The world has an obsession with penises. It is a simple but true fact. A quick search on Google and you can be treated with penises in all sizes and shapes, yet in our world bigger ones seem to always be preferred.

Just like people, the penis comes in all shapes and sizes and the truth is that it has little bearing on masculinity. The opposite is that we seem to make it one of the most important parts of being male.  Maybe it is time to rethink our stance on the penis and appreciate them in all of their various sizes and shapes. Consider it a smorgasbord of sights to take part of.

Would it surprise you to know that most men dont know a lot about their penises? From a young age we are taught that masculinity is based on having a penis. We are also fed lines that the more endowed you are, the more of a man you are. While these two things have no bearing, at all, on being a man. That being said,  there are things about your penis you do need to consider.

Here are 7 Interesting Facts About Your Penis that you may not know.

7. You can break your penis

We have probably all heard a joke about this or you may even be wondering about the truth of it. Yes, you can break your penis. It is true there there is no bone in the penis, it is made up of spongey tubes that fill with blood to create an erection, simplified version I know.

So how can you break your penis? Warning, cringe factor ahead. It would be better to describe this as a penis fracture and it can come from rough sex or masturbation. Essentially, your penis comes into contact with a blunt surface. Pulling out too far and trying for force it back in is one way this can happen. I am sure many men have experienced this, at some point.

The fracture can be mild and cause some discoloration and swelling. Other times it can be more severe and cause an audible “pop.” If you experience this version, please seek out medical attention. Thankfully, penile fractures are uncommon. The penis is a pretty resilent organ.

6. Use it or Lose it

You are probably thinking, “wait, the penis is not a muscle.” That may be but it is nonetheless true. Having regular erections helps keep your penis in shape. In a way, you can say that it is exercise.

It is important that the penis is filled with oxygenated blood to keep it toned and healthy. The good news is the body does this on its own. We all have experienced morning erections, that is your body keeping your penis healthy. This does not mean you were having a sex dream, its as common as breathing.

However, trauma to the penis can cause issues with this happening. Nerve or blood vessel damage can make it harder for someone to achieve an erection. Not being able to achieve frequent erections can actually lead to the shortening of your penis. Usually, it can cause shrinkage of 1 – 2 centimeters. Thankfully, there are things you can use to help.

We have all seen or made jokes about penis pumps. There are even pornography dedicated to that very subject. However, they do offer help in situations where getting an erection may be harder. They have the benefit of forcing the penis to swell with blood allowing you to maintain your health. Remember to use it moderately and check with your doctor if you have any concerns.

5. Grower or a show-er

You have probably heard this term batted around gyms and conversations with your friends. It stems from the worry men have over their penis size. First, let me state that a penis does not make you a male. Secondly, you are probably more worried about your size than anyone else. Size is about preference, not functionality.

Back to the topic, there is no consistent data that shows a relationship between the size of a flaccid penis and its erect length. But it still causes apprehension in locker rooms. Discretely looking around you are probably filled with thoughts that a guy with a big limp penis cant possibly get much bigger. Just because you are on the smaller side when you’re flaccid, doesn’t mean that it wont be a noticeable change once erect.

In a study of 80 men, it was found that increases from flaccid to erect lengths range widely. They range from a quarter-inch up to 3.5 inches longer.

Kinsey’s studies showed that most penises no on the extreme side of growers vs. show-Eros. In fact, 12% of penises gained only one third or less of their total length at erection. While only 7% doubled in length.

4. Sensitivity declines with age

We already know that the penis is a family sensitive organ. In fact, many men also state that the underside is the most sensitive part of their member, though this may factor differently depending on if the male is cut or uncut. One thing that is true is that sensitivity does change with time. Age has a factor on every part of our overall health. It should be no surprise that it also affects penis health. Studies are showing that our sensitivity declines as we get older.

Sensitivity of the penis is gauged by the least amount of stimulation it takes a man to be able to feel, called “sensory threshold.” These studies show that sensitivity starts to decline after the age of 25. The sharpest decline appears to happen between the ages of 65 – 75. There is still some debate as to whether men actually notice the deceased sensitivity.

Maybe it is because more men are worried about the more noticeable issues like difficulty achieving an erection or ejaculation.

Maybe it is less reported because many men are worried about premature ejaculation and the reduction of sensitivity has an unexpected benefit of reducing that problem.

3. You can’t control ejaculation

You have probably heard that some men can think about other things to prolong ejaculation. Or that they can think about it enough to cause to to happen. There actually is not scientific proof that either of these things can happen.

The truth is your brain has very little to do with controlling when you will ejaculate. It might surprise you to find out that your spine is actually in control. The spinal cord is often referred to as the “spinal ejaculation generator,” after all, it is the core of the nervous system. The nervous system is what causes response to stimulation.

There are studies being conducted to see if stimulation of the spinal cord can help provide a cure for premature ejaculation.

2. Morning wood

Have you ever wondered why you have wood one morning and not the others? Believe it or not it may be tied to how you sleep at night.

On average, most people with penises can have 3-5 erections every night. These typically happen during REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. The term for this is “nocturnal penile tumescence.” There are several schools of thought around why we receive them. One is that it it could help prevent “bed wetting” if your bladder is full. That theory has been mostly disproved due to people with vaginas also experience nocturnal clitoral tumescence.

The current theory is that this activation is a means for the body to help keep the penis in shape. If a penis does not experience regular erection then it is at risk of losing elasticity and shrinking. Your nighttime wood is a great diagnostic tool for your overall health. Not having them could relate to a physical problem where not being able to have or control them during the day but no issues at night could point to a psychological cause. If you notice something off or just weird, make a note to tell your doctor. Your penis will thank you!

1. Race to the finish

No, this isn’t about premature ejaculation, it is about how long an orgasm lasts. The average male orgasm lasts 6 seconds from the first shot fired to slipping off into post coital sleep. Women, on the other hand, get 23 seconds of orgasmic bliss. That would average out to us have four orgasms to every one second of theirs. Can you imagine? Talk about inequality.

Show your member some love

The penis is a dynamic and diverse appendage. We must remember that it is not the sole component of what makes a man a man, but there is no denying that there is an obsession around this “tool.” Remember to appreaciate your own member for what it is and does for you. No matter the size, shape, or whatever, take some time and show it some love. After all, no one else has one quite like yours. Appreciate it for its uniqueness and stop penis shaming yourself and others.