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Erectile dysfunction is a condition in which you have trouble getting or keeping an erection firm enough for satisfying sex. Erectile dysfunction affects as many as 30 million men in the United States.
Premature ejaculation (PE) is a sexual dysfunction characterized by a short ejaculatory latency, a perceived lack of control about the timing of ejaculation, and distress and interpersonal difficulty related to ejaculating too quickly.
Low testosterone or testosterone deficiency, also known as hypogonadism, is a condition in which patients develop symptoms such as low sex drive, erectile dysfunction (ED), and fatigue because the body doesn’t produce enough testosterone.
Though many men don’t like to talk about it, ejaculation problems are very common. Some of the most common issues include premature, delayed, or retrograde ejaculation.
When you think of male sexual dysfunction, concerns like erectile dysfunction (ED) or premature ejaculation (PE) probably come to mind first. But there’s another sex-related issue that’s more common in men than you might expect: difficulty orgasming.
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Looking down and not seeing your penis might seem like the stuff of nightmares — it can’t just disappear, right?!
No, it can’t. Not unless you’ve suffered some traumatic injury. So what’s going on?
A buried penis happens when excess skin or fat tissue folds over a normal-sized penis, making it less visible. You can be born with a buried penis or acquire it later in life due to conditions like obesity or scrotal swelling.
If you think you have a buried penis, keep reading to find out what might be causing it and explore treatment options to help it come out of hiding.
A buried penis (also known as a hidden or inverted penis) is a medical condition in which excess skin or fat from the abdomen, thighs, or scrotum hangs over the penis.
Unlike a micropenis, in which the penis is abnormally small, a buried penis typically has a normal size. However, because the penis shaft and glans (head of the penis) are partially or completely out of view, it gives the illusion that the penis is shorter or not there at all.
You can be born with a buried penis, in which case it’s called a congenital buried penis. If you acquire it as an adult, the condition is known as adult-acquired buried penis.
Though a buried penis can happen from injuries and infections in men of all body types, it’s more common in those with obesity. Studies show that 87 percent of men who undergo surgical treatment for buried penis have obesity.
A buried penis can have a negative impact on your mental health and sexual function. It can also contribute to other health conditions like phimosis or even penile cancer.
Some boys are born with a hidden penis due to abnormal fetal development of the penile shaft. This abnormal development can cause weak ligaments in the penis (dysgenetic dartos).
A boy can also be born with a webbed penis — that’s when the scrotal skin is attached too high to the underside of the penile shaft.
In some cases, circumcision can cause a buried penis if too much foreskin is removed — or not enough. For some newborns, a circumcision-related buried penis resolves on its own within three years. However, there have been cases where complications from childhood circumcision caused a buried penis to persist in adulthood.
Other causes of a buried penis in adults include:
Obesity. The most common cause of a buried penis in adult men is obesity. Excess fat around the belly and genital area can cause the penis to become hidden within skin folds.
Scrotal or genital lymphedema. Scrotal lymphedema is when there’s a buildup of lymph fluid in the scrotum due to a blockage in the lymphatic system. The blockage can cause swelling, leading to the penis getting buried within the scrotal tissues.
Inflammatory skin conditions. Rare skin conditions likelichen sclerosus (itchy patches on the genitals) and hidradenitis suppurativa (painful nodules or legions) mayalso cause a buried penis due to inflammation.
Without treatment, a buried penis can affect your quality of life and potentially lead to serious complications.
These complications include:
Urinary tract infections. A buried penis puts you at risk for frequent UTIs. You may feel a burning sensation when you pee or notice dribbling afterward.
Skin infections. Bacterial or fungal skin infections and recurrent balanitis (inflammation of the penis head) may also arise from a buried penis due to poor hygiene and trapped moisture.
Erectile dysfunction (ED).Studies show having a buried penis can contribute to erectile dysfunction. ED is characterized by difficulty getting or maintaining an erection.
Phimosis. Having a buried penis is linked to recurrent phimosis, a condition where the foreskin can’t be pulled back.
Penile cancer. Though the connection isn’t totally clear, experts consider a buried penis a risk factor for penile cancer.
To diagnose a buried penis, your healthcare provider or urologist will perform a physical exam. You might be asked to lie on your back or stand while they inspect your penis. They may also push down on the tissues surrounding your penis if they can’t locate it.
Treatments for a buried penis depend on the underlying cause.
For instance, a hidden penis might be the result of having class III obesity — a BMI (body mass index) of 40 or higher. In that case, your healthcare provider may recommend pursuing weight loss treatments as a first step.
Surgical treatment is another option. Some studies show that many men who’ve lost weight still have remaining prepubic fat that could benefit from surgery.
Other studies have shown that surgery can improve numerous symptoms that far exceed just being able to see your penis again.
For example, erectile dysfunction related to a buried penis has been found to decrease from 91 percent to 63 percent after buried penis repair surgery. Beyond improved sexual function, there have been reports of better urinary function, fewer skin rashes, and increased quality of life.
Types of Surgery for a Buried or Hidden Penis
Surgical treatments for a buried penis may include:
Panniculectomy. This procedure removes excess skin that hangs over the pubic area, known as a pannus. It’s often pursued after drastic weight loss and has a high success rate in men with buried penises.
Escutcheonectomy. In an escutcheonectomy, a surgeon removes the fat pad just above the pubic area.
Abdominoplasty. Better known as a tummy tuck, this surgery removes excess fat and skin from the belly. It may be combined with suction lipectomy, aka lipo, a procedure where fat cells are removed via suction catheters.
Skin graft. Your surgery may also involve skin grafting, where healthy tissue from one body part is transplanted to repair scrotal or penile skin.
If your buried penis is causing other symptoms like UTIs, skin infections, or ED, your provider may prescribe additional medications like antibiotics, topical creams, or ED medications.
Having a hidden, buried, or inverted penis can be difficult to deal with. We get it. But you do have options.
Remember:
A buried penis has many potential causes. The most common cause is obesity, but a buried or hidden penis can also happen because of inflammatory skin conditions or excess lymph fluid.
If you don’t seek treatment, you can wind up with bigger problems. A buried penis can lead to many other health conditions, such as UTIs, erectile dysfunction, skin infections, and even penile cancer.
Treatments are available. Besides losing weight, if your buried penis is the result of obesity, you can explore surgical options to remove excess skin or fat.
If you have a buried or hidden penis, it’s time to come out of hiding. Contact your healthcare or a urology specialist provider today to take action.
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Ho TA, et al. (2018). Evaluation and management of adult acquired buried penis. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6127540/
Kara ÖN, et al. (2020). Buried penis in adults as a complication of circumcision: Surgical management and long-term outcomes. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/and.13921
King I, et al. (2013). Buried penis: evaluation of outcomes in children and adults, modification of a unified treatment algorithm, and review of the literature. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/2013/109349
Liaw AR, et al. (2017). Incidence of urethral stricture in patients with adult acquired buried penis. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/2017/7056173
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Erectile Dysfunction
Premature Ejaculation
Low Testosterone
Retrograde Ejaculation
Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
Anorgasmia