A sensitive issue...

[Justincredible]

Ok, so I've been dealing with something over the last year and it's an issue that is just so embarrassing to talk about and such a sensitive topic that it's a conversation that can pretty much only be had with a doctor.. but unfortunately I don't have one.

To put it bluntly... My penis is shrinking. .. also, I'm frequently pulling down my pants and finding my foreskin over the head of my penis.. I am circumcised and in 35 years I have never dealt with that in my life. Period. ..

My erections have also become extremely infrequent.. it's common to go multiple days without getting an erection.

My penis has always been an above average size.. it's always hung and had pretty good length even when it was flaccid, and when it was erect, it was a good strong erection about 8 inches.

But over the last year it has dramatically decreased in size.. today as an example, I went in to use the bathroom and my foreskin was completely over the head of my penis, and my penis was basically just a short little nub sticking out.

I am freaking the fuck out man.

Okay, so here's some things for context and background, I'm 6 ft tall, 205 lbs, in my late 30s.. and have always been extremely healthy and athletic.. I am on some medications that can have a decrease in libido and contribute to erectile dysfunction.. with that said, I've been on them for a long time and it's really never been an issue in the past.

I have also gained a lot of weight recently, about 50 lb in the last year.. I'll spare all the details, but about a year ago I was too skinny, and now that I have a car and I'm walking much less and eating more, I gained a bunch of weight.

And the one last thing I'll say, I also got the vaccination.. which is one of the biggest regrets in my life. Because I've always been extremely healthy, and never get the flu or anything like that.

I just finally gave in after like 2 years and had a weak moment.. then like 2 weeks later, everything just went back to normal, no mandates, no mask.. just business as usual. And I felt so duped, and so stupid that I fell for it.

And I'm starting to wonder if perhaps the vaccine has anything to do with it.

And of course being a map, it's rare that I feel horny, get erections and masturbate.. because frankly there's nothing that really turns me on, except little girls. I don't have a little girlfriend, and I don't have any access to material that would make me aroused. ..

I would say I masturbate maybe like once every two weeks. I am still able to get an erection when I'm really in the mood, and I am able to ejaculate and still have some pretty good orgasms. But it's just really infrequent.

Okay, so that's pretty much everything that's going on..
And I'm really hoping someone can give me any insight, have any of you dealt with this at all? .. did you perhaps get the vaccine and maybe having some of the same issues?

Have you experienced anything like this lately? Have you experienced anything like this in your life?

Do you think it could be from all the weight I've gained? Is it maybe a low testosterone situation, and now that I'm getting close to 40?

Ughh .. life is just so hard enough.. and at least one of the consolations has always been that I've been very happy with things down there and how they functioned.

But now things have taken such a dramatic turn, and it's only over the last year. I literally have never dealt with it before in my life and I'm just really freaking out.

Any help or insight whatsoever would be greatly appreciated

[Julia]

I am sorry you're dealing with that. I can imagine that you'd be freaked out about this. It is completely normal to feel concerned about changes in your body and sexual health, especially of this nature. Many people experience similar worries, and it's okay to talk about them.

Gaining weight can impact hormone levels and overall health, which may contribute to changes in sexual function. I suggest switching back to a healthier lifestyle if possible, including regular exercise and a balanced diet. Furthermore, emotional well-being can significantly impact one's sexual health. If you're feeling anxious or depressed about these changes, it might be helpful to speak with a mental health professional. A healthier lifestyle could also help with feeling better mentally. While it appears that some people have reported changes in sexual health after COVID-19 or vaccination, I haven't seen any studies yet that confirm this.

I see that you are in the US which makes this a lot more difficult, but it would indeed be best to talk to a GP or a urologist about your concerns. A doctor could provide a thorough evaluation, discuss your medications, and explore potential causes for the changes you're experiencing. Perhaps you could search online for local clinics or use resources like https://healthgrades.com/ or https://www.zocdoc.com/ to find a provider who accepts your insurance or offers sliding scale fees. You could also consider visiting a community health clinic. These clinics often provide services on a sliding scale based on income, and can be a good option for those without insurance. Alternatively, many healthcare providers offer phone services, which can be a convenient way to consult with a doctor without needing to visit a clinic in person.

As someone who is on testosterone blockers, I can confirm that low testosterone, as you mentioned, can lead to decreased libido and erectile dysfunction. Other signs of low testosterone are fatigue, mood changes, loss of muscle mass, increased body fat, hot flashes, difficulty concentrating, and sleep disturbances like insomnia. If you experience more of these symptoms, low testosterone may indeed be the culprit. A healthcare provider could perform tests to check your hormone levels and discuss potential treatment options if necessary.

Remember, you are not alone in this, and opening up about this is a positive step. Do feel free to post updates as you navigates these concerns. I'd be happy to listen to you and offer my support

[TayFerret]

The vaccine must have reversed the aging process and you're going to turn back into a little boy.

[Justincredible]

I am sorry you're dealing with that. I can imagine that you'd be freaked out about this. It is completely normal to feel concerned about changes in your body and sexual health, especially of this nature. Many people experience similar worries, and it's okay to talk about them.

Gaining weight can impact hormone levels and overall health, which may contribute to changes in sexual function. I suggest switching back to a healthier lifestyle if possible, including regular exercise and a balanced diet. Furthermore, emotional well-being can significantly impact one's sexual health. If you're feeling anxious or depressed about these changes, it might be helpful to speak with a mental health professional. A healthier lifestyle could also help with feeling better mentally. While it appears that some people have reported changes in sexual health after COVID-19 or vaccination, I haven't seen any studies yet that confirm this.

I see that you are in the US which makes this a lot more difficult, but it would indeed be best to talk to a GP or a urologist about your concerns. A doctor could provide a thorough evaluation, discuss your medications, and explore potential causes for the changes you're experiencing. Perhaps you could search online for local clinics or use resources like https://healthgrades.com/ or https://www.zocdoc.com/ to find a provider who accepts your insurance or offers sliding scale fees. You could also consider visiting a community health clinic. These clinics often provide services on a sliding scale based on income, and can be a good option for those without insurance. Alternatively, many healthcare providers offer phone services, which can be a convenient way to consult with a doctor without needing to visit a clinic in person.

As someone who is on testosterone blockers, I can confirm that low testosterone, as you mentioned, can lead to decreased libido and erectile dysfunction. Other signs of low testosterone are fatigue, mood changes, loss of muscle mass, increased body fat, hot flashes, difficulty concentrating, and sleep disturbances like insomnia. If you experience more of these symptoms, low testosterone may indeed be the culprit. A healthcare provider could perform tests to check your hormone levels and discuss potential treatment options if necessary.

Remember, you are not alone in this, and opening up about this is a positive step. Do feel free to post updates as you navigates these concerns. I'd be happy to listen to you and offer my support

I thank you so much for your feedback, and being so kind and supportive.

That was a really thoughtful response and it means a lot. It is really such an awful thing in life to deal with the affliction of being a map.

And when you add economic circumstances, lack of love life and getting older and fatter.. something like this is just too much.

I have decided that I am going to reach out to a men's health clinic. Even if I have to pay cash, at least to get some insight into what's going on with me.

I also threw out all the snacks and candy I had and bought some all natural foods with no added sugar.

Luckily, I do have health insurance.. but I don't have a primary care right now.. which makes things a little more difficult, but I'm going to take your advice and utilize those resources.

Also, thank you for sharing your experience and personal knowledge of these issues. I'd love to hear more about your story someday. I know we are all fighting various battles in our lives, and we have to stick together.

I'm really, truly grateful that I found this message board. Being a map is a very lonely existence sometimes.

It's such a profound, meaningful thing in our lives that makes up such a large part of who we are. Yet, it is the one thing we can't talk about, even with our closest friends and family.

I know this because I came out to them almost 20 years ago.. and it was a disaster. They had me committed in a mental institution.. and luckily I was able to talk to the doctors there and minimize the damage. And they eventually let me out after 3 days.

After I got out, I moved about 1500 miles away.. cut off contact with almost everybody and just blamed the whole situation on a really tough time in life and a bit of a mental breakdown.

And ever since then, I've just never brought it up again.

I have since gotten closer to my family again and have a pretty good support system. But still, this is just an issue we never discuss. Although, I think deep down they all still know it's true. We just don't talk about it.

Anyways, from the bottom of my heart I truly thank you.


I will keep you updated on everything and please don't ever hesitate to reach out

[Justincredible]

I am sorry you're dealing with that. I can imagine that you'd be freaked out about this. It is completely normal to feel concerned about changes in your body and sexual health, especially of this nature. Many people experience similar worries, and it's okay to talk about them.

Gaining weight can impact hormone levels and overall health, which may contribute to changes in sexual function. I suggest switching back to a healthier lifestyle if possible, including regular exercise and a balanced diet. Furthermore, emotional well-being can significantly impact one's sexual health. If you're feeling anxious or depressed about these changes, it might be helpful to speak with a mental health professional. A healthier lifestyle could also help with feeling better mentally. While it appears that some people have reported changes in sexual health after COVID-19 or vaccination, I haven't seen any studies yet that confirm this.

I see that you are in the US which makes this a lot more difficult, but it would indeed be best to talk to a GP or a urologist about your concerns. A doctor could provide a thorough evaluation, discuss your medications, and explore potential causes for the changes you're experiencing. Perhaps you could search online for local clinics or use resources like https://healthgrades.com/ or https://www.zocdoc.com/ to find a provider who accepts your insurance or offers sliding scale fees. You could also consider visiting a community health clinic. These clinics often provide services on a sliding scale based on income, and can be a good option for those without insurance. Alternatively, many healthcare providers offer phone services, which can be a convenient way to consult with a doctor without needing to visit a clinic in person.

As someone who is on testosterone blockers, I can confirm that low testosterone, as you mentioned, can lead to decreased libido and erectile dysfunction. Other signs of low testosterone are fatigue, mood changes, loss of muscle mass, increased body fat, hot flashes, difficulty concentrating, and sleep disturbances like insomnia. If you experience more of these symptoms, low testosterone may indeed be the culprit. A healthcare provider could perform tests to check your hormone levels and discuss potential treatment options if necessary.

Remember, you are not alone in this, and opening up about this is a positive step. Do feel free to post updates as you navigates these concerns. I'd be happy to listen to you and offer my support

P.S. .. I just sent you a message on ig, I saw it in your signature, so I figured I'd say hi!

[Julia]

You are very welcome! Being a MAP truly is one of the worst cards one can be dealt in this society. Like playing life on hard difficulty. Hence I'm happy I can be of help here Even if it's with something not directly related, I'm always looking to support my fellow MAPs.

I'm glad to hear that you're taking further steps to take care of yourself. Your course of action sounds good. May you find the help that you require and deserve. Also props for the discipline with which you're approaching this!

Thank you for trusting me with your story It sounds like you've been through a lot, and I can only imagine how difficult that must have been for you. I'm glad to hear that you've been able to reconnect with your family, though I think it might be best to not hold on to any expectations of them ever understanding, and to keep a certain distance from them emotionally since they have shown in the past that they're not safe to talk to about this.

We're always here to listen if you want to talk about your experiences or how you're feeling. You're not alone in this. We're your family now In the LGBTQ community, we call this chosen family, though I've never felt very comfy there. My MAP fam is where I feel at home. We're here to support you, and you can share as much or as little as you want. It is important that you can feel safe to discuss who you are.

[PinkPawn]

Are you much of a drinker? Alcohol causes high levels of estrogen, which brings its own side effects