As any man who has taken a dip in an icy cold lake can attest, there is such a thing as penis shrinkage. But, aside from some “normal” shrinkage which may or may not come with age – the jury is still out on its prevalence – penis shrinkage is typically short term, as in the case of swimming in icy cold water. Although having a small penis in no way affects penis health, some men can be so hung up on the size of their penis that they may go to extremes in worrying about it.
This can lead to “koro,” a situation in which a man worries that his big penis is becoming smaller and smaller – and may shrink away altogether.
Koro
“Koro” comes from a Malaysian word meaning “the head of a turtle” and it’s an apt name. A turtle’s head does bear a certain resemblance to a penis, and since turtles are known to withdraw their heads so they disappear into the shell, it’s easy to see why this name would apply to a fear that a guy’s penis is shrinking away to nothing.
Examples of koro go back for centuries, at least to 300 BC. Usually, the shrinkage fear is extreme, with the belief not the man will have a small penis, but that he will have no penis whatsoever and that somehow his death will occur as a result.
It’s generally classified as a psychological disorder, and one which can inexplicably appear in groups of men at the same time, a form of mass hysteria. It is often associated with a belief that an outside force, such as witchcraft or a chemical secretly dispersed by an enemy, is behind it. Many psychologists posit that it may be related to instances in which a man (or group of men) are feeling disempowered by society or circumstance. There may also be an element of guilt involved, such as shame about masturbating.
Serious
While it may seem koro is nothing but an unfortunate delusion, it can have some drastic real world consequences. In one area in which a man claimed witches had made his penis disappear, a group of missionaries were blamed and burned to death.
The hysterical nature of koro makes it seem all too real to those who suffer from it – and makes them feel genuinely panicked and in fear for their lives.
Shrinkage
There is absolutely no reason to believe that actual incidences of koro – that is, real penis shrinkage leading to death – have ever occurred. But can real penis shrinkage of a more modest kind occur?
Yes, in fact, although the frequency and severity of the shrinkage is generally not so severe. For example, if a man has Peyronie’s disease, which causes unnatural bending of the penis, there may be a loss of some length. This is because the bending may restrict tissue stretching, making the penis a little shorter than it would otherwise be.
Similarly, when men have erectile issues, it may be that their erections are somewhat shorter. This can happen when the dysfunction does not prevent an erection from happening but does impact how “full” the erection is.
Also, when a man gains a considerable amount of weight in the belly area, he may appear to lose some length in the penis. This is because the flab in his midsection covers up some of the base of the penis.
Even if a man has a small penis, due to some degree of shrinkage or just genetics, most men are capable of performing sexually, both for themselves and their partners. Whatever the size of the manhood, it’s always wise to use a first class penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) to keep the penis in good shape. A crème with L-arginine, an amino acid that helps produce nitric oxide, can play a role in maintaining penile blood vessel health. And one with L carnitine is valuable for helping protect from loss of sensation in the organ.
