Trigger warning: This article contains references to suicide.
Every dick has a different size. Some are long and skinny, others are wide and portly, all of them have probably caused their owner a bad case of anxiety at some point in time. This is because our culture has put a mammoth’s worth of unspoken pressure into the importance of having a large cock.
The fact that our culture really cares about the size of someone’s dick can be demonstrated when unpacking the research of Dr. Alicia Walker of Missouri State University.
In 2018, she spoke to VICE about how she discovered how deeply a person’s penis size can impact their life. Walker stated, “There are a lot of men out there suffering from body dysmorphic disorder. There are a lot of men who believe they are small or below average who aren’t. Then there are a lot of people who are below average and that impacts how they interact with the world.”
But this size situation gets even worse. As Walker went on to explain, “I’ve talked to men who haven’t been to the doctor for a physical in over a decade because they don’t want to be naked in front of their doctor. I’ve talked to men who have never even approached anyone for a romantic relationship because they don’t believe anyone would be interested in them because of their size. I’ve talked to men who have attempted suicide because of their size.”
In 2020, the world got smacked in the face with the COVID pandemic. This sucked because it trapped us indoors, killed our loved ones, stole years away from our lives, and has given a lot of people long-term health issues. Now, some folks are worried that it’s affecting their penis size. And can you blame them? Having a smaller penis size could impact how they understand themselves, might make them the subject of ridicule, and may unjustly demasculinise them for no good reason.
So, without any further ado, let’s talk about if COVID can impact one’s dick size. Let’s talk about this issue like compassionate, reasonable adults.
Part One: Can COVID Shrink Your Dick?
Basically, the answer is yes. According to Dr. Rena Malik, who’s a urologist, pelvic surgeon, and a Youtuber, “When you get COVID-19, it can affect the lining of the blood vessels and this can create difficulty in getting blood flow from one part of the body to the other.”
She then goes on to explain, “When you’re losing blood flow to the area over time this can cause shrinkage of the tissues itself, meaning that you might notice a decrease in penile length.”
Additionally, Dr. Malik isn’t the only person saying this. Dr. Charles Welliver, the director of Men’s Health at Albany Medical College, told the podcast How To Do It that COVID can cause erectile dysfunction, and erectile dysfunction can cause shrinkage. He expressed, “We do know that guys get some.”
Related: Long COVID: How Severe Cases of the Disease Can Cause Lasting Brain Fog
Related: We’re Closer to Understanding Who It Impacts the Most After New Studies
Part Two: Can You Get Some of Your Dick Length Back?
Now, as previously insinuated, a person’s dick size just doesn’t matter. Furthermore, heaps of people who are well-versed in sexual matters agree with me. Take for instance the former pornographic actress and journalist Stoya.
In 2015, she wrote for The Verge, “There are plenty of people in the world who adore long cocks, and plenty who absolutely do not. Some people love having their cervix stimulated, others strongly dislike the sensation. Each person has their own preferences and desires.”
But we’re not discussing someone’s normal dick size at the moment. We’re talking about penises that have been damaged by a deadly virus. To discuss Stoya’s thoughts again, this time from the aforementioned How To Do It podcast, she said that while having sex with folks with smaller dicks is fine, you also have to take care of your own health needs.
Stoya noted, “We don’t need your penis. We can do other things. We can have fun with a limp penis actually. There’s all sorts of stuff that can happen. But when it’s because of a medical concern, you want to address that.”
So, with all of that out of the way, is it possible to get some of your length back? Well, Dr. Welliver knows of some rehabilitation methods. “The original step was to try and use a low dose of daily Viagra, or something along those lines,” he explained to How To Do It. “But more recently, we started looking at different kinds of stretching devices or traction devices.” One of these devices is the RestoreX, and the data states that it can actually help some people regain their penis’ length. Vacuum erection devices can also be used to help.
If you’re someone whose penis has had some shrinkage due to COVID, then please talk to your GP about what treatments are available for you. Talking to a sex therapist might also be a smart move.
If you or someone you know needs help, please contact BeyondBlue on 1300 224 636 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.
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