Urological Health Penis Health Can a Penis Get Smaller Permanently? When you need to worry about shrinkage By Jerry Kennard Jerry Kennard Jerry Kennard, PhD, is a psychologist and associate fellow of the British Psychological Society. Learn about our editorial process Updated on February 18, 2022 Medically reviewed by Jamin Brahmbhatt, MD Medically reviewed by Jamin Brahmbhatt, MD Facebook LinkedIn Jamin Brahmbhatt, MD, is board-certified in urology. He is an assistant professor at UCF College of Medicine and chief of surgery at Orlando Health South Lake Hospital. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Appearance With Age Medical Causes Regaining or Retaining Size Frequently Asked Questions Many men worry about penis size, particularly if their penis appears to become smaller over time. The reality is that flaccid penis size may have little or nothing to do with erect penis size and penis size has absolutely nothing to do with masculinity. Nevertheless, your penis may change length, usually for reasons you don't need to worry about. Appearance of Penis Shrinking With Age Multiple studies have confirmed there's no link between age and the actual length of a flaccid penis. However the "if you don't use it, you lose it" theory can be a reality. If you don't get frequent erections where your penis and its skin stretches you may lose some perceived length to the penis. The difference in length can be small. Your penis may look smaller as you grow older—due to decreased blood flow and testosterone in the region—but it's just the appearance of shrinkage. Testosterone declines on the average 1% per year, 10% per decade after age 30. Some men also gain weight in the belly area as they grow older and, as a result, their penis can appear smaller without it actually being smaller. This is because excess belly fat can flop down and extend out over the suprapubic fat pad (base of the penis), making it appear shorter. Medical Causes of Penis Shrinkage Certain health conditions can cause the penis to shrink. The most common of these conditions is prostate surgery, which can result in erectile dysfunction and losing up to 2 inches of flaccid length. In fact, any pelvic surgery can cause erectile function issues postoperatively. Certain medications can also lead to shrinking of the penis, including: Adderall, typically prescribed for attention deficit hypersensitivity disorder (ADHD) Antidepressants and antihypertensives Avodart (dutasteride), used to treat an enlarged prostate Proscar (finasteride), used to treat both an enlarged prostate and hair loss Research has also shown that long periods of impotence or celibacy can result in some loss of size to the genitals. This is something men are more likely to struggle with as they age, though there are many men who grapple with erectile dysfunction even at younger ages. Regaining or Retaining Penis Size Fortunately, most partners don't care about size anyway and, in some cases, if the penis is especially large, it can cause discomfort for the other person. So while the loss in length can be distressing, especially if you weren't expecting it, you should feel secure in the knowledge that penis size doesn't affect partner satisfaction or impair your own satisfaction. That said, there are some tips if you're concerned about your penis size: If you are overweight, lose weight. This will reduce the illusion that your penis is smaller. If you are on medications, review them carefully to determine if any could be affecting the size of your penis. If so, ask your healthcare provider if there are any appropriate medication substitutions for you. General physical exercise can actually help with penis size because it improves blood flow throughout the body. However, specific penis exercises may cause damage. Drinking plenty of water can make a difference in penis size. Avoid tight underwear and pants. When you constrict blood flow, you can actually reduce penis size. There is some data to indicate that penile traction devices may help in addition to medical options for post-prostatectomy surgery erectile dysfunction and penile length. Talk to your healthcare provider before trying any device, because it might or might not be recommended as safe for you. Frequently Asked Questions Does your penis get smaller as you get older? It can. Penile shrinkage or the appearance of shrinkage can occur due to decreased testosterone and health conditions that are more common in men over age 40. What is a normal penis size? Penises come in all shapes and sizes. The average erect penis ranges from 5 inches to 7 inches. Is there a way to make my penis smaller? Penis reduction surgery, known medically as reduction corporoplasty, is a rare surgery first performed in 2015. The surgery can reduce the girth and length of a penis that is too large for intercourse. Can erectile dysfunction cause penis shrinkage? Erectile dysfunction (ED) impacts the ability to form a strong erection. This can impact the length of an erection but does not impact penis size when flaccid. Are penises shrinking due to pollution? According to environmental and reproductive epidemiologist Shanna H. Swan, Ph.D., research shows that environmental chemicals and unhealthy lifestyle factors in the modern world can alter hormone functioning, which may lead to men having smaller penises today than earlier generations. Environmental pesticides for example are known to be endocrine disruptors that can lower testosterone in men. Penis Enlargement Options and If They Work 10 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Veale D, Miles S, Bramley S, Muir G, Hodsoll J. Am I normal? A systematic review and construction of nomograms for flaccid and erect penis length and circumference in up to 15,521 men. BJU Int. 2015;115(6):978-86. doi:10.1111/bju.13010 Berookhim BM, Nelson CJ, Kunzel B, Mulhall JP, Narus JB. Prospective analysis of penile length changes after radical prostatectomy. BJU Int. 2014;113(5b):E131-6. doi:10.1111/bju.12443 Scranton RE, Goldstein I, Stecher VJ. Erectile dysfunction diagnosis and treatment as a means to improve medication adherence and optimize comorbidity management. J Sex Med. 2013;10(2):551-61. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2012.02998.x Veale D, Miles S, Read J, Troglia A, Wylie, K, Muir G. Sexual Functioning in Small Penis Anxiety. Sexual Medicine. 2015;3:147-155. doi:10.1002/sm2.63 Toussi A, Ziegelmann M, Yang D, Manka M, Frank I, Boorjian SA, Tollefson M, Köhler T, Trost L. Efficacy of a novel penile traction device in improving penile length and erectile function post prostatectomy: Results from a single-center randomized, controlled trial. J Urol. 2021 Aug;206(2):416-426. doi:10.1097/JU.0000000000001792 American Academy of Family Physicians: FamilyDoctor.org. Erectile dysfunction (ED). NHS. Penis size. Martinez DR, Manimala NJ, Rafiei A, Hakky TS, Yang C, Carrion R. The reduction corporoplasty: The answer to the improbable urologic question "Can you make my penis smaller?" J Sex Med. 2015;12(3):835–9. doi:10.1111/jsm.12767 Swann SH, Colino S. Count Down: How Our Modern World Is Threatening Sperm Counts, Altering Male and Female Reproductive Development, and Imperiling the Future of the Human Race. Simon and Schuster; 2021. Wang Y, Chen F, Ye L, Zirkin B, Chen H. Steroidogenesis in Leydig cells: effects of aging and environmental factors. Reproduction. 2017 Oct;154(4):R111-R122. doi:10.1530/REP-17-0064 By Jerry Kennard Jerry Kennard, PhD, is a psychologist and associate fellow of the British Psychological Society. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit