The penis is rich in sensory nerves that aid with sexual stimulation, arousal, anderections.
Penises come in different shapes and sizes, with an average length of just over 5 inches.
Some penises arecircumcised, while others areuncircumcised.
The penis is vulnerable to injury as well as infections and diseases.
Diseases and disorders of the penis are typically treated by specialists known asurologists.
It is located at the front of the body at the base of thepelvis.
Thescrotum, containing thetestes(testicles), is situated just beneath the penis.
The sexual function of the penis can be described as two stages: erection and ejaculation.
Urination
Urination is the release of urine (pee) from the body.
This comes up whenever urine passes from the bladder through the urethra to the meatus.
Erection
An erection is the stiffening of the penis sparked by sexual arousal and/or physical stimulation.
It is also normal for erections to occur during sleep and upon waking.
An erection shows up when there is an increased flow of blood into the corpora cavernosa and corpus spongiosum.
The engorgement compresses the veins through which blood usually exits the penis.
This “traps” the blood and helps sustain the erection.
Ejaculation
Ejaculationis the discharge of semen from the penis.
It is usually accompanied by a sexual response called anorgasm.
Penis Size
There is a wide variation in thesize of a penis.
The size is based largely on the genes you inherit from your mother and father.
Theaverage penis sizeis smaller than what some may imagine.
An erect penis can be straight or bent.
It can curve up, down, left, or right.
The phenomenon is thought to be influenced by genetics.
Does Race or Shoe Size Influence Penis Size?
Race and ethnicity can affect the average penis size, but not as much as one might think.
However, the overall difference was only around a quarter of an inch.
There is no evidence to support the myth that foot size or nose size corresponds to penis size.
This is due to a higher concentration of capillaries near the surface of the skin.
Circumcision is also regarded in some cultures and religions as a cultural mandate.
An uncircumcised penis has certain benefits as the foreskin has more nerve endings than the glans.
It may also modestly reduce the risk of certain STDs, like HIV.
Does Circumcision Reduce Sexual Pleasure?
Congenital penis abnormalities are usually because of an imbalance of male or femalesex hormonesthat influence penis development.
Surgery is generally recommended to correct hypospadias either during infancy or early childhood.
However, there are risks of long-term complications, including difficulty urinating and an increased risk ofurinary tract infections.
Chordee
Chordee is an abnormal curve of the penis at the time of birth.
It is more common in males with hypospadias but can also occur on its own.
In adolescent and adult males, chordee is most noticeable during an erection.
Chordee vs. Peyronie’s Disease
Chordee should not be confused with Peyronie’s disease.
Peyronie’s is a condition that develops in adult males that causes an abnormal curve of the penis.
Micropenis
Micropenisis an abnormally small penis.
In adults, this would be stretched penis of less than 2.75 inches.
Micropenis affects 1.5 out of 10,000 male children in the United States.
It usually occurs with other congenital abnormalities affecting the heart or digestive tract.
The cause of aphalia is unknown.
So far, fewer than 100 cases have been reported.
These may affect the glans, foreskin, urethra, or erectile tissues.
Erectile dysfunction may be triggered by medical reasons, including medications or heart disease.
It may also be the result of stress, anxiety, or relationship problems.
The risk increases as a person gets older.
Peyronie’s disease is mainly the result of a prior injury to the penis during sex.
With that said, PD is poorly understood and may occur for no known reason.
If the symptoms of PD are severe, they can cause erectile dysfunction.
The scar tissue that results from a penile fracture may lead to Peyronie’s disease.
It is not usually a problem unless it causes symptoms.
Paraphimosisoccurs in an uncircumcised penis when the foreskin gets stuck in the retracted position.
It is a medical emergency that can lead to tissue death if not treated immediately.
Priapism
Priapism is an erection that lasts more than four hours.
It is not always the result of sexual arousal and can be quite painful.
Priapism takes place if blood becomes trapped in the penis and is unable to drain.
If the condition is not treated immediately, it can lead to scarring and permanent erectile dysfunction.
Priapism can occur at any age and is more common in males with certain blood diseases likesickle cell diseaseandleukemia.
Certain medications can also increase the risk of priapism.
Infection and Inflammation
The penis is vulnerable to infection.
These and other infections can lead to penis inflammation.
However, it can be one of the more aggressive forms of cancer.
Around 95% of cases are resulting from a bang out of skin cancer calledsquamous cell carcinoma.
You may be referred to a urologist who specializes in disorders of the urinary tract and male reproductive organs.
This includes any medications you take and any emotional problems you may be experiencing.
Other tests may be used to see if you get erections at night, such asnocturnal tumescence testing.
This may involve blood tests, urine tests, or a swab from inside the urethra.
This includes looking for pus and inflammatory chemicals that can occur with aurinary tract infection (UTI).
A test called avoiding cystourethrogrammay also be ordered if you have difficulty urinating.
The test, which takes images while you are urinating, can help identify if there is a blockage.
Ejaculation is achieved by an involuntary contraction of muscles and vessels that propel semen from the body.
Different conditions can affect the appearance or function of the penis.
Some are congenital and cause abnormalities of the penis during the development of the fetus.
Others occur later in life and may be triggered by injury, infections, or diseases like cancer.
An examination by a urologist may be needed to diagnose and treat disorders of the penis.
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