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According to a recent survey, 8 in 10 men feel that there is a societal pressure for them to be a certain way. Four in ten (41%) say this pressure comes from expectations around their physical appearance. But many would like people to consider more than just looks before jumping to any conclusions.

So after we discovered a few online threads where men have been sharing the insights and frustrations they wish women understood about their bodies, we put together the most popular, recurring points to give you, dear pandas, a clearer look at the male perspective.

#1

Man in a light blue shirt looking down thoughtfully with hands crossed over his chest, reflecting feelings men want women to understand. Men can actually lactate under extreme conditions.

Blackops606 , Timur Weber Report

Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het
Community Member
Premium
21 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don't tell the transphobes this, they may get even more confused than they already are.

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    #2

    It shrinks. Like a frightened turtle. It just does.

    Prehistoricshark Report

    #3

    Muscular man stretching leg in gym, representing things about men guys want women to understand. Males have a hormonal cycle just like females.

    I think almost everyone knows the female hormonal cycle: her period. Its course is a month. The male hormonal cycle takes the course of a single day (every day).

    Testosterone levels are at their highest in the morning (think morning wood) and gradually/slightly depreciate throughout the day. At night, test levels are at their lowest, which is why most men start to have negative thoughts around that time. Nothing beats the 2AM existential dread.

    iwritepoorest , Getty Images Report

    Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het
    Community Member
    Premium
    21 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I can think of a couple of male pandas who always seem to be manstruating.

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    #4

    45 Fascinating Things Men Shared About Their Bodies For Women To Know Women often think they know this, but many (especially younger) women don't really understand just how much stronger the average man is compared to the average woman. Yes, there are exceptions and edge cases, but by and large, if you pluck a man and a woman from a crowd, the man will be significantly stronger than the woman.

    ChevalierMal_Fet , Mister Mister/Pexels Report

    fuxfux
    Community Member
    9 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There are so many men out there who think it's funny to overpower a woman and tell her he could do anything to her but is too nice for doing so. So what makes men think women don't know. We do.

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    #5

    Couple sharing a tender moment in the kitchen, highlighting men and women relationship insights men want women to understand. Testosterone levels tend to vary throughout the day being the highest in the morning. It's not just morning wood, men are "in the mood" more naturally in the mornings.

    ExistingTheDream , EyeEm Report

    Rahb in Oz
    Community Member
    5 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Men are more likely to be in the mood more often, but mornings? Meh, I would rather roll over and sleep in.

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    #6

    45 Fascinating Things Men Shared About Their Bodies For Women To Know Often times, a glancing blow off the ballbag is way more painful than a full on kick to the jimmies.

    Riker_Omega_Three , Kindel Media/Pexels Report

    Controlled Chaos
    Community Member
    Premium
    11 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I’m not sure you know what “teabagging” is…

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    #7

    Man lying on bed with hands near face, reflecting on things about men guys want women to understand. We don't have nearly as much control over our erections as you seem to think.

    anon , Katharina Roehler Report

    #8

    Close-up of a young man's face with water droplets, representing insights about men women often want to understand. In general male skin is thicker, oilier and ages differently. Male skin is, on average, approximately 20% thicker than female skin. It contains more collagen and has a tighter, firmer appearance.

    The_Zeroman , Christopher Campbell Report

    Lee Gilliland
    Community Member
    Premium
    21 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Which is why women develop fine lines first.

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    #9

    Person holding green and blue color swatches over wooden table with laptop and color wheel illustrating things men want women to understand. Men can't differentiate colors as well as women. Two different shades of green to a woman might just be "green" to a man. Lower number of cones in the eyes or something.

    felton639 , pressfoto Report

    Lee Gilliland
    Community Member
    Premium
    21 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    When they say they can't discern the difference between coral and peach they mean it.

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    #10

    Couple sharing a romantic moment by the window, illustrating things about men guys want women to understand. Just because it's up doesn't mean we want to do it. But hey if it gets you in the mood and you want to do it, maybe we want to do it too!

    Far-Song-8594 , Getty Images Report

    Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het
    Community Member
    Premium
    21 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It sometimes has a life of its own. During my maths GCSE I shifted in my chair and realised I had the raging stonk on. And no, maths does not get me in the mood.

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    #11

    Young couple in kitchen with baby, highlighting things about men guys want women to understand in family life. After the birth of your child, a man's testosterone will drop.

    Basically nature's way of ensuring your rage and anger calms down. It will normally increase after a while but not always.

    Iguy_Poljus , Getty Images Report

    Smeghead Tribble Down Under
    Community Member
    10 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    ''Rage and anger''. Two things that shouldn't be around babies.

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    #12

    Pregnancy tests can be a rudimentary/unsophisticated way to check for testicular cancer. If a man [urinates] on a pregnancy test and it shows a positive result, that man should get checked out by a doctor. It's not a failproof thing, but it's not entirely untrue either.

    slick1260 Report

    OneHappyPuppy
    Community Member
    21 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's because pregnancy tests look for human chorionic gonadotropin, a protein some cancer cells make as well. It's basically an indicator of new cell growth - i.e. something that happens in a pregnancy and in developing cancer

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    #13

    A man relaxing on a couch using a tablet, representing things about men guys want women to understand. If you’re just laying there, you can watch as your testicles move and your sack expands and contracts as it tries to regulate its temperature. This is exaggerated if you had a procedure like a vasectomy and there’s swelling and such. It’s wild.

    melanthius:

    My wife used to be so mesmerized at this. It like never seems to stop

    treywarp , freepik Report

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    #14

    Even if the stream comes out straight as an arrow, sometimes it will randomly just split into 2 streams or veer off in another direction.

    Riker_Omega_Three:

    And sometimes you get the sprinkler head where it just comes out every which a way.

    Cydone12 Report

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    #15

    1 in 3 men experience male pattern baldness.

    RaptorHunter182:

    It's me. I shaved my head at 17 because I started balding at 15 and couldn't take it anymore. Now I'm 19 (almost 20) and still bald have a beard XD
    I was mistaken for teachers when I was in high school.

    quinn_ice Report

    Laszlo Larthlanc
    Community Member
    7 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If my wife still likes me after I go bald then everything's A-OK.

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    #16

    Men can undergo hormonal changes when their wife is pregnant and giving birth.

    perpulstuph Report

    Lukas (he/him, it/its)
    Community Member
    Premium
    18 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And men can also experience post-partum depression.

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    #17

    Men's sizes and shape change for things that aren't even sexual. Mood, temperature, etc.

    I actually had to explain this to a girl I was seeing that thought sizes are constantly the same. She said mine was bigger than last time and I was like "Girl, you know it changes?"

    Then we had that whole talk.

    TheApathyParty3 Report

    Gareth Owen
    Community Member
    7 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It shrinks? I don't know how you walk around with those things

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    #18

    The reason it hurts so much when our testicles are hit is because when we are developing in the womb the testicles descend from where the ovaries would be and drag with them neural connections: that's why a kick in the testicles fills very similar to a kick in the stomach. Similarly, when descending they take muscle tissue from our abs, so if you run your fingers with some force through your lower abs you can make your testicles retract.

    Apparently the reason we get erect sleeping or when waking up is because during sleep our testosterone levels fluctuate in a pretty big way.

    The center of gravity of the male body is around the chest, whereas the female body's is on the hips.

    Cptn_RedB Report

    UnclePanda
    Community Member
    Premium
    8 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    For most males, the center of gravity is a couple of feet lower.

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    #19

    We do not "drain our [testicles]" when we ejaculate, we drain our prostate. Testicles are little factories.

    rodeler Report

    sofacushionfort
    Community Member
    19 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There’s about three feet of tubing from the testicles to the orfice. The s***m ejaculated a several weeks old (this is why a sample is inspected after vasectomy to be sure you’re really shooting blanks)

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    #20

    When a man loses one testicle, the other goes into overproduction to make up the difference. Essentially, a super nut. It also hangs right in the middle and is more aesthetically pleasing.

    CannaKitchen757 Report

    Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het
    Community Member
    Premium
    21 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We carry a spare. Just like the Royal family.

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    #21

    Men have a greater reward response to alcohol. They release more dopamine than women do when they drink, and it makes them more susceptible to alcoholism as a result.

    [deleted] Report

    Goover
    Community Member
    14 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I've also recently read the opposite of this, So I guess we shouldn't just believe everything posted in articles we read or on board panda as well without checking further into it

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    #22

    If a man falls over and has a erection it’s a sign of a lower back injury.

    Also a erection for longer than 3 hours is a bad thing call paramedics if that happens.

    YEETUSTHATFETUS666 Report

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    #23

    Doctor performing ultrasound scan on pregnant woman, highlighting things about men women often want to understand. Their [testicles] used to be labia, because we all start out life [the same] in the womb.

    HermitHemorrhage , freepik Report

    Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het
    Community Member
    Premium
    21 hours ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    The peenurse is a transformed version of the clitterati. Let's see if my spelling fools the censors.

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    #24

    Body hair is inversely correlated with male pattern baldness (something to do with testosterone receptors iirc). The more body hair you have the more likely is you'll go bald.

    Also the reason bald dudes shave their head but usually keep a very nice beard, and why I can't grow more than a stash at 26 but my hair is stupid thick and my body is mostly hairless save for arms, legs and a bit on the chest.

    ExplosiveMachine Report

    Apatheist
    Community Member
    10 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Not sure this is true - men in my family have hairy chests, but no baldies.

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    #25

    The distance after which the stream will change shape once exiting the urethra can be used to detect issues with the prostate.

    A doctor in the UK came up with that idea. You just have to hold a card next to the stream and then you should be able to tell if something is off relatively reliable.

    C111-its-the-best Report

    Zig Zag Wanderer
    Community Member
    18 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Not totally reliable. However, i usually pîss like a horse, so I'm reassured.

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    #26

    The older I get, more noises come from inside.

    Expensive-Track4002 Report

    #27

    When we are young (testosterone levels are high), like 15-16 years old, we get something called “Nervous [erections]”.

    School teacher goes around asking questions on stuff taught last class, and I would have no answers, along with goosebumps, little guy down there decides to wake up.

    Doesn’t happen now that I am in my 40s.

    [deleted] Report

    JB
    Community Member
    12 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Flex your thighs and your glutes and it diverts the blood.

    #28

    Men restroom sign on a textured wall, symbolizing things about men women often want to understand better. Half of men over 50 have a difficult time [urinating] due to an enlarged prostate.

    sn0m0ns , EyeEm Report

    Savannah greenleaf
    Community Member
    Premium
    9 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I believe this risk increases proportionately with age. Like 50% at 50, 60% at 60, etc.

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    #29

    Man lying in bed covered with a blanket, checking his temperature, illustrating things about men guys want women to understand. If you feel cold and your [testicles] are hanging, you got fever man

    Romg2004 , Yulia Raneva Report

    JB
    Community Member
    12 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's a higher risk of dunking when you've got a fever.

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    #30

    Male babies can get erections in the womb.

    Sad-Mathematician-19 Report

    WubiDubi
    Community Member
    19 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Considering babies also pee in the womb, that's a pre-birth annoyance.

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    #31

    If you have a [testicle] that is particularly large, you can get an indication whether it's a tumor or hydrocele due to an injury with a simple flashlight.

    Position the flashlight shining through your scrotum, if the [testicle] casts a shadow, it is likely a solid mass like a tumor, if the light shines through the growth, it's likely a liquid. Talk to your doctor accordingly.

    Tallproley Report

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    #32

    When they are cold their testies shrivel up, when they are hot their testies fall down.

    m9l6 Report

    Mook The Mediocre
    Community Member
    18 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "When they are cold their testies shrivel up" - scrotums (i.e. scrota), not testes shrivel in the cold.

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    #33

    The path that your testicles take while descending into the scrotum sometimes doesn't close and your intestines can herniate into the scrotum. Med school is fun for fun facts.

    3dprintingn00b Report

    Rick Murray
    Community Member
    6 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeah, there is quite a lot wrong with the design of the human body. Quality Control were definitely asleep when the first of us rolled off the production line.

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    #34

    It's farther forward than a lot of you seem to think. Your junk is between your legs; ours is more in front of our legs.

    Mythnam Report

    WubiDubi
    Community Member
    19 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Some people need an internal anatomy lesson. Go look up a CT / MRI scan.

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    #35

    Wooden mannequin sitting on a white shelf, symbolizing men and thoughts women often want to understand. A lot of women don't know that men have a very limited ability to move their [privates] by flexing internal pelvic muscles.

    Coidzor , weerachon14oat Report

    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    Premium
    11 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My ex apparently thought this would be an appealing move in the bedroom as part of the prelude to horizontal fun times. It was not an appealing move.

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    #36

    Medical professional wearing gloves and white coat holding and pointing at an anatomical model of the male body. Our testicles can "move" into a cavity inside our body where they used to be during the development of the baby still in the womb.

    Altair13Sirio , val-suprunovich Report

    JB
    Community Member
    12 hours ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    WubiDubi, not so much escape, but can get forced there if there's a blow. You pop them back out by whacking the bottom of the foot while the leg is straight.

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    #37

    If you usually wake up with morning wood, then suddenly don't, it's a good idea to schedule a doctor's appointment.

    That can be an early warning sign of heart problems.

    Heldy22 Report

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    #38

    Testosterone levels have a really big impact.

    -low levels are often linked to higher aggression.

    -weird things effect levels. It's been shown that getting more money (from a deal or something), can temporarily raise levels. In early relationship stages, levels lower in men, but rise in women (only in early stages). Lower sleep levels will lower levels.

    -higher fat levels lowers levels.

    -too much working out also lowers levels.

    -it does weird things to pain receptors

    -it also affects behavior

    UWontHearMeAnyway Report

    UpupaEpops
    Community Member
    7 hours ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    I noticed an apparent fluctuation due to ambient temperatures as well. Every single male colleague I ever had turned into a massive c*nt during heatwaves. Even the ones who were otherwise quiet and calm. Usually, they would be hyper aggressive for the first few days, then become lethargic, moody and weepy.

    #39

    Testicles hang unevenly to make room for each other, left usually is the lower one.

    TheAtheistReverend Report

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    #40

    Man with platinum blonde hair shouting aggressively at his reflection, highlighting things men want women to understand. I wish that every woman could experience what surges in testosterone feel like. Just so they can understand the sensation of these rocket fuel powered baser emotions and urges.

    mikess314 , Christopher Ott Report

    Kim Kermes
    Community Member
    17 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We have pretty base urges at points in our cycles.

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    #41

    Contrary to reasonably popular belief, [private parts] aren’t a part of the conscious mind, we can’t turn it on or off.

    It just gets hard when it feels like it, mostly when we are tired, sleeping, or very comfortable because that’s when the body enters its most relaxed state “rest and digest”.

    If any of you guys can control yours, however, please do teach me this Jedi force ability.

    Alive-Wrap-5161 Report

    Rick Murray
    Community Member
    6 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If thinking about cute girls makes it go up, then surely the opposite would get it to go down when it isn't wanted. Sometimes at work a motion or random lost photon makes it wake up, which is annoying as something changing size that much may require clothing to be adjusted. So I simply think of the most awful thing I can (such as "making out with Maggie" - ewww!) and I'd say about two thirds of the time it immediately nopes and runs away to hide.

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    #42

    It's easier to get an erection when your comfortable. Stress can cause ED. Also most men (and some women) don't have the correct hip shape to do a full straddle split.

    MightyLegy Report

    Laszlo Larthlanc
    Community Member
    6 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I was a passenger in a car that was about to broadside another car. It all happened so fast that there was no time to think. Nobody in our vehicle even had time to make a sound. I, however, realized that I had this instant useless erection. It was no longer there after the impact. I was, to say the least, not comfortable.

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    #43

    Honestly just the simple fact that you don't sit in your nuts. They do not exist under you.

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    Zig Zag Wanderer
    Community Member
    18 hours ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That is certainly the preferred option. However, they can get caught under you in certain positions. Apparently....

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    #44

    It twitches.

    Aromatic-Leopard-600 Report

    UnclePanda
    Community Member
    Premium
    7 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And sometimes, a lonely pube from one side of that whole mess makes a new friend out of a lonely pube on the other side of that whole mess, but you don't find out until you stand up. Or sit down. Or a cloud crosses the sun...

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    #45

    When you get a lot of tummy hair around your Belly button, it usually catches cotton from your shirts and you have to "pull it out" it's usually not that far in, but it can happen :(

    BlackTheNerevar Report

    JB
    Community Member
    12 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Except scientific analysis shows that it's not from your shirt - most is from your underwear.

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