Everything You Need to Know About Penis Health

Most people associate penis health with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and erectile dysfunction (ED).

While these conditions can have an impact on the health of your penis, penile health is much more than that.

Many factors can impact the health of your penis, including your hygiene habits, lifestyle changes, and any underlying health conditions.

Here's what you need to know to keep your penis in pristine condition.

What factors influence penis health?

Many factors can have an impact on penis health. And by "penis health," we mean the following:

• your ability to comfortably urinate
• your ability to obtain or keep an erection
• your fertileness

Avoiding certain health conditions, such as penile cancer and STIs, is also important for penis health.

The following factors can have an impact on the health of your penis:

Hormonal balance

Hormone imbalances, such as a low testosterone level, can contribute to ED. Low testosterone levels can be caused by a variety of factors, which we'll go over in this article.

Age      

As you get older, you're more likely to develop sexual dysfunctions like ED. This is due in part to the fact that your testosterone levels will naturally decline over time.

Health problems

ED can be caused by high blood pressure, diabetes, and certain neurological conditions. Anxiety and depression are two psychological conditions that can exacerbate ED.

Sex

If you want to have sex without using a condom, make sure that both you and your partners are tested for STIs on a regular basis, or stay in a monogamous relationship with someone who is STI-free.

Otherwise, the only way to reduce your risk is to use a condom correctly every time you have sex.

Rough sex can also be harmful to your penis. Pulling back the foreskin abruptly, for example, can tear it. A traumatic penis fracture can result from accidentally bending your erect penis.

Medication

Some medications can increase your chances of developing ED. If you suspect that your medication is causing ED or other sexual dysfunction, consult a doctor or other healthcare provider.

Hygiene

Maintaining good hygiene is critical to your health. To keep your penis and groyne area clean, wash it frequently.

Poor hygiene can lead to the formation of smegma, an oily, malodorous, and irritating substance that is known to form beneath the foreskin.

When smegma accumulates, it can cause inflammation of the surrounding skin. This is unpleasant and can lead to balanitis, a condition in which the head of the penis becomes red and inflamed.

Even if the penis is circumcised, poor hygiene can cause penile irritation and inflammation, including balanitis.

General advice

Penis health necessitates a multifaceted approach. In other words, maintaining your overall health is critical for the health of your penis. This is especially important because a variety of health conditions can have an impact on your fertility and penile health.

Keep hydrated

Hydration is essential for both your overall health and the health of your penis. Dehydration and ED may be linked, so drink at least two litres of water per day.

Consume a well-balanced diet

A healthy diet is essential for lowering your risk of developing diabetes and heart disease, both of which can lead to ED.

According to one 2016 study

A study conducted by Trusted Source on 25,096 people looked at the relationship between ED and flavonoids, which are mostly found in vegetables and fruit.

Researchers discovered that subjects who consumed flavonoids on a regular basis were less likely to develop ED.

Certain foods can also increase testosterone levels and improve fertility. This includes the following:

• Spinach
• Spicy foods containing capsaicin
• Avocado

Get some exercise on a regular basis

Moderate physical activity can lower your risk of developing ED.

One 2015 study examined people with ED and a recent myocardial infarction, also known as a heart attack. It was discovered that a home-based walking programme can help reduce ED.

Try to exercise at least a few times per week — even a brisk walk every now and then can help your penile health.

Perform pelvic floor exercises

Pelvic floor exercises are frequently associated with vaginal health, but they can benefit anyone.

These exercises can help you get and keep an erection, as well as prevent dribble after urination.

A small 2005 study on 55 people with ED discovered that pelvic exercises helped 40% of participants regain normal erectile function.

An additional 35.5 percent said that, while they hadn't fully recovered normal function, their overall erectile function had improved.

Squeezing the muscles used to urinate allows you to perform basic Kegel exercises. Squeeze for five seconds, then relax and repeat for ten times. Work your way up to 20 reps eventually. Repeat this process two or three times per day.

Keep a healthy weight

Maintaining a healthy weight can help you avoid diabetes, high cholesterol, and heart disease, all of which can have an impact on your penile health.

Exercise stress management

Stress management is beneficial to both your overall health and the health of your penis.

Anxiety and stress can have an impact on your sexual performance and fertility. Stress also raises the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, which can lead to ED.

Techniques for stress management include:

• Deep inhalation
• Spending time with family and friends
• Journaling
• Meditation

Maintain good sleep hygiene

Sleep is essential for vascular health, which influences your ability to become erect.

Obstructive sleep apnea and ED appear to be linked, possibly because sleep deprivation can lead to low testosterone and other hormonal imbalances.

Tobacco should be avoided

Cigarette smoking is strongly linked to ED.

According to a 2013 study

According to a reliable source, this is because smoking disrupts your heart's autonomic function, which leads to ED.

Smoking can also reduce fertility.

If you must consume alcohol, do so in moderation

Excessive drinking, like smoking, can lead to a variety of health issues, including problems with your penis.

How to Clean Your Penis

Warm water and unscented, mild soap can be used to clean your pubic area. Don't use harsh soaps or scrub the area too hard, as this can irritate the sensitive skin in the area.

Make certain that you:

1. Wash your pubic mound, as well as the skin around the base of your penis and the skin between your thighs and pubic mound. Sweat can congregate here.
2. The shaft of your penis should be washed.
3. If you have a foreskin, gently pull it back and wash it. This helps to prevent smegma buildup, which can lead to conditions like balanitis.
4. Wash your scrotum and the surrounding skin.
5. Clean your perineum (the piece of skin between your scrotum and anus).
6. Wash between your butt cheeks and near your anus.

It's best to wash your penis after every bath.

Examine the skin around your groyne for STI symptoms as you wash yourself. This includes the following:

• Atypical discharge
• Rashes
• Blisters
• Warts

How to Take Care of Your Pubic Hair

Some people enjoy grooming their pubic hair while others dislike it. It is entirely up to you whether or not to groom your pubic hair.

If you want to remove or trim your pubic hair, consider your skin type. This will help you avoid razor burn and other unpleasantness.

Shaving

Shaving is a painless method of hair removal. To avoid getting a rash, certain precautions must be taken.

Shave your hair in the same direction it grows. To reduce irritation, shave with shaving cream and then apply cortisone cream.

Never share razors, and always disinfect them before using them. If you use disposable razors, replace them on a regular basis.

Threading or waxing

Waxing is the process of applying warm wax to the skin and pulling hairs out of their follicles.

Threading entails wrapping a thread around the hair and pulling it out by the root.

Waxing and threading can be painful — it all depends on your pain threshold.

These removal methods, if used incorrectly, can result in swelling and rash.

By visiting a professional waxer or threader, you can reduce your risk of discomfort.

Hair removal with chemicals

Hair removal cream dissolves the proteins in hair, allowing it to be washed away and removed.

While it can be an effective way to remove hair, some people find that hair removal creams irritate their skin.

If you have sensitive skin or chemical allergies, you should avoid using these creams.

If you must use hair removal cream, avoid applying it to your penis.

Trimming

If you don't want to completely remove the hair, you can trim it with scissors or an electric trimmer.

Before and after using scissors, make sure to disinfect them. These scissors should only be used for grooming; using them for other tasks can spread germs.

How to Avoid STIs

There are several methods for STI prevention.

Get Vaxxed

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Reliable Source recommends that everyone receive a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination around the age of 11 or 12.

Doing so at a young age, before you become sexually active, ensures that you are protected against HPV before you are exposed to it.

However, even if you were not vaccinated as a child, you may benefit from being vaccinated as an adult. To learn more, consult a doctor or other healthcare provider.

While you're at it, consider getting the MPOX, COVID, and Meningitis vaccines or boosters.

Get tested regularly

Many STIs are asymptomatic, which means you won't notice any symptoms.

As a result, it's critical to get tested before having sex with a new partner. You and your partners should both be tested.

If you or a partner has an infection, you may be able to prevent it from spreading between you by taking certain precautions.

If you have HIV, for example, your partner can take Truvada (pre-exposure prophylaxis, also known as PrEP) to help prevent them from contracting it.

Use a condom whenever you have sex

The best way to help prevent the spread of certain STIs is to use a condom every time you have sex — oral, vaginal, or anal.

If you do not want to use a condom, make sure that neither you nor your partners have any STIs.

Try not to panic if you suspect you have a STI. The majority are treatable, and there is nothing to be ashamed of. Speak with a healthcare provider. They will assist you in determining the cause of your symptoms and will advise you on any next steps.