Chances are, you’ve been criticized for acting like it’s all about your penis. But it pretty much is: so much of your daily practices and behaviors, from your workouts to your sleep, affect the health of this key part of the body. Here’s what urologist Jamin Brahmbhatt, MD, assistant professor of urology at UCF College of Medicine and director of the Personalized Urology & Robotics Clinic at Orlando Health, is doing to keep working for him.

Shed your blood

I train three times a week, whether it’s running or lifting weights. Exercise helps keep your blood vessels flexible and healthy. This is especially important in the penis, which has some of the smallest vessels in the body. If they can’t deliver blood, you can’t have an erection. And if so, have your heart checked. Guys who develop erectile dysfunction, even in their forties, have a good chance of seeing other symptoms of heart disease over the next two or three years.

Don’t be afraid of a strategic cut

I was circumcised as an adult. Chronic dry skin meant cracks in the foreskin, and hygiene became an issue no matter what kind of creams and lotions I tried. Now I just wash with water (no harsh soaps) and I don’t use any moisturizer. Not everyone needs a circumcision, and not everyone needs a moisturizer. But don’t be afraid to take advantage of them if you think they’ll help keep you comfortable.

Distinguish facts and fantasies

I don’t need or want to watch porn, but urologists are concerned about how it can lead many men to think that their penis size and stamina is insufficient. Some will then spend a lot of money trying to change that. I remind them that the average erect penis is five inches, and healthy penises capable of having sex come in all sizes.

Check your feed

Urination is a vital function of your penis, and I recently found out that I had a kidney stone when I saw my urine was red. Other signals your urine stream is sending you – straining, pushing, dribbling, and feeling like you can’t empty – can indicate infection, scarring from an STD, or prostate problems. Have these signals checked.

Give things rest

I try to get enough sleep because it gives the body time to rebalance. Chronic sleep loss can lead to a drop in testosterone, which suppresses your desire and ability to get an erection. Sleep loss is also linked to body fat. The extra fat converts testosterone into estrogen faster, making it harder to maintain T.

A version of this article appeared in the June 2021 issue of Men’s health.

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