Question:
I took a steroid regime a few years ago (primo plus winstroil in relatively small doses over three months) along with doctor-prescribed human growth hormone (which I took for a year to 18 months). The doc, as I recall, had a sort of large, pudgy look when he informed me that he took HGH himself, but he looked good in a stocky, manly sort-of way.
Anyway, after I stopped the routine, around Sept. 99, I also stopped working out -- and travelled the world for 18 months or so. Concurrently, I noticed a gradual climb in my weight from 215 (12% body fat) to 255 now with, ahem, a bit higher body fat count (I'm speculating since I don't have a number). What was worse was that -- and this is not my imagination since I measured -- MY DICK SHRANK!
Do anabolic steroids cause permanent penis shrinkage (I know about the testicular part)? Could this have been a side effect of HGH? I am about to re-engage my trainer, who advocated this routine, in Florida and will work out with him to get back to where I was. I know the temptation will be there to go back to steroids which I wouldn't have the expertise to administer without his help. I do have the ability to self-inject the HGH, and it would be very easy for me to get back to using that. Any advise? I just want to know if I'm doing my dick any permanent damage, or if HGH will make me even bigger (if I stop lifting).
Answer:
Congratulations...
you have now discovered the #1 cause for shrinking dick syndrome (not a true
medical name)...
<drum roll>... GAINING WEIGHT
Anabolic steroids, obviously, increase muscle mass and that's why guys use
them. Testicular atrophy (shrunk balls) is the main visible physical side
effect of using them. The steroids though don't shrink nor grow the penis.
HGH also grows muscle and helps people feel younger and more energetic. How
you guys afford it, I have no idea. It has no effect on the penis or testicles
that I am aware of.
BUT... gaining weight has a dramatic effect on observed penis length. Often
with weight gain there is an increase in the suprapubic fat pad. Translation
is that the pad of fat under the hair around the penis gets pudgy. When this
fat enlarges, the penis gets buried more in the fat and looks shorter. It
will even measure shorter unless you push your measuring tape harder against
the pubic bone.
Neither the steroids nor the HGH will cause your penis to be 'bigger' unless
you lose weight and reduce your body fat. If you get your body fat back down
(regardless of method - but preferably by exercise and weight training), then
you'll have your nice long manly penis back to normal. If you are successful
in losing the weight and regaining your studly looking cock, send photos...
ummm... for medical purposes of course. :)