For a penis to be in tip-top shape, it should be taken good care of at all times. It is a delicate and fragile organ that may get injured or contract an infection at any time, if you do not make smart choices about your lifestyle.
There are many things that everyone does in their day-to-day lives that you may think are harmless, but can actually be dangerous to the penis. To have a fun and satisfying sex life for a long time, you should know what these threats to your penis health are to be able to avoid them at all costs:
1. Overeating
For many people, staying under or close to their recommended daily caloric requirement is a very difficult task. How can you say no to a couple more slices of your favorite chocolate cake or another serving of that perfectly cooked steak?
Not being able to control your eating makes you prone to gaining weight, which can eventually lead to obesity. Obesity is a disorder in which your body packs on too much body fat. It can bring about several serious health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, gallbladder disease, certain cancers, sleep apnea, liver disease, osteoarthritis, and fertility problems.
According to various studies, obesity can lower the body’s levels of testosterone, which is the male sex hormone that drives your different sexual functions. If you do not have enough of it, you are likely to experience problems with your sex drive or libido, erection, and fertility.
2. Excessive alcohol drinking
According to many urologists and sexual health experts, alcohol can diminish a man’s sexual functions, making getting an erection and achieving an orgasm during sexual intercourse difficult. There are substances found in alcohol that trigger a depressant effect, which dampens mood and reduces sexual desire.
As long as you can control your drinking, you should be able to protect yourself against these sexual health issues. You are strongly advised to follow the United States Centers for Disease Control’s guidelines for a standard drink, which is up to 2 drinks each day for men or up to 1 drink each day for women. If you go over that, you will be classified as an excessive drinker, and become at high risk of developing alcohol use disorder.
3. Staying up late
Ideally, you should get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night to be at your best health. Every morning, you will feel refreshed and rejuvenated, with high energy levels and a clear mind. Throughout the day, you will find that you are in a better mood too and are able to accomplish your tasks and responsibilities more smoothly and efficiently. During intimate moments, your penis will not fail you, and you and your partner will have many pleasurable times in the bedroom.
However, if you are sleep deprived, you are in for some major drawbacks. Lack of sleep can affect you mentally and physically, and terribly hurt your work or school performance, as well as sexual relationships.
Getting less than 7 hours of sleep a night makes you prone to fatigue, irritability, depression, stress, and lethargy. Your brain functions become impaired, and you will often find yourself having difficulty concentrating, solving problems, or remembering information. Your immune system will be affected, putting you in grave danger of infections and other diseases. Also, your heart will suffer, increasing your risk of high blood, stroke, and heart attack. As a result of an impaired cardiovascular system, the blood flow to your penis is disrupted, leading to erectile problems.
4. Poor hygiene
Your penis requires everyday cleaning and washing to remain in good health. Do not think that because it is not out and exposed most of the time, it does not accumulate dirt or other particles that can endanger it. Your sweat and other bodily fluids can build up under your foreskin, if you are not circumcised, or around your penis and pubic area, and become an attractive environment for bacterial and fungal growth.
You should shower or bathe on a daily basis to have the chance to thoroughly clean your penis. Wash with water and mild soap. Pull your foreskin back, if you have one, to get to anything that may start gathering or has already gathered in there. Avoid applying perfume, deodorant, or other products that may contain harmful chemicals, and cause redness and irritation.
5. Having unprotected sex
Probably since you were a teen, you have heard time and time again that you should always use condoms when having sex. While this type of contraceptive is not going to protect you 100% against pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections or STIs, it can significantly decrease your risk.
If condoms are used properly each time you engage in sexual activities, they can be 98% effective. They must be stored in room temperature, neither too hot nor too cold, to avoid wear and tear. They should be worn the right way to prevent them from slipping off during sex, and should be used only once. When buying them, look for the expiration date on the packaging, as out-of-date or expired condoms do not pass the high safety standards any longer.
Once you learn the right way of using condoms, you can rely on it to prevent pregnancy, and avoid STIs. There are many common STIs that are primarily passed on from one person to another through unprotected sex. Some examples are gonorrhea, which is caused by bacteria that can damage your reproductive parts, throat, rectum, and urethra; Chlamydia, which is a bacterial STI that can lead to infertility if not diagnosed and treated right away; syphilis, which is an extremely contagious infection that is transmitted through vaginal, oral, and anal sex; and HIV, or Human Immunodeficiency Virus, which is a viral STI that weakens the immune system, and can develop into AIDS, a life-threatening disease, if not treated and managed as soon as possible.
