Ailment Spotlight: Atrophy

Disclaimer: This blog is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any health decisions.

What is Atrophy?

When a male talks about atrophy in relation to his sexual health, he is typically referring to the shrinking, weakening, or degeneration of tissues in the genital or reproductive system. This can involve the penis, testicles, or surrounding muscles and may be caused by several factors, including:

• Low Testosterone (Hypogonadism) – A decline in testosterone levels can lead to a reduction in penile and testicular size, as well as decreased libido and erectile function.
• Disuse or Lack of Sexual Activity – Long periods of abstinence or lack of erections can contribute to reduced blood flow and tissue shrinkage.
• Aging – Natural aging can lead to decreased hormone production and muscle tone loss.
• Pelvic Floor Dysfunction – Weak pelvic floor muscles can impact erection quality and urinary control.
• Nerve Damage – Conditions like diabetes, spinal cord injuries, or prostate surgery can impair nerve function, leading to atrophy.
• Vascular Issues – Reduced blood flow due to cardiovascular problems can cause tissue degradation.
• Use of Androgen-Deprivation Therapy – Men undergoing treatment for prostate cancer may experience genital atrophy due to reduced testosterone.

Now, this blog is not meant to replace a visit to your medical professional. However, if you want to prepare yourself and learn about your situation so you are well educated about your situation, let's dive in!

What steps can we take towards reversing it?

That depends entirely on what you believe the cause is. Read through the list of factors above and make note of any that might have impacted you or led you to where you are today. We'll review each of them separately.

Hypogonadism (Low T)

Low testosterone (T) can contribute to a loss of penile tissue, erectile dysfunction, and reduced libido.

Low (T) is prevalent in men today and is a treatable condition.

It makes the most sense to get your levels tested before moving forward.

• Total Testosterone (TT) - The total testosterone in the body (both bound and free). A normal range is ~300-1,000 ng/dL, but this varies by lab. Also, keep in mind that the "normal" is meant to represent the majority of people they test! Most people are unhealthy, and the "low" end of that range is likely much lower than it was several decades ago when humans were less toxic.
• Free Testosterone (FT) - The active, unbound testosterone available for use by the body. This is usually a good indicator of symptoms. Only ~2% of testosterone is free, the rest is bound to proteins.
• Bioavailable Testosterone - Includes free T plus loosely bound T (to albumin), which is the most useful portion of T. This can be more accurate than free T alone in some cases.
• Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) - High SHBG can bind up testosterone, making free T lower, despite normal total T!
• Lutenizing Hormone (LH) & Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) - Helps determine if low T is from testicular failure (primary hypogonadism) or an issue with the brain/pituitary (secondary hypogonadism)

Nutrient deficiencies!

• This is a space I am incredibly passionate about. These nutrients are on the periodic table of elements, they are necessary to sustain life. Their amounts in the soil are dropping (e.g. nearly 50% of soils in China are low in Zinc), so... their amounts in our foods are dropping.
• Zinc: Zinc is directly linked to testosterone levels, which influences libido in both men and women. A deficiency can lead to low testosterone, reduced sexual desire, and ED. Studies show that Zinc supplementation can increase testosterone levels in deficient individuals. Zinc also supports dopamine production, which plays a role in sexual arousal. See our separate article on Zinc, here.
• Selenium: Selenium is essential for sperm production, testosterone synthesis, and overall reproductive health. Some studies suggest it may improve sperm quality and motility. A deficiency in selenium can lead to oxidative stress and reduced testosterone levels, which may affect libido. 

Disuse or Lack of Sexual Activity

This one is harder for me to help with. You can be scientific about many of your approaches, but this one may have limiting factors that only you know about and only you and your partner can address.

If libido or other factors are holding you back, try and address those and remove those bottlenecks first, so when the moment arises, you can be at your best.

If you are abstaining for whatever reason, it pays to recognize that long term, there may be some truth to the old adage - "use it, or lose it".

Aging

There is a working theory online (Dr. Smith, toxic bile theory, Low VA community) that suggests that aging is really just a calcification of soft tissues. I say absolutely.

If Vitamin A can calcify the aortic valve and plays a role in atherogenesis, who's to say it isn't also wreaking havoc in the blood vessels in your organ? Vascular calcification can absolutely lead to restricted blood flow, which can negatively impact erectile function and tissue health. 

So, if calcium is restricting arterial diameter or reducing vascular flexibility, it can contribute to atrophy, weaker erections, and decreased vascularity over time.

Plaque in the internal pudendal artery might reduce blood supply to penile tissues, and arterial hardening (via calcification) reduces elasticity, which makes it harder to accommodate increased blood flow during arousal. Even just slight calcification can have all of these effects.

Things that you're probably doing that are calcifying you into a statue:

• Too much calcium in the diet. Foods have been fortified with calcium for decades now. Check your nutrition labels.
• Vitamin D Supplements (bad! More here.)
• Too much Vitamin A in the diet. Vitamin A takes calcium directly out of bones, which is bad.
• Not enough (and not the right forms of) Magnesium in the diet. Magnesium loosens and antagonizes calcium, and it also sends it to the right places.

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Pelvic floor dysfunction can contribute to atrophy by impairing blood flow, nerve signaling, and muscle function in the region. When the pelvic floor muscles become overly tight, weak, or imbalanced, they can compress blood vessels, restricting circulation to the penile and perineal tissues. This reduced blood supply can lead to decreased oxygenation, limiting nutrient delivery and slowing tissue repair.

Additionally, poor pelvic floor coordination may weaken erectile function by disrupting the normal contraction and relaxation processes required for optimal blood retention. Over time, this lack of stimulation and restricted blood flow can contribute to vascular atrophy, reduced erectile firmness, and diminished tissue elasticity, reinforcing a cycle of dysfunction.

An entire article about the Pelvic Floor will be coming soon.

 

Other issues, like Nerve Damage, Vascular Issues, and use of ADT

I will say that ED is usually an early sign of vascular disease, because penile arteries are smaller than coronary arteries. Even slight atherosclerosis or calcification in these vessels can cause blood flow restriction. So if you have vascular issues, you may be facing other issues (stress, smoking, alcohol, endothelial cell damage, low NO production, hormonal issues, etc.)

 

Conclusion

In conclusion, atrophy is rarely caused by a single factor—it’s often the result of a combination of vascular restrictions, hormonal imbalances, and lifestyle-driven deterioration. Identifying your biggest contributors allows for a targeted, pragmatic approach to restoration. Whether you’re addressing calcification, endothelial dysfunction, or hormonal deficiencies, circulation remains key to recovery. The VascuVive Wheel serves as a powerful tool in this process, actively pushing fresh blood through capillary beds that may have been stagnant for years, stimulating vascular regeneration, tissue remodeling, and optimal function. By taking a proactive approach, you can reclaim your vitality and restore what time and neglect may have diminished.

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Check out the VascuVive wheels here.