Concern About Penile Length Loss: Flaccid Stretched or Erect Measurement?

[pleaseneedhelp]

Concern About Penile Length Loss: Flaccid Stretched or Erect Measurement?

Hi everyone,

First of all, thank you to all those who keep this invaluable support space alive. It means a lot.

I'm reaching out today because I'm struggling to understand what's happening to me, and I'm hoping to find support and guidance here. I've realized that navigating this journey alone—or even with a random urologist who might not fully understand—is not the way forward. That's why I'm turning to this community.

Here's my situation:

For the past two months, I've been dealing with pain around a scar located halfway down the underside of my penis, around the urethra area.
It's a scar I had never really noticed before—it had never been painful, and I'm pretty sure it's always been there.
Now, however, it's causing indentations and some weakness at that spot, with a slight hourglass effect.
There's no obvious curvature (yet), but I'm deeply worried.

To be honest, I'm terrified of what's to come.
Mentally, I've always been a bit fragile, and this situation has pushed me into a severe depression.
I'm constantly haunted by dark thoughts and overwhelming fear—fear of every possible deformation that might develop.

So I have a specific question:

How can someone know if they're actually losing penile length?

Is measuring the stretched flaccid penis a reliable indicator?

I find it hard to measure during an erection because I'm so anxious about what I'll see, I'm not sure the result would even be accurate...

My current treatment:

Celebrex: twice a day

CoQ10: 300mg/day

Propolis: 400mg/day

Vitamin E: 500mg/day

Pentoxifylline: 3 x 400mg/day

Black seed oil: twice a day

Hyperthermia: every other day

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my message.
I truly hope I can find the kind of support here that I haven't been able to find elsewhere.

Wishing strength and healing to all of you.

Warmly,
Fred

[Arthur]

Welcome to the forum, brother! I hope you get all the support you need.

I'm personally more concerned about my erect length than flacid but you should take measurements of both (usually when we start traction therapy the first noticable improvements are in the flacid state).

I'm not really sure if stretched flacid length is the best indicator of length loss because I am more interested in erect length and don't measure it stretched because it triggers inflammation for me. But when the scar tissue gets worsens we also tend to lose stretched flacid length.

My suggestion: Measure all of it.
Length in both flacid and erect state and also the girth.

And also take some photos of it in non-stretched flacid state so you can observe how low/freely it's hanging & how tense it usually seems, etc. These non-stretched photos can vary widely depending on many factors but in the long run you may notice some improvements which were too gradual to be noticeable.

To measure erect, you can take a plastic rule and place in next to your penis and press it til it touches the pelvis bone and can't be pressed any further, and then take the measurements. But don't try this if it triggers inflammation for you.

For girth, take any flexible measuring tape.

Can you also tell us how long have you been on your current treatment protocol and if you have seen any improvements? I was thinking about trying many of those supplements that you are taking.

Good luck, brother!
Take care & have a great day!

[pleaseneedhelp]

Hello Arthur,

Thank you sincerely for taking the time to reply to me. It really warms my heart. My anxiety is currently so intense that I'm no longer able to achieve a significant erection, so it's difficult to assess things in this situation. But thank you for all your recommendations and advice — I will follow them carefully as soon as I'm able to, hopefully in the near future.

To answer your question about my current treatment: I started Celebrex and vitamin E about a month ago. Based on my readings, I gradually added CoQ10, black seed oil for its anti-inflammatory properties, propolis, and hyperthermia. The pain hasn't gone away, although I feel (subjectively?) that sometimes it's a bit less intense. No immediate effect, then — but I'd say there are some hopeful signs...

Regarding inflammation, do you think that simply pulling on a flaccid penis could be contributing to it? I won't lie — I do this very often because of my anxiety, although I don't feel increased pain afterward. Since I'm in the acute phase, I'm wondering if vacuum traction (like a DEV device?) would be really contraindicated in my case. I'm so afraid of letting the tissues deteriorate by doing nothing...

Some people advise letting the penis rest during the healing phase, while others recommend controlled activity. It's hard to make a decision in this situation — each person has to go with their conscience, with all the risks that entails...

Good luck to you too, brother. I hope you've managed to stop the progression of what you're going through.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Fred

[Arthur]

I'm not really sure if pulling on it or using VED devices would cause any more inflammation for you, everyone's body reacts differently to this. And I'm really conflicted regarding using a traction device myself because I injured myself  by doing manual traction incorrectly a few years ago and worsened my condition.

If you try any kind of traction, do it only while completely flaccid or it could cause more injuries.

But one thing that I would suggest is try to get a daily dose tadalafil prescription by a doctor (if you don't have any heart or blood pressure, etc issues), because it can work wonders for your erections.

Good luck.

[pleaseneedhelp]

Hi Arthur,

Thank you for the valuable advice!! Sending you my warmest regards.

[LWillisjr]

For the past two months, I've been dealing with pain around a scar located halfway down the underside of my penis, around the urethra area.

To be honest, I'm terrified of what's to come.
Mentally, I've always been a bit fragile, and this situation has pushed me into a severe depression.
I'm constantly haunted by dark thoughts and overwhelming fear—fear of every possible deformation that might develop.

I've read your posts, and trying to understand what you are specifically dealing with. Are you able to achieve an erection, and are you able to have sex? Is the pain always present, or sometimes?

I understand this all weighs on your mental state. I also know that sometimes we focus on our fears and the unknown. Like will I lose length, will this get worse, I can function now but can I function in the future.

I want to encourage you to focus on the positives. Stay in the present, focus on the now. Don't let your mind play the what if games. You have control over this. I understand you are dealing with some new symptoms, but this could be the extent of it. And it may be temporary and will go away. You already said your mind is in a fragile state, don't let this get to you. We are here to support you.

[Pfract]

Others have already chimed in, but I have to add that a proper diagnosis and a sexual medicine specialist that you can work with and have as Your doctor can be very beneficial. Prescribing you medicine, offering support and guidance and much more.

That way you know you are on the right track. As for peyronies if you do have it, it may or may not progress. So try to stay calm and focused.

[pleaseneedhelp]

dear L.Willisjr, dear Pfract ,

Thank you both for your messages of support

To answer some of your questions, I would say that I can still have erections, but they are weak.

My hourglass effect is worsening day by day, making the (infrequent) intercourse very uncomfortable, for fear of injuring myself even more.

The pain is constant, but becomes stronger after ejaculation or in times of stress and anxiety. The plaque is located on the ventral side (urethra side), but I now feel a small painful nodule in the middle of my penis, on the dorsal side this time. I feel like the condition is progressing...

I am really very panicked... I can't take it anymore.