Guys with normal penises.

An Italian study at the University of Florence showed that men wanting penis lengthening surgery actually had normal penis length. The majority or the men were more concerned with their flaccid appearance rather than their erect length.

Penile length is normal in most men seeking penile lengthening procedures. Int J Impot Res. 2002 Aug;14(4):283-6.

Abstract

Concerns over penile size and a desire for a longer penis are common in the male population. The number of male patients seeking an andrological consultation for the problem of ‘short penis’ is increasing. We looked at the numbers of patients presenting to a University andrology clinic over a 2-y period and correlated their perceived penis size with the accepted norms. Sixty-seven patients were evaluated with a median age of 27 (range 16-55) complaining of ‘short penis’ and requesting surgical correction. Clinical history, including the IIEF-5 questionnaire and an accurate physical examination were obtained. Data concerning measures of penile length and circumference were recorded in both the flaccid and fully stretched states and compared to the normal reference range as previously described in the nomogram we recently published (Eur Urol 2001; 39: 183-186.). All patients were also asked to estimate the length of a normal sized penis. Fourty-four (65.7%) complained of a short penis only while flaccid, 22 patients (32.8%) while both flaccid and erect, and only one patient (1.5%) was worried only by the erect length of the penis. Fifteen (22.4%) also complained about their penile circumference. Fifty-seven (85%) patients thought a ‘normal’ penile length should range from 10 to 17 cm (median value of 12 cm). Ten patients (15%) were not able to estimate ‘normal’ penile size. No patient was found to have a penile length under the 2.5 percentile according to our nomogram. Forty-two (62.7%) subjects recalled the problem starting in childhood, when they felt that their penis was smaller than their friends’. In 25 patients (37.3%) the problem started in the teenage years after seeing erotic images. Our data show that most men who seek penile lengthening surgery overestimate ‘normal’ penile length. In our series, none of the patients could be classified as having a severely short penis according to our nomogram and none had any anatomical penile abnormality. Most found the use of a nomogram to show them how they compared with other men helpful. We suggest that documentation of such a demonstration should be made for any man seeking an opinion on penile lengthening surgery.

Gay pride just got prouder.

The relation between sexual orientation and penile size. Arch Sex Behav. 1999 Jun;28(3):213-21.

Abstract
The relation between sexual orientation and penile dimensions in a large sample of men was studied. Subjects were 5122 men interviewed by the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction from 1938 to 1963. They were dichotomously classified as either homosexual (n = 935) or heterosexual (n = 4187). Penile dimensions were assessed using five measures of penile length and circumference from Kinsey’s original protocol. On all five measures, homosexual men reported larger penises than did heterosexual men. Explanations for these differences are discussed, including the possibility that these findings provide additional evidence that variations in prenatal hormonal levels (or other biological mechanisms affecting reproductive structures) affect sexual orientation development.

Many studies have shown there is no evidence to this widely held belief. It is one the most striking cultural beliefs not based on facts.

Researchers at University College London added to the growing studies finding no evidence linking a man’s shoe size with the length of his penis.

Can shoe size predict penile length?  British Journal Of Urology International,  (2002) 90, 586.

ABSTRACT
Objective To establish if the ‘myth’ about whether the size of a man’s penis can be estimated from his shoe size has any basis, infact.
Subjects and methods Two urologists measured the stretched penile length of 104 men in a prospective study and related this to their shoe size.
Results The median stretched penile length for the sampled population was 13 cm and the median UK shoe size was 9 (European 43). There was no statistically significant correlation between shoe size and stretched penile length.
Conclusion The supposed association of penile length and shoe size has no scientific basis.

Can physique and gluteal size predict penile length in adult Nigerian men? West Afr J Med. 2006 Jul-Sep;25(3):223-5.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:
In Nigeria, especially among the Igbo tribe, there is a well-held belief that a man’s penile size can be predicted from his physique and the size of his buttocks, with people of small physique and flat buttocks likely to have long penile lengths.

STUDY DESIGN:
A prospective study to test the scientific veracity of this traditional and apparently mythical belief. Stretched penile length was measured in 115 men between the ages of 30-65 years and its correlation with the body-mass index and the circumference of the hip as measured around the most prominent points on their buttocks, was statistically determined.

RESULT:
The mean age of the subjects was 42.30 years (SD = 9.67), with a median of 40 years and a range of 30-65 years. The mean penile length was 13.37 cm with a median of 13 cm and a range of 7.5-19.5 cm. The mean circumference of the body around the buttocks was 96.46 cm (SD = 10.91), median 98 cm, and range 73-122 cm. The body-mass index ranged 17.34-44.44, with the mean at 26.87 (SD = 5.86), and the median 25.53. Linear regression statistics showed no statistically significant correlation between stretched penile length and body-mass index, thus physique. There was a significant direct correlation between penile length and gluteal size.

CONCLUSION:
The supposed relationship between penile length and gluteal size may have a scientific basis, but contrary to belief, large buttocks is more predictive of longer penile length than small buttocks. Penile length has no relationship to physique.

Penile length and circumference: a study on 3,300 young Italian males. Eur Urol. 2001 Feb;39(2):183-6.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:
The knowledge of normal variations in the size of male external genitalia is of considerable interest to several disciplines. We carried out an extensive study in young Italian males to provide estimates of normal variations of penile dimensions.

METHODS:
The penile length in flaccid and stretched states and the penile circumference were measured in a random group of 3,300 young men aged 17-19 years and free from endocrine disorders and from congenital or acquired abnormalities of the penis. In a random sample of 325 subjects of the same set of people, penile length and circumference were also correlated with weight and height. Statistical analysis was performed with the Sperman test, because our data were not normally distributed as tested by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test (p < 0.01).

RESULTS:
The median values of penile dimensions recorded in the present study are flaccid length 9.0 cm, flaccid circumference, at the middle of the shaft, 10.0 cm, and stretched length 12.5 cm. We also observed that the penile dimensions are highly correlated with height and weight.

CONCLUSIONS:
Since penile length and circumference correlate with anthropometric parameters such as weight and height, we suggest to consider themselves as two bodily measures which display a wide extent of normal variability along the general population.

Ever feel like you’ve read one penis article too many? Lets talk about where men get their facts on penis length:

THEIR FRIENDS

Lets start with friends. Although they might have the best of intentions, or not, there aren’t many people with enough real knowledge on male anatomy to really give a reasonable answer over beers or while changing beside you in the locker room. They have more reasons to make up answers than expose themselves by sharing what they either really think or what length they really are when erect.

THE INTERNET

There are more lies and jokes on the internet about penises than real facts. Most of the effort is put towards fanning the misunderstanding of normal penis size. This is meant to inflame anxiety in young men, who then are vulnerable to buy the bogus products falsely claiming to be able to grow their penises. None of them work!

It pays to remember that a lot of the information available on the web is generated from fake ‘research’ that is flawed in method and design. From participants who over-report their size (which is not a surprise), to studies conducted by companies with a vested interest in selling products or services, not helping you. So, reliable information is hard to come by.

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

First, lets assume most men are not looking up articles in Urological Journals. The access to scientific data is limited by not knowing where to look and a low comfort level interpreting the findings.

It is even difficult to compare the reasonable studies out there done by real scientists. They seem to all have measured the penis in a slightly different way, or compared different things altogether. They also seem to forget to include one or another variable seen in other studies, which makes comparing them to each other difficult.

The Predicktor app took a number of these studies into consideration. It attempts to tie together the variables found in the studies into an algorithm that estimates what a man’s penis size might be, based on his anthropometric measures. Crazy, but the science is remarkably unclear on what one would think is easy to figure out. It also debunks a few myths on race and shoe size.

The Predicktor app used only peer review journal articles to estimate the average male penis length. Now men can use the app’s comparison function to compare their penis length to other men around the world, or in their own back yard. When they do this, they quickly realize that the average penis length is not all that different from theirs. The variation is quite small.

The peer reviewed journals interested in penis length have some reasonable goals. First, they want to debunk the myths around penis size which cause so much anxiety around the world. Second, they want accurate data on penis length. This is needed to convince some men that their penis length is healthy and within normal expected distribution – not an outlier. Third, sociologists study female and male perceptions and thoughts around penis size to reduce anxiety by sharing how penis size does or does not affect people’s attitudes to physical health and sexuality.

The take home message -  penis lengths are quite close to each  other and most women do not care how long it is anyhow.

Underside of penis’ tip is the #1 pleasure zone for men followed closely by the ‘underside of (his) penile shaft’

Don’t forget the rest of him! Caressing a man’s ear is much more effective than squeezing his buttocks when trying to arouse him.

A little surprising to some is that men note only ‘marginal’ higher ratings of ‘orgasm intensity’ by partner stimulation versus self.

Self-ratings of genital anatomy, sexual sensitivity and function in men using the ‘Self-Assessment of Genital Anatomy and Sexual Function, Male’ questionnaire. British Journal of Urology. Volume 103, Issue 8, pages 1096–1103, April 2009

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To assess the perceptions of healthy men of their genital anatomy and sexual sensitivity, along with the re-test reliability of these ratings, in a new self-reported questionnaire, the Self-Assessment of Genital Anatomy and Sexual Function, Male (SAGASF-M).

SUBJECTS AND METHODS
Eighty-one healthy, sexually active, men aged 22–57 years (median 33), with no history of genital surgery, completed the SAGASF-M. This questionnaire comprises written text and images enabling men to rate details of their genital appearance, overall genital erotic and pain sensitivity, orgasm intensity, and effort required for achieving orgasm through stimulation of specified areas around the glans and shaft of the penis, scrotum and anus, along with the contribution of other sexually sensitive areas of the body. Anatomical locations were compared for the functional ratings by mixed-model analysis of variance (anova). A second sample of 38 healthy men (median age 26 years, range 22–64) from the same source completed the SAGASF-M twice with an interval of 2 weeks.

RESULTS
There was little variability in anatomy ratings. Ratings of overall penile sensitivity to sexual stimulation gave higher values of ‘sexual pleasure’ for penile stimulation by the partner than by self (P = 0.002) and marginally higher ratings of ‘orgasm intensity’ by partner stimulation (P = 0.077), but there were no corresponding differences on ratings of ‘effort needed to reach orgasm’ or of ‘discomfort/pain’. Overall discrimination between genital areas was highly significant (mixed-model anova, P = 0.001) for ratings of ‘sexual pleasure’, ‘orgasm intensity’ and ‘orgasm effort’, but was not significant for ‘discomfort/pain’. Ranked by degree of ‘sexual pleasure’, the area ‘underside of the glans’ was highest, followed by ‘underside of the penile shaft’, ‘upper side of the glans’, ‘left and right sides of the glans’, ‘one or both sides of the penis’, ‘upper side of the penile shaft’, ‘foreskin’ (11 subjects), ‘skin between the scrotum and anus’, ‘back side of the scrotum’, ‘front side of the scrotum’, and ‘around anus’, but not all pair differences were significant. The rank order was similar for ‘orgasm intensity’, but less similar and with fewer significant pair differences for ‘orgasm effort’. Overall discrimination of other body parts that help orgasm when touched/stimulated was also highly significant (P = 0.001) and included (in order of degree) scrotum, ear, skin between scrotum and anus, neck, breast/nipples, buttocks, anus (exterior skin), anus (inside with penetration), wrist, and axilla, but many pair differences were not significant. In the reliability study, which was limited to the 45 function items with sufficient variability and sample size, the re-test reliability values (Pearson r) were distributed as follows: seven were ≥0.80, 16 ≥0.70, 15 ≥0.60, four ≥0.50, two ≥0.40, and one ≥0.30.

CONCLUSION
The SAGASF-M discriminates reasonably well between various genital and nongenital areas in terms of erotic sensitivity, when administered to genitally unoperated men varying widely in age and socio-economic level.

Erectile dysfunction can be due to either psychological or physiological causes. Psychological causes are when men get anxious about the impending performance – basically stage fright. This can be affected by many things such as perceived inadequacy, as with Small Penis Syndrome, or just a previously awkward rendezvous. If you are suffering from premature ejaculation or think you should maintain an erection longer talk to your partner and consider talking to your doctor.

Medical causes of erectile dysfunction are numerous but include such things as diabetes, hypertension, smoking and alcohol consumption. In most cases, erectile dysfunction is reversible, and men can regain their normal function if they ask for help. If you have any concerns talk to your doctor.

The website emedicine.com, like most reliable resources, emphasizes that smoking is a high risk behavior that often leads to erectile dysfunction. There are many many reasons to stop smoking, but knowing it may alter the normal function of your penis should help spark you to visit your doctor and ask for help.

The Doctor Says … don’t go there. While surgical options can make a penis look bigger, they have no effect on it’s erect length. Many procedures are risky and have been shown to dull sensation.

1) Penile Length in the Flaccid and Erect States: Guidelines for Penile Augmentation. The Journal of Urology. Volume 156, Issue 3 , Pages 995-997, September 1996

Abstract

PURPOSE
We provide guidelines of penile length and circumference to assist in counseling patients considering penile augmentation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
We prospectively measured flaccid and erect penile dimensions in 80 physically normal men before and after pharmacological erection.

RESULTS
Mean flaccid length was 8.8 cm., stretched length 12.4 cm. and erect length 12.9 cm. Neither patient age nor size of the flaccid penis accurately predicted erectile length. Stretched length most closely correlated with erect length.

CONCLUSIONS
Only men with a flaccid length of less than 4 cm., or a stretched or erect length of less than 7.5 cm [3 inches]. should be considered candidates for penile lengthening.

2) Penile size and the ‘small penis syndrome’. British Journal of Urology International. Volume 99, Issue 6, pages 1449–1455, June 2007

Abstract

The male is often troubled by concerns that his penis is not large enough to satisfy his partner or himself. He is ashamed to have others view his penis, especially in the flaccid state. Such concerns might be unfounded in reality and might be a presentation of social anxiety or some other clinical problem, such as erectile dysfunction. Concern over the size of the penis, when such concern becomes excessive, might present as the ‘small penis syndrome’, an obsessive rumination with compulsive checking rituals, body dysmorphic disorder, or as part of a psychosis. However, it is often a worry that can be described as within the normal experience of many men. Various potential causal factors are considered. A thorough assessment, normalizing the worry and then exploring the treatment options in detail with the man, is essential to allow the matter to be consolidated satisfactorily within the male ego.

CONCLUSION
It is recommended that the initial approach to a man who has SPS is a thorough urological, psychosexual, psychological and psychiatric assessment that might involve more than one clinician. More research is required on the effects of race and age on penile length. Conservative approaches to therapy, based on education and self-awareness, as well as short-term structured psychotherapy (CBT) are often successful, and should be the initial interventions in all men. Of the physical treatments available, there is poorly documented evidence to support the use of penile extenders. More information is need on the outcomes with these devices. Similarly, there is emerging evidence about the place of surgery and there are now several reports suggesting that dividing the suspensory ligament can increase flaccid penile length. There are only limited data relating to operations designed to enhance penile circumference. While there are emerging data about the effect of surgical treatment on penile dimensions, there is much less information about the patients’ satisfaction with the outcome of surgery. Such assessments have only been reported occasionally, and in a situation where surgery is used cosmetically to treat a psychological condition, such outcomes are vital to assess the place of such surgery.

Penis-related concerns? Ask a doctor not a salesperson.

Many products ad procedures are offered on the internet. They are bogus! There is a surgical procedure but it simply releases the penis from the ligament holding it up onto their pubic bone. If that is released, the penis hangs down more and appears larger when soft. When it is erect there is a down side: the penis does not stand erect (like a good soldier) but may stick out to the side or down. That is not helpful when engaging in sex as the partner is not often off to the side.

Penis enlargement is rarely offered as it is rarely needed. Do not buy into the lies and pressure on the internet. The people selling these products have no interest in helping you feel better. In fact, they prey on people concerned about the size of the penis, flaming their anxiety. They do this in the hopes that they can sell them useless products for lots of money.

If you are worried about the size or function of your penis please talk to your doctor. It is most likely you are normal. The Predicktor app even provides a gauge where by men can see how their penis length compares to penises around the world. By doing this they learn that regardless of their length they are similar to millions of other men and not an outlier.

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) highlights some of the effects smoking can have on male reproductive health:

• Smoking might damage the DNA in men’s sperm that might lead to infertility
• Smoking might damage the DNA in men’s sperm that might lead to miscarriage
• Smoking may be associated with an increased risk of erectile dysfunction
• Smoking may affect the amount of semen and sperm production
• Smoking may affect sperm quality

Studies suggest males who had or currently smoke are about 30% more likely to suffer from impotence (erectile dysfunction).

1) Smoking and sexual dysfunction in Chinese males: findings from men’s health survey.

Int J Impot Res. 2006 Jul-Aug;18(4):364-9. Epub 2005 Dec 15. Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.

Abstract

To describe the prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) and its association with smoking among the Chinese in Hong Kong, we conducted a cross-sectional study among 819 men (aged 31-60 years) who were randomly selected among the Hong Kong residents and interviewed by trained interviewers. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. We found that current smokers who smoked 20 cigarettes or more daily had more dissatisfaction, erection difficulty and ED than never smokers. The prevalence of dissatisfaction, difficulty in erection and ED increased significantly (P

2) Cigarette Smoking and Erectile Dysfunton among Chinese Men without Clinical Vascular Disease.

Am. J. Epidemiol. (2007) 166 (7):803-809
Abstract

The authors examined the association between cigarette smoking and risk of erectile dysfunction among 7,684 Chinese men aged 35–74 years without clinical vascular disease. Cigarette smoking and erectile dysfunction were assessed by questionnaire. Vascular risk factors were measured according to standard methods. After adjustment for age, education, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, diabetes, hypertension, overweight, and hypercholesterolemia, the odds ratio of erectile dysfunction was 1.41 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.09, 1.81) for cigarette smokers compared with never smokers. There was a statistically significant dose-response relation between cigarette smoking and risk of erectile dysfunction (ptrend = 0.005). Multivariate-adjusted odds ratios of erectile dysfunction were 1.27 (95% CI: 0.91, 1.77), 1.45 (95% CI: 1.08, 1.95), and 1.65 (95% CI: 1.08, 2.50) for those who smoked 1–10, 11–20, and more than 20 cigarettes per day, respectively, compared with never smokers. The association was stronger in participants with diabetes (odds ratio = 3.29, 95% CI: 1.49, 7.27) than in participants without diabetes (odds ratio = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.73). If the association is causal, an estimated 22.7% of erectile dysfunction cases (11.8 million cases) among Chinese men are attributable to cigarette smoking. This 2000–2001 study of Chinese men documented an independent and dose-response relation between cigarette smoking and risk of erectile dysfunction.

Although smoking may not affect your penis immediately, there is a good chance it will curtail its performance in the future.

Even worse, it is well-known that smoking increases the risk of early death (i.e. before the age of 70) from heart and stroke disease. In addition to contributing to erectile dysfunction, cigarettes can also lead to chest pain (ischemic heart disease), shortness of breath (emphysema), cancers (lung and oral) and tooth decay.

Smoking is more than a drug addiction. The act of smoking thousands of cigarettes creates a strong desire in your brain to want to continue the habit, not just get a drug. This is part of the make up of the human brain – it loves routine! Imagine sitting through class and flipping your pencil in the air every 5 seconds. That would be 3,600 times a day. Now do that for 200 days – 720,000 pencil flips! The moment you forget your pencil, or the teacher tells you to stop annoying everyone, you will get really really irritated…or rather, your brain is irritated – where’s my routine! This might be a bigger reason than the nicotine it is hard to quit smoking.

Consider someone who smokes 20 cigarettes a day for 10 years

20 cigarettes x 365 days/year x 10 years = 73,000 cigarettes

Now, consider that person smoking 20 cigarettes a day for 20 years

20 cigarettes x 365 days/year x 20 years = 146,000 cigarettes

Now, consider that person smoking 20 cigarrettes a day for 30 years

20 cigarettes x 365 days/year x 30 years = 219,000 cigarettes

Successful smoking cessation (stopping) is more related to understanding how engrained a habit it becomes than about dealing with a nicotine addiction. There are many therapies available through your doctor that can help you quit! Talk to your friends, family and your doctor, there is help.

Check out WebMD’s quick tips:

http://www.webmd.com/smoking-cessation/ss/slideshow-13-best-quit-smoking-tips-ever
http://www.webmd.com/smoking-cessation/quit-smoking