Do you enjoy sex and want to always be at your best in the bedroom? For a long, active, and satisfying sex life, you have to do your best to take good care of your penis. There are plenty of dangers and threats out there that can sneak up on you and bring about so much harm and damage to your penis and leave not only your sexual performance but also your fertility and reproductive functions suffering.

Someone whose penis health is poor is likely to experience a decline physically and psychologically. There will be a lot of stress, anxiety, and other negative emotions. Over time, this can lead to more severe health problems that can significantly lower the quality of life.

If you want to protect your penis, you have to educate yourself about the things that may endanger your penis.

Risk factors associated with penis health

Your penis health should be your priority if you want to live a happy and enjoyable sex life. To protect it, you should be familiar with the various risk factors that can jeopardize your penis health and know how to stay away from them. There are several that you can easily avoid, but there are also some that are quite difficult to deal with.

1. Unprotected sex

It is crucial that you use practice safe sex if you want to keep your penis strong and healthy for a long time. Make sure that you use condoms every time you have sex, as there are many sexually transmitted infections that can get to you and cause different discomforts and complications.

2. Cardiovascular problems

The heart plays a big role in your sexual performance. It is the organ that pumps and sends blood to your penis to achieve and sustain erections. So, if you have heart disease, your heart will have a tough time doing its job, leaving your penis with erectile issues.

3. Hormonal changes

The primary male sex hormone is testosterone, and it is an essential component of various important male sexual functions. If there is not enough testosterone produced in the body, there is an increased risk of low libido or sex drive, low sperm count and quality, erectile dysfunction, and fertility.

4. Smoking

Men who smoke are poisoning their bodies with compounds that can mess up their erectile function. They are more likely to suffer from erectile troubles than someone who does not smoke. Thus, if you are a smoker and want to keep your penis healthy, quit smoking now.

5. Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease characterized by higher than normal glucose or sugar levels in the body. If you have it, you may manifest symptoms, such as excessive hunger and thirst, unexplained weight loss or gain, frequent urination, slow-healing wounds, and blurred vision. You will also have an increased risk of erectile dysfunction.

6. Certain medications and treatments

There are certain prescription medications and medical procedures that can cause a decline in your penis performance. Medications, such as diuretics and beta-blockers, are usually prescribed to people with high blood pressure, but they are known to have a negative effect on erection quality.

7. Mental health issues

Men suffering from depression, anxiety, or some other mental health problem tend to have lower libido or sex drive, making it difficult for them to get an erection or sustain a firm and long-lasting erection for sex.

8. Old age

Older men are more prone to sexual health problems, such as erectile dysfunction, low testosterone levels, and low sperm count.

9. Neurological problems

Various neurological problems, such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, and dementia, can be detrimental to the male sexual function. They can cause disruptions to the nerve impulses that travel between the brain and the penis, causing erectile dysfunction and other complications.

Common penis problems to watch out for

There are many kinds of problems that can strike your penis anytime, especially if you are neglectful of your sexual health.

• Decreased libido or sex drive

There are many things that can cause a decrease in a man’s libido or sex drive. Oftentimes, it is because of hormonal imbalances in the body, particularly having lower than normal testosterone levels.

• Sexually transmitted infections or STIs

Caused by bacteria or viruses, sexually transmitted infections can bring about serious harm and damage not only to the penis but to other parts of the reproductive system and body too. Today, some of the most widespread STIs are gonorrhea, Chlamydia, HIV, genital warts, and syphilis.

• Erectile dysfunction

If you are unable to achieve an erection or sustain an erection that is hard and long-lasting, you may have erectile dysfunction. It is common in men who are in their 50s and older, but it can also afflict those that are in their 20s and 30s.

Penis care tips

You should not wait until you encounter any of the penis problems mentioned above for you to do something to protect your penis.

For the good of your penis, you have to:

• Good personal hygiene

You have to wash your genitals every day to keep them clean and smelling good. Otherwise, you become at high risk of bacterial or fungal growth.

• Practice safe sex

Yes, condoms do not give 100% protection against the bacteria and viruses that cause sexually transmitted infections, but they can very much decrease your risk of being infected.

• Regular exercise

Exercise is good for your heart and other vital organs. It can promote better blood circulation in the body and increase blood flow to your penis, giving you better quality erections during intimate moments. It can also help enhance your body’s testosterone production, resulting in an increase in your libido or sex drive and sperm count and quality.

• Mental health care

Your mental health is also an integral part of your sexual health. If you are dealing with stress, depression, anxiety, or other problems, you have to go see a mental health professional right away.