Summer penis phenomenon: Here's why your penis may feel larger in hot weather

Hot weather isn't just unpleasant, or even dangerous, it also has a direct impact on our behaviour. We recently told you about the effects of heatwaves on your libido, and now we're talking about people with penises!

Are you familiar with the 'summer penis' phenomenon?

This is one possible consequence of a heatwave on a penis. Scientists have found that very hot weather can alter the size of the penis, making it larger. But don't get too carried away. It's mainly a 'swelling effect' that makes the penis appear larger than usual. This phenomenon is linked to the blood vessels of the penis, which swell more during hot weather.

Orlando urologist Jamin Brahmbhatt explains this 'summer penis' phenomenon by drawing a comparison between the times when the body seeks to warm up when it's very cold, and the other way around:

When it's cold outside, your body tries to maintain its internal heat, so things appear a little more contracted. When it's cold, the blood vessels near the skin contract to maintain heat.

When it's hot outside, your body tries to evacuate heat through perspiration. So you're likely to consume more water, which in combination with perspiration will make your body or skin look puffy. And that can give you the illusion that things are bigger.

Read more:Sexual health: New study reveals the average penis size in each country

Increased blood flow

Initially skeptical of this physical phenomenon, urologist Aaron Spitz has also weighed in on the subject. As he explains in his Penis Book, heat acts as a blood vessel relaxer.

Heat increases the relaxation of the blood vessels, which increases the blood flow inside them, filling the penis a little more to make it look longer and fuller.

Read more:Sexual health: There are two types of penises and one has this special ability

This article has been translated from Oh!MyMag FR.

Sources used:

Daily Mail: Soaring temperatures are giving men 'summer penises': Doctors confirm the heatwave is having a positive effect on the size of male genitals

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EliteDaily: It Turns Out That “Summer Penis” Is A Thing & A Doctor Can Explain It All