As cold weather is set to grip the east coast of America, doctors have warned men that they may be about to suffer difficulties in the bedroom. A weather-related affliction known as 'winter penis' is caused by a sharp drop in temperature, which causes male genitals to shrink as a result of restricted blood flow to the area.
Not only does this lead to a size reduction of up to 50 per cent, the reduced blood flow to the area can make it more challenging for a man to maintain an erection. Dr Saransh Jain, a world renowned sexologist based out of India, explained that the problem happens because 'when it's cold out, your body limits blood flow to extremities like fingers, toes, and yes - your penis to retain heat in your vital organs'.
He said this reaction is known as vasoconstriction, and it causes your blood vessels constrict, which limits blood flow to your penis. When 'winter penis' takes hold, Dr Jain reveals that 'the shaft of the penis and testicles move closer to the body to maintain the optimal temperature for sperm production' and this is an evolutionary mechanism to protect sperm and testes.
While most men who experience 'winter penis' will find it only occurs briefly and occasionally, it can be far worse for those with underlying erectile dysfunction (ED). Some 30 million men in the US are thought to suffer with erectile dysfunction, according to the NIH.
