6 weird things that happen to your penis as you get older, according to doctors

No one warns you about this one. You hear about gray hair, creaky joints and the metabolism that just decides to retire around 40. But penis? It’s a conversation most doctors have to take up themselves, because most men don’t immediately line up to ask.

Here’s the reality: the penis you have now will likely look and function differently in 10 or 20 years. Some of it can be prevented. Some of it isn’t. It’s all worth knowing about.

“Changes in the penis over time should be viewed as a barometer of overall health,” Ryan Cleary, MD, a urologist at MedStar Health in Baltimore, told Men’s health. Basically, what happens down there can mirror what happens everywhere else.

1. Everything eventually falls

Collagen keeps the skin elastic and structured, and it is depleted over time. That includes the skin on the penis and, yes, the scrotum. At the most extreme, urologist Brian Steixner, MD, of AtlantiCare Medical Center in New Jersey, describes what he calls “splashdown syndrome,” where the scrotum actually comes into contact with the toilet water when you sit down. The good news is that quitting smoking, eating well and exercising regularly can slow this process down significantly.

2. The size actually changes

Not the temporary, the cold kind of shrinkage. Actually, gradual size reduction. Weight gain accelerates it significantly, as fat that accumulates around the base of the penis buries the length under the skin. “For every 30 pounds you shed, you add an effective half inch in length,” said Dr. Steixner. Worth filing away.

3. Hello, Curvature

Repeated minor trauma from sports and sex can cause scar tissue to build up unevenly along the penis over time. The result is a noticeable and sometimes painful curve, a condition known as Peyronie’s disease. “Into the 60s and 70s it can get worse,” says Dr. Steixner. “I have seen patients whose penis looks to all appearances like a question mark.” Injectable treatments are now available to break down scar tissue, so it’s worth talking to a doctor if it becomes significant.

4. The foreskin problem

For uncircumcised men, a condition called phimosis, where the foreskin becomes too tight to retract, can develop with age. It can make urination and erection painful. Steroid creams can help, although some cases require circumcision. Good hygiene goes a long way in prevention.

5. Erectile dysfunction is becoming more common

ED in older men generally comes down to decreased blood flow. “Having ED is like having a heart attack in your penis,” says Dr. Steixner. “And preventing that involves pretty much the same advice you give to someone with heart disease: eat well, exercise.” Medicines, vacuum devices, and other treatments exist when lifestyle changes aren’t enough.

6. Skin cancer down there is a real thing

It doesn’t get talked about the way prostate or testicular cancer does, but penile skin cancer is a real risk, especially for frequent tanning bed users. “Stay away from tanning beds, and if you’re uncircumcised, keep the hood clean,” says Dr. Steixner. Any unusual lesion, growth or wound deserves a professional look.

The thread across all of this, according to both doctors, is lifestyle. Sleep, diet, exercise, stress management. Not exactly a surprise, but apparently the penis is as good a reason as any to finally get serious.