shape.
To learn more about men's sexual health, including erectile dysfunction treatment in Canada, click here.
Topics covered in this article:
How to know if your penis is healthy?
A penis can be big or small, curvy or bumpy, and be completely healthy and normal. A healthy penis is free of lesions and warts, with a normal discharge.
4 factors of having a healthy penis
There are four parameters to measure when you want to know if your penis is healthy or not:
- Penis appearance
- Penis function
- Penis fluids quality
- Penis smell
Read more: How To Know If Your Penis Is Healthy?
Penis conditions and diseases
Following risky sexual behaviours and poor hygiene, many conditions may affect the health of your penis. Viruses, fungi, and bacteria can all cause infections and conditions that may cause problems in your penis functions.
Below is a list of conditions and diseases that can happen to a penis:
1- Erectile dysfunction
2- Ejaculation problems
3- Anorgasmia
4- Decreased libido
5- Sexually transmitted diseases
6- Balanitis
7- Peyronie's disease
8- Penile fracture
9- Priapism
10- Phimosis
11- Paraphimosis
12- Penile cancer
Read more: Penile Diseases: 12 Problems That Can Happen To Your Penis
Penis diseases
Keep reading to learn about what you can do to keep your penis healthy and happy.
How to prevent penis problems
If you want to have a healthy penis, you should opt for a healthy lifestyle. As we've covered in the previous section, many things can happen to a penis, and if you want to stay clear of these diseases and conditions, you should be up to making some changes in your lifestyle.
Tips to have a healthy penis
Practice safe sex
Having multiple sexual partners and casual sex with strangers is a risk factor for STDs. Remember STDs? These ugly bacterial, viral, or fungal infections not only cause problems for your penis, some even can cause serious health problems for you as well.
Read More: Stay Safe With These Six Safer Sex Tips
While we mainly spoke about STDs that affect your penis directly, there are many more that affect your overall health. HIV, some forms of HPV, and untreated syphilis can all lead to unsavoury situations for your overall health. So here's a sexual to-do list:
Use a condom
Using condoms is an effective way to protect your penis against STDs. Condoms allow you to have multiple sexual encounters with different people and yet stay safe.
Remember:
- Condoms come in different types and sizes, so let us assure you right here right now.
- No penis is TOO BIG for putting on a condom.
- If you're afraid that the condoms will lessen the sensation, then try ultra-thin condoms.
- Condoms don't break easily, and latex allergy is VERY RARE.
Try monogamy
Having a mutually monogamous relationship is a good way to stay away from STDs. However, being in a monogamous relationship doesn't automatically reduce your risk of contracting an STD unless you begin your relationship with mutual STD screening. But few relationships start that way.
So if you and your partner are willing to get mutually tested for STDs, monogamy could work.
Abstinence
Complete abstinence is the only way that can guarantee you won't contract an STD. But partial abstinence isn't as effective.
Oral sex, anal sex, or even intimate skin-to-skin contact raises the chance of contracting an STD.
Practice good hygiene
Wash your penis and groin area often, more so if you're uncircumcised. Thoroughly cleaning your penis reduces the risk of smegma buildup, which can make your penis smell bad or even cause redness and irritation.
Avoid washing your penis with products not made for intimate washing, and do not scrub or overwash your penis, as you may experience penis sores.
Have a healthy diet
Having a healthy diet can help you and your penis to stay in shape. A good diet decreases the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases and helps you build up stamina.
What you eat can even affect the smell of your semen. Some foods can even increase your testosterone levels and improve your fertility as well.
Try eating avocados, spicy food, and spinach to improve your fertility. Try coffee and oatmeal to reduce the risk of erectile dysfunction. Carrots can help you increase your sperm count, and tomatoes can help with sperm motility.
Which foods are good for a penis
In the end, penis health foods are not very different from other foods that are recommended for your overall health.
Avoid smoking, doing drugs, and drinking alcohol
Smoking and using tobacco is directly linked to erectile dysfunction, and it also decreases fertility. The same goes for alcohol since excessive drinking contributes to erectile dysfunction and increases the chance of other health issues.
Some recreational drugs can also negatively affect the proper function of the penis and decrease libido.
Stay active and work out more
Exercising can reduce the risk of many diseases, including cardiovascular disease. Staying active helps with your blood flow throughout your body and has been known to reduce the risk of erectile dysfunction.
Practice mindfulness
Having a calm mind is great for your health and, by extension, your penis. Stress, anxiety and depression can adversely affect your sexual performance and fertility. Try meditating, deep breathing and prioritizing your health and family to manage your stress.
Penis mental factors
Drink enough water
Try drinking two litres (8 glasses) of water every day. Hydrating is good for your overall health, and dehydration and erectile dysfunction are linked.
Avoid penis piercings
A penis piercing can cause infections and irritations. A piercing might disrupt your urine flow or even prohibit you from getting an erection or having an orgasm.
Get vaccinated
If you're 26 or younger, consult your doctor about getting the HPV vaccine. This vaccine helps you prevent a plethora of cancers associated with HPV.
Some studies suggest getting the vaccine even after you're 26 may be helpful, so make sure to speak with your doctor on your next physical.
Note that not all penis problems can be avoided or prevented, so make sure to keep up with your physicals and consult your doctor if you feel there is something wrong with your penis.
Pro tips for penis health
By now, you should have a good understanding of what a healthy penis should look and feel like, what could go wrong with a penis, and how to prevent them from happening. Now you're going to find out the tricks of the trade for having a healthy penis.
How to have a healthier penis
Check yourself when you bathe
Thoroughly check your penis every time you bathe.
- Look for any sign of STDs
- Check your foreskin (if you're uncircumcised)
- Check the tip of your penis, and its shaft for rashes, blisters, warts or unusual discharge
If you catch STDs early on, they are easier to treat, and the chances are they won't take a toll on your overall health.
Choose suitable underwear
Try avoiding tight underwear, as it might decrease your sperm count. If you're in between sizes, always choose the bigger size.
More importantly, avoid underwear with synthetic materials (like lace or polyester), and opt for natural fabrics (like cotton or bamboo).
Natural fabrics will help in absorbing discharge and will air out your penis naturally.
Last but not least, change your underwear once a day, and wash it with hypoallergenic detergents.
Best fabric for men's underwear
Sleep with no underwear
Go commando! Sleeping naked can help your penis to air out. If you can't sleep when you're naked, try very loose bottoms.
Groom your pubic hair like a pro
If you like to groom your pubic hair, have your skin type in mind.
When shaving, always shave in the direction of your hair to avoid cuts. If your choice of grooming is threading or waxing, make sure that the wax or the thread in use is sterilized and wash your penis afterward.
Sleep well
Having a bad sleeping schedule increases the risk of:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Type 2 diabetes
- High blood pressure
Lack of sufficient sleep may also lead to weight gain. Sleeping at least seven hours each night reduces these risks, and by extension, the risk of erectile dysfunction.
Now you know all the penis health tips you’ll ever need.
Penis health FAQs
Now there are a few questions every person with a penis has googled at one point in their life. Check out these short questions and answers.
There is no "normal" penis size. The size of your penis is a factor determined by your genes, just like your height or eye colour. And NO, you cannot change the size of your penis, PERIOD. No exercise, vitamin, or diet exists that has the ability to make your penis bigger.
The main thing to have in mind is that size does not define your manhood or sexual ability. So please, put down the measuring tape.
Yes. Masturbation is safe, and it does not have any side effects. In fact, stimulation of the penis is beneficial. Masturbation oxygenates your penis and helps with tissue stretching. If you want your penis to respond in an anticipated manner when you're with your partner, it's even encouraged.
So just to recap, masturbation won't stop your growth if you are a teenager, it won't weaken your sperm no matter how old you are, and NO, you won't go blind.
Keep in mind that masturbation with porn is another story, and watching too much porn while masturbating might result in porn-induced erectile dysfunction.
Circumcision has its pros and cons. Circumcised penises are less susceptible to STIs and balanitis, but they are more likely to get chafed or irritated.
Regardless of circumcision, always wash your penis and practice good hygiene.
While the penis has no bones, you might've heard here or there that somebody "broke their penis." Breaking the penis usually refers to penile fracture; it's an injury (generally following rough sex) where the lining inside the penis becomes torn.
If your penis breaks, you might even hear a popping sound; it will turn blue and black and become flaccid. In case of penile fracture, seek medical emergency.
No evidence or information suggests being one is better than the other. Both types have similar sexual performance, similar stamina and are even identical in diseases they may contract. So enjoy the one you have.
The bottom line
A healthy penis works and feels good. It's free of ticks, warts and lesions, and does not have a foul smell. A problem with the penis may be an indicator of another health issue in the body, so it's very important to pay attention to it.
Many things can threaten the health of your penis, including viruses, fungi, bacteria and even physical harm. To prevent your penis from diseases, you should practice a healthy lifestyle and pay attention to your overall health. Almost all of the conditions that happen to the penis are treatable, so if you suspect something is wrong with your penis, stop worrying and get it checked out.
Key takeaways
- Penis health is an important part of your overall health.
- A problem in your penis might be an indicator of another underlying health condition.
- A healthy penis looks, feels and works well.
- Urination and erection are painless and easy with a healthy penis.
- Any sudden changes in the appearance of your penis need to be checked out by your doctor.
- Penises come in different types and sizes, some may be bumpy or curvy, and if they've always been this way, It's ok.
- Penises can be affected by lots of bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
- To avoid sexually transmitted infections, use condoms and practise safe sex.
- Most of the problems and diseases associated with the penis are highly treatable.
- Good hygiene, a healthy lifestyle, exercise and a good diet can help you prevent many penis problems.
- Not all penis problems are preventable, so make sure to check your penis every time you bathe for STD signs and do not miss your physicals.
References
UPGUYS has strict sourcing guidelines to ensure our content is accurate and current. We rely on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We strive to use primary sources and refrain from using tertiary references.-
HPV and Men – Fact Sheet, CDC,
https://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/stdfact-hpv-and-men.htm -
Penis health: Identify and prevent problems, Mayo Clinic,
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/mens-health/in-depth/penis-health/art-20046175 -
Penis care, Health Direct,
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/penis-care
This article is written for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information provided in the articles cannot and should not replace advice from a healthcare professional. Talk to your healthcare provider about any physical or mental health concerns or the risks and benefits of any treatment or medication.
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