The truth about ‘summer penis’ – and why some men are more prone to get it than others

SUMMER offers many health benefits – improved mental well-being, the opportunity to be more physically active and better sleep.

But some men list another pro that warmer weather can bring, and it’s a phenomenon known as ‘summer penis’.

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As the heat rises, they believe it has a flattering effect on their length and girth down below. 

But is it actually a thing? Dr Chun Tang, GP at private healthcare clinic Pall Mall Medical, weighed in. 

He said: “So ‘summer penis’ is a term people use to describe when a male’s penis seems a bit bigger or fuller during hot weather.

“It’s not an official medical thing, just something people have noticed and talked about.

“The idea is that in warmer months, especially when it’s hot and humid, the heat causes your blood vessels to expand a bit, which can make things down there look a bit different.”

In terms of symptoms, males who experience summer penis may see a bit more size or fullness than normal.

Dr Tang added: “Some men notice that their penis looks a little larger, especially when it’s flaccid.

“Because of the increased blood flow, it might feel a bit softer or more relaxed than usual.”

In a world of ‘showers and growers’, this could be considered a way of bringing about some equality. 

But Dr Tang did note that if you’re someone who’s particularly sensitive to temperature changes, you might be more likely to notice the effect. 

There’s no exact temperature where ‘summer penis’ kicks in, according to Dr Tang.

But any situation when it’s quite warm outside – like during a summer heatwave – is most likely.

He said: “When it’s hot, your body naturally tries to cool down by widening the blood vessels, which can make more blood flow to places like your hands, feet, and even your penis.”

So if you want a ‘summer penis’, it might be an idea to wear loose breathable clothing, like a nice pair of cotton boxers or shorts.

Penis fact vs fiction

From evolutionary explanations about why penises can look like mushrooms, to whether they can get smaller, Dr Philippa Kaye answers questions you’re too afraid to ask.

1. What is the average penis size?

The average size of a penis is approximately 9cm when flaccid/soft and about 13cm when erect. 

A micropenis is defined as a penis measuring less than 7cm. You can get treatment for this on the NHS.

But this is just the length of the penis on the outside – you might not know it, but there is around the same length of penile tissue inside as on the outside, extending into the pelvis.

2. Does your shoe size reflect your penis size?

No. A study looking at the penises of over 100 men of varying ages looked at shoe size and penis length and found no correlation between the two.

3. Why is the penis shaped like a mushroom?

From an evolutionary point of view, it’s perhaps obvious that the shaft of the penis is cylindrical or tube-like in shape so that it can fit inside the muscular tube of the vagina. 

But there is a ridge between the top of the shaft of the penis and the glans, which is shaped rather like a mushroom.

One theory as to why this is is known as the ‘semen displacement theory’, which suggests that the shape of this ridge essentially scoops out and removes any sperm left behind in the vagina by a previous partner, who might be a genetic rival evolution-wise.

4. Can you break your penis?

There are no bones in the penis, but you can still break it.

During an erection, there are spongy tissues called corpus cavernosum, which fill with blood to make the penis erect. 

If there is a trauma, often a violent twisting or bending motion when the penis is erect, then part of the covering of the corpus cavernosum called the tunica albuginea can burst, leading to bleeding into the penis and a very painful swelling.

It is rare and tends to occur during sex, often when a partner is on top.

5. Can penises point in any direction?

Yes. When the penis is erect it can point in any direction, from directly up to forward-pointing, to downwards, as was found in a study involving almost 1,500 men.

It is normal for penises to have a slight curve, in either direction. A curve between 5 and 30 degrees is considered healthy and normal.

6. Can your penis get smaller?

Yes, your penis can shrink. There are lots of causes of this, including high blood pressure and peripheral vascular disease, which may lead to decreased blood flow to the penis.

Low testosterone levels and ageing may also affect the size of the penis, as can having a significant curve due to Peyronie’s disease. 

Some types of treatment for prostate cancer, such as radical prostatectomy, can affect the size of the penis.  

7. Are multiple erections during the night normal?

You may think of wet dreams as being associated with puberty, but actually, the average healthy male has three to five erections each night, with the ‘morning glory’ being the last of these.

They seem most likely to occur in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, but the cause is not known.

8. ‘Showers’ or ‘growers’?

The size of your penis when flaccid does not necessarily predict the size when erect, as small penises are more likely to increase proportionally more in length than longer ones.

A study from the 1980s showed that, on average, longer penises increased by just under 50 per cent from flaccid to erect, while shorter penises increased by almost 90 per cent. 

And when penises are erect there is less variation in length – flaccid penises vary in length by about 3cm, but only by about 1.7cm when erect.

9. Creams and oils can make your penis bigger?

No, they can’t. The only proven way to increase the size of your penis is by surgery, which can increase length and girth.

Surgery to increase the length of your penis involves cutting a ligament which attaches the penis to the pelvis, but this only affects the length of the penis when it is flaccid.

Surgical treatments to increase girth can involve a fat transplant or the use of an implant.

This might make your penis more noticeable because there’s nothing restricting blood flow, experts say.

On the flip side, wearing something tight, like skinny jeans or snug briefs, might prevent the effect because it can limit circulation. 

Unfortunately, either way, it’s not going to have any impact on your sexual performance.

Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical director of Patient.info, previously told The Sun: “Technically when you’re hot, as well as when you are excited, then your blood vessels may expand.

“When blood vessels on the surface are a bit bigger, then things are going to look a bit bigger.

“But your penis is not growing, it’s just your blood vessels growing slightly larger as a way to reduce heat.

“It’s not going to make you perform better either – when you are erect your penis is swollen to the max anyway.”

On its own, ‘summer penis’ isn’t a sign of anything serious, but there are some scenarios when it’s a good idea to get checked out by a doctor

Dr Chun Tang

Once the weather cools down, you can expect things to go back to normal. 

But if ‘summer penis’ makes you uncomfortable, Dr Tang advises keeping cool. 

“Avoid too much heat, wear loose clothes, and stay well-hydrated,” he said.

“This can help minimise the effect.”

Dr Tang added: “On its own, ‘summer penis’ isn’t a sign of anything serious.

“But, if you notice any sudden or unusual changes in your penis – like significant swelling, pain, or discomfort – then it’s definitely a good idea to get it checked out by a doctor.

“Those could be signs of something that does need attention, like an infection or an injury.”

How to look after your penis

ARE you looking after your penis correctly?

Here are all the ‘dos and don’ts’ when it comes to penis health:

1. Keep your penis clean to avoid a build-up of smegma – aiming to wash once a day with warm water – and towel off thoroughly
2. Avoid using strong perfumed soap or very hot water
3. Don’t forget to clean under your foreskin – gently pull the skin back and wash underneath with warm water
4. Don’t re-wear dirty underwear
5. Check for lumps in your testicles and make sure you know what they feel like on a normal basis
6. Don’t skip wearing a condom when you’re having sex with someone new or a casual partner to avoid STIs
7. Don’t ignore STI symptoms – such as unusual discharge, pain when peeing, lumps, sores, warts or rashes
8. Don’t be embarrassed to talk to your doctor about erectile dysfunction 

But it’s not just the penis that reacts to hot weather; the rest of the body suffers (or benefits) too.

You might notice your ankles get a little bigger due to fluid retention, or perhaps your thighs start chafing.

People with eczema might find their skin condition worsens when the weather warms up, and asthma sufferers can also find themselves coughing and short of breath.

You may feel happier, more relaxed and sleep better due to increased exposure to sunlight, which can boost the production of melatonin and serotonin, and regulate the body’s internal clock, the NHS says.

And of course, there’s no escaping the additional sweat.

When the temperatures climb, or you spend a long time in them, you might get heat exhaustion or heatstroke.

Heat exhaustion does not usually need emergency medical help if you can cool down within 30 minutes.

Try things like moving to a cooler area, using a fan, taking off extra layers, drinking cool fluids, and using a cool flannel or sponge.

But heatstroke needs to be treated as soon as possible as it can be fatal, so call 999.

This is because the body’s systems which it uses to try to keep you cool have become overwhelmed and stop working, so your temperature may rise to over 40C and you stop sweating.