The fragile "pleasure stick": Analyzing the penile physiological structure, erectile hydraulic system, and new stages of sexual life in old age [i]

Few human organs are as shrouded in mystery and legend as the penis. It is the seat of male self-awareness, sexual ability, and masculinity, the center of male identity. But this "best friend" of men also has its share of troubles: on the one hand, surveys show its average length is 7-15 centimeters (statistically, the average length of a German man's penis is 12.5 centimeters); on the other hand, it causes increasingly more problems. The level of libido is not determined by the length of the penis. Knowledge about the penis: The male sexual organ is a complex system. One-quarter of penises are curved. But as long as it doesn't affect intercourse, there's no need to worry about its shape being normal. Compared to other vertebrates, the human penis has no bones, thus allowing for relatively smooth insertion into the vagina. In fact, the process of intercourse is a unique "hydraulic pump" and "valve system" regulating penile erection. Upon sexual stimulation, the corpora cavernosa of the penis fill with blood, and simultaneously, the venous return valves close, allowing the penis to lengthen by 5-7 centimeters during erection. This system is regulated by many other factors, such as nerve impulses, hormones, and muscles. Penile erection can be achieved either by stimulating the penis itself or by stimulating the brain's sexual arousal centers. When erection is achieved through stimulation of the sexual organs, a portion of the spinal cord, known as the lumbosacral erection center, plays a role. Dangers facing the penis: Besides providing sexual pleasure and fulfilling its function of procreation, the penis is also responsible for draining urine from the bladder. Urine and semen are expelled through the same passage-the urethra. A fork at the base of the penis prevents urine and sperm from being expelled simultaneously. Because the male sexual organs are very close to the urinary system, diseases of one system can easily spread to the other. Fortunately, the likelihood of men developing penile cancer is very small. Only 2 out of 100,000 men develop penile cancer, and most of these cases occur after the age of 60. If penile cancer is detected early, in most cases, the penis can be preserved through laser treatment or surgery. The chance of a complete cure is as high as 90%. Men around 20 years old are at the peak of their sexual activity. Men around 50 years old often find that their lower back strength declines, their sexual activity weakens, and they require longer periods and stronger sexual stimulation to achieve a full erection. All these changes do not mean that older adults are saying goodbye to a satisfying sex life. From a sexual perspective, although older adults' sexual abilities decline, it's important to understand that a new phase of sexual activity begins. Sexual life in old age is an active process; new forms and methods of sexual expression replace the previous pursuit of sexual capacity and sex determined by sexual organs. They no longer simply pursue the number of orgasms or physical pleasure, but rather replace sexual desire with new forms of sex, genuine intimacy, and shared experiences and fantasies. Physiological changes do not render older adults genderless. Whether one feels good about their sex life depends primarily on their relationship with their partner. A positive and satisfying sex life always belongs to those who dare to face this new phase of old age and see sexual desire as a source of enjoyment in life. [i]