Your penis can SHRINK… how exercise and smoking can wither your manhood by up to an inch

Unfortunately, not only does that mean the muscle cells in your member will waste away, it also means that no matter how turned on you are you will struggle to get an erection.

And before you think this is some kind of sick joke, there are scientific studies to back it up.

Experts from Boston University of Medicine examined the erect penises of 200 men and found that smokers measured up shorter than those who steer clear of fags.

The 1998 study concluded that smoking inhibits blood flow to your private bits, which can stop your penis from stretching and therefore make it shrink.

4. Ageing

Ageing is hard enough to swallow. But to add insult to injury, a man's advancing years will prove dire for his length down there.

The old meat and two veg will get smaller, as fatty deposits build up in the arteries and reduce blood flow.

This can cause the muscle cells in the erectile tissue to degenerate and wither away.

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And it increase the risk of erectile dysfunction.

Another cause can be a build up of scar tissue, from years of small injuries during sex or sports.

The scar tissue can also affect the erectile tissue and cause shrinkage.

5. Medication

All medication comes with unwanted side effects, but some measure up worse than others.

Drugs like Adderall, often prescribed for attention deficit disorders, and some antidepressants and antipsychotics.

Some drugs used to treat prostate problems can also cause your penis to shrink.

A 2012 study into the drug finasteride, used to treat an enlarged prostate, found that men suffered from shrinkage and reduced sensation down there.

Another study, published in the journal Urology, found that 41 per cent of men taking the drug dutasteride, also used to treat an enlarged prostate, suffered sexual dysfunction.

6. Prostate surgery

On the subject of prostates, men who have had surgery to remove the gland due to cancer may experience a loss of size.

In fact, it happens in about 70 per cent of men who have had this surgery.

Experts don't know exactly what causes this to happen, but one theory is that a man may experience muscle contraction after the surgery that pull their member farther into their body.

Another theory is that sexual dysfunction after surgery prevents blood from flowing easily to the penis.

As discussed above a lack of blood flow to the erectile tissue can cause muscle wastage and shrinkage.

Men who experience this may lose anywhere between half to three quarters of an inch - which any man will tell you is a lot.

7. Peyronie's disease

Some men experience a condition called Peyronie's disease, which causes the penis to become curved when it is erect.

It is perfectly normal for a penis to have a slight curve when it is standing to attention, but men with Peyronie's disease will have a prominent curve that causes pain.

It can also lead to difficulty have sex and erectile dysfunction.

The condition can also cause a build up of scar tissue which, as mentioned above, can block blood flow to the penis and cause a loss of size.

Peyronie's disease mostly affects men over 40, according to the NHS, but it can affect anyone at any age.

It may also cause your old fellow to look misshapen, like an hour glass.

Is it reversible?

Fear not, despite all the bad news, there is a ray of light at the end of the tunnel.

Penis shrinkage is reversible, but in some cases it may be harder than others.

The quick fixes are quitting smoking and losing weight.

If it is your medication that has caused a loss in size you need to speak to your GP who can help adjust your dosage to make sure you are not aesthetically impacted down there.

But if you have lost length due to something more serious, like prostate surgery, then your treatment can be a bit more complicated.

Sometimes penis shrinkage after surgery will go away on its own after a couple of months.

But if it doesn't drugs like Viagra or Cialis can improve blood flow to the penis, which will restore the erectile tissue.

Unfortunately, if you suffer from Peyronie's disease then the shrinkage is irreversible.

There are surgery options to correct the bend and remove scar tissue, but any damage done beforehand is permanent damage.

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