Doctors are warning to watch out for `winter penis’ - a seasonal condition which can hinder a man's ability to perform in the bedroom. Experts say as the temperature drops and it becomes cold, the male genitalia begin to recede into the body to maintain body heat, resulting in restricted blood flow.

The phenomenon - which affects men of all ages – leads to all the male members shrinking in size by up to 50 per cent, while slowed circulation makes achieving an erection difficult when the thermostat drops.

The New York Times quoted Dr. Donald Grant – an adviser with a UK-based online drug store saying that even though `winter penis’ is a passing condition for most men and occurs only during frigid conditions, it reverses once the temperature recovers. “Winter penis is the body's temporary response to the drop in temperatures which causes the penis and testicles to shrink in size,” he said.

According to Dr. Grant, the condition affects more than 30 million men with erectile dysfunction in the US, and the occurrence can be “extremely difficult to manage,” he said, because of the additional underlying issues that block blood flow to the penis. In many cases, according to Dr. Grant – doctors may also prescribe medication to help stave off the mitigating effects of winter penis.

Erectile dysfunction is the persistent inability to achieve or maintain a penile erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual performance. According to experts, the condition mostly occurs in older men – over 40 years of age, and the numbers may be higher as many do not seek help for the condition due to embarrassment or shame.

Experts say it is necessary to get ED treated at the earliest as it is not just about sexual function, but the condition can also sometimes be an indicator of serious health problems like cardiovascular disease.

Dr. Grant also says that winter penis should not be confused with frostbite – another serious medical condition where tissue is exposed to extremely cold temperatures.

Frostbite causes permanent damage to your body, including tissue loss, autoamputation, and permanent nerve damage. If exposure to cold continues, it leads to the sensation of pins and needles before the area finally numbs over as tissue freezes, damaging it.

In extreme cases the tissue can be lost as a result, requiring amputation. However, frostbite of the penis is rare compared to other parts of the body like your ears or fingers as the genitals are more likely to be wrapped in clothing if someone is caught outdoors.

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