Worst kept secret: Most men really would rather have a large penis than a small penis. That’s one reason guys tend to check out their little guys so often, to make sure they haven’t really gotten little. A small penis isn’t a penis health issue, of course, and – unless one truly has a micropenis –  size tends to play a much smaller role than skill and health. Still, men want what they want, and so they may become distressed if they find that indeed their penis has shrunk. In some cases, however, it may not really have shrunk so much as become buried.

The buried penis

Most men have not heard about a buried penis, and even many who have may not know exactly what it refers to. If talking strictly technically, there are two kinds.

A pediatric buried penis. A baby may be born with a buried penis, which occurs when the ligaments that are supposed to hold and support the penis are not capable of doing their job, causing the majority of the penis to remain inside the body rather than outside.  It also can be a result of a poorly-done circumcision, in which scar tissue becomes very tight and causes body skin to pull forward, covering the base of the penis.

• An adult buried penis. Most of the time, an adult buried penis is likely to be the result of obesity. In this instance, the pubic pad to which the penis connects becomes layered in fat. As the fat grows, it “engulfs” more and more of the penis shaft until all or most of it is covered.

When a doctor uses the term “buried penis,” they are usually referring to an extreme case in which none of the shaft is visible, just the head; in some cases, the head may also be engulfed, except perhaps when erect.

Issues

A man with a true buried penis often feels embarrassed, ashamed, or humiliated. This is especially true when he is naked in front of another person (such as a potential partner) or group of people (such as in a gym locker room). But even when he is fully clothed, the knowledge that he has a buried penis may create psychological or emotional issues for him.

There can also be physical issues, of course. Usually an erect buried penis still is too short to effectively engage in typical penetrative sex. In addition, such a penis may require a man to urinate while seated in order to avoid dribbling and splattering; in some cases, even sitting does not solve this problem. Infections are more common with a buried penis, and it is difficult to keep it clean; the man must push  back as much of the surrounding fat as possible in order to expose more of the penis for washing.

Less extreme

Men who do not have a fully buried penis but have a pad which is becoming increasingly layered with fat do experience loss of length, and if the obesity continues run the risk of a true buried penis. Though they still have a visible shaft, the loss of visible penis size can be disturbing for them.

It is important to remember in such cases that the penis itself is still its same length; it’s simply that more of it is hidden underneath the fat. So men who are beginning to see this happen may be motivated to work with a doctor on a diet and exercise plan to help return to a healthier weight level.

Any penis, whether a small penis, a large one or a buried one, should be daily treated with a superior penis health oil (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) may help. Persistent penis odor can be a major problem for many men, so the oil should contain vitamin A, which has anti-bacterial properties to help target odor. In addition, the oil should also contain arginine, an amino acid which plays an important part in causing the blood vessels to dilate, allowing for increased blood flow.