A doctor’s guide to ‘gym penis’ — how long it lasts and how to recover

Exercise can have all kinds of effects on the human body (Picture: Getty Images) Picture this: after an intense pump session at the gym, you’re on your way home to indulge in a well-deserved chicken breast (or two). You head to the bathroom and strip off your dirty clothes, eager to wash the sweat off of your face. You shimmy your shorts down your thighs and gasp at the sight before you. To your surprise, your bulge appears smaller, deflated even. A deep sigh follows as you’re realising you’re experiencing a classic case of ‘gym penis’. A number of men online have shared experiences of noticing their penis and testicles ‘shrink’ or ‘go into defence mode’ during and immediately after a workout. While harmless in most cases, Metro spoke with a professional to decipher exactly what you should (and shouldn’t do) if you find yourself eye to eye with a ‘warrior penis’. Look beyond the headlines Get a curated list of the most important stories of the weekend every Sunday from our weekend editor Jess Austin. Look beyond the headlines with exclusive articles, emotive interviews and must-read explainers from our expert team of reporters across news, lifestyle and entertainment. Sign up here. A number of men have noted they’ve experienced ‘gym penis’ whilst in the middle of an intense workout (Picture: Getty Images) Why do men get ‘gym penis’? Dr Giuseppe Aragona, GP and medical adviser for Prescription Doctor, tells Metro that while ‘gym penis’ isn’t a recognised medical diagnosis doctors would typically use in general practice, it is something he’s come across before. He explains: ‘It describes a temporary change in the appearance of the penis after exercise, particularly when someone has been doing strenuous cardiovascular exercise, weight training or exercising in a cold environment’. You might notice ‘gym penis’ during your workout, shortly afterwards in the cold changing room, or just as you’ve got home. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. The main reason for this, Dr Aragona adds, is because of the way the body temporarily prioritises blood flow during exercise, along with changes in temperature and the contraction of the smooth muscle and tissues around the penis. The combination of these things can make the penis appear smaller or more retracted for a period of time. A conversation that’s likely taken place thousands of times between friends or in the locker room, a number of confused men have found solace from reassuring Reddit threads. In one subreddit, @providence2020 asked: ‘Why does my dick get super small in the gym?’ ‘It’s just a lack of blood flow,’ @okayboy11211 replied. ‘It’s a combination of blood flow and compression shorts,’ @coleona added. ‘Classic scared turtle syndrome’. In another thread, one gym bro emphasised that it’s ‘totally normal’ for the penis to invert during exercise: ‘The harder the workout, the smaller (and sometimes stiffer) the flaccid penis will be’. How long does ‘gym penis’ last? While Dr Aragona explains that there isn’t a ‘fixed amount of time that the body needs to “redistribute blood”,’ most men should notice their penis return to normal once they’ve ‘cooled down, stopped exercising, and their circulation and body temperature returns towards normal.’ This could be within a couple of minutes, or depending on the intensity and duration of exercise, it might take slightly longer. Your penis should return to normal size as soon as your body temperature reverts back to it’s correct state (Picture: Getty Images) As long as it is temporary, Dr Aragona wouldn’t be concerned about anyone who’s regularly experiencing ‘gym penis’. However, if you’re seeing lots of changes, alongside recurrent or significant penile or testicular pain, numbness, marked discolouration, swelling, or erectile problems, he would recommend you speak to a doctor. ‘Those features would not be something I would simply put down to exercise without considering other possible causes. ‘And particularly with sudden severe testicular pain or a penis that becomes very painful or markedly discoloured, that would warrant prompt assessment rather than waiting for it to settle’. What’s the best way to recover from ‘gym penis’? Because a workout willy isn’t a specific medical condition there isn’t an easy how-to guide on how to recover. But, if you are hopeful for your disco stick to return to his usual size, there are some things you can do to get him standing to attention. ‘The best approach,’ Dr Aragona explains, ‘is simply to allow the body to recover naturally, so cooling down gradually after exercise and keeping adequately hydrated’. Gym penis is a totally normal and harmless symptom of an intense workout (Picture: Getty) ‘Getting warm if the exercise has taken place in a cold environment may help the penis return to its normal resting appearance more quickly,’ he adds. One thing to remember is that you shouldn’t try to force blood back into the penis or manipulate the area to reverse the effect. Let circulation happen naturally. The mind is a powerful tool, so it’s also worth trying to focus on other things. Like so many things, recovering from ‘gym penis’ is simply a state of mind. This article was originally published on August 17 and has been updated. Do you have a story you’d like to share? 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