# Disappearing Penis Hysteria-are we next?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-penis-hysteria-are-we-next/96794
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [December 4, 2001, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-penis-hysteria-are-we-next/96794 "2001-12-04T06:25:54Z")
**Posts on this page:** 10
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cynic)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2001, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-penis-hysteria-are-we-next/96794/1 "2001-12-04T06:25:54Z")
[This cite](http://www.stlcc.cc.mo.us/mc/users/vritts/psypath.htm) classifies the disorder Koro as a culture-bound syndrome originating from Chinese folk culture:
> [@](#):
>
> \*\* Koro is found primarily in China and some other South and East Asian countries. This syndrome has been traced within Chinese culture as far back as 3000 B.C. and refers to acute anxiety involving the fear that one’s genitals (the penis in men and the vulva and nipples in women) are shrinking and retracting into the body and may result in death.\*\*
But [this cite](http://www.omnimag.com/antimatter/new/penis.html) describes a similar disorder occurring in Ghana, implying that this delusion is not confined to a specific culture:
> [@](#):
>
> \*\* Last January, a dozen people in Ghana were beaten to death by mobs who accused them of making their penises shrink or vanish through witchcraft. \*\*
So does Koro _require_ a cultural belief in penile retraction in order for it to manifest itself? If it’s a psychiatric disorder, how do “massive outbreaks” occur? If cultural beliefs are not responsible, could it happen _here_?
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### Author:  [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2001, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-penis-hysteria-are-we-next/96794/2 "2001-12-04T06:33:16Z")
I mentioned this hysteria in Singapore in my staff report [Why does the penis shrink when it’s cold?](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mpenis.html)
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### Author:  [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2001, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-penis-hysteria-are-we-next/96794/3 "2001-12-04T13:46:28Z")
Any man who suspects that he might have _koro_ is advised to put a bamboo sheath on his penis before retiring for the night.
This device prevents the genitalia from disappearing altogether while the wearer is asleep.
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### Author:  [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2001, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-penis-hysteria-are-we-next/96794/4 "2001-12-04T13:58:02Z")
IIRC, a movie called **American Tickler** featured a segment about “Penis Snatchers from Outer Space”.
The “Outer Space” is the key part. Americans won’t fall for witchcraft stories, but we’re suckers for anything involving UFOs. Americans won’t believe their penises are being bewitched, but they might believe in alien cloning experiments and medical experimentation.
“We need a tissue sample”
“Take _this_. He won’t miss it.”
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### Author:  [@Delta-9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Delta-9)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2001, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-penis-hysteria-are-we-next/96794/5 "2001-12-04T14:14:13Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Nostradamus \*
> \*\*Any man who suspects that he might have _koro_ is advised to put a bamboo sheath on his penis before retiring for the night.
>
> This device prevents the genitalia from disappearing altogether while the wearer is asleep. \*\*
So _that’s_ what [this](http://delta9studio.com/bands/eds_secret/edgift.htm) is for.
::Delta-9 quickly shuts down his computer and hurries home for “further study”::
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### Author:  [@istara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/istara)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2001, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-penis-hysteria-are-we-next/96794/6 "2001-12-04T14:18:47Z")
_ **QUICK SURVEY** _
Have any of the male posters here noticed any shrinkage recently?!
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### Author:  [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2001, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-penis-hysteria-are-we-next/96794/7 "2001-12-04T16:03:25Z")
Well, there is a fat pad on the pubis that can sort of “envelop” the penis. Many babies are born with it and lose it as they lose their baby fat. Some don’t, and if it’s so bad the child has “buried penis” they sometimes do a fat excision so the kid has a penis you can see and enjoy.
Perhaps it’s possible that if someone gains wait in adulthood, the fat pad could increase and start “eating” the base of the penis? I dunno.
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### Author:  [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2001, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-penis-hysteria-are-we-next/96794/8 "2001-12-04T16:15:53Z")
Space aliens can have my penis when they pry it from my cold, lifeless hand.
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### Author:  [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2001, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-penis-hysteria-are-we-next/96794/9 "2001-12-04T16:17:29Z")
Only if [Mountain Dew](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a970829a.html) is involved, apparently.
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### Author:  [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2001, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-penis-hysteria-are-we-next/96794/10 "2001-12-04T16:23:07Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by plnnr \*
> \*\*Space aliens can have my penis when they pry it from my cold, lifeless hand. \*\*
If you don’t make this your new sig file, I will be very, very, very disappointed.