Does penis size matter? Sex experts usually say no, but that doesn't stop a guy from worrying that his penis might be too small. Surprisingly, scientists have invested their resources in measuring male members - and they have come up with an average length and width of the penis.
So what is considered average? According to a 2014 study of over 15,000 men, published in British Journal of Urology , the average flaccid penis is 9 cm long and 9 cm in circumference, while the average erect penis is 13 cm long and 11.5 cm in circumference.
Interestingly, even if these are official averages, this does not mean that a man's penis will be the same size at any point in his life.
Mike Ball, MD, senior medical columnist for the online men's health clinic Roman, points out that temperature is one factor that can change penis size. "For example, when it's cold, a flaccid penis can look smaller," Dr. Bohl says.health .
Also, some penises are showers while others are producers. “The size of a flaccid penis and the size of an erect penis are not necessarily correlated. Some penises grow a lot when they become erections; some don't grow as much,” he adds.
Why does the size of the penis change?
“Men can thank their genes and hormone exposure levels for the size of their penis,” says Dr. Bol. Size can vary between family members, but there is also variation between group populations: the average penis size in one population may differ from the average penis size in another population.
"Penis size tends to change just because it can," says Dr. Bol. “As long as the penis is big enough to do the job – and that job is reproduction – the genetics that made that penis will be passed on.”
Can men change their penis size?
Here's some good news for guys who aren't gifted enough and want to change that: There are methods that can increase penis size.
"One proven way to change the apparent size of the penis is penis enlargement surgery," says Dr. Bol. “In penis enlargement surgery, the ligaments that hold an erection are cut off, which forces more of the penis out of the body.” This makes the penis feel longer, he says, although the downside is that the erection will no longer point upwards.
Another method that works is the pull method, says Dr. Bol. This includes using a penile tension device, usually for several hours each day and for several weeks or months. While this can lead to an increase in penis length, it's a huge investment of time for a fairly minimal benefit, he adds.
Some penis enlargement methods are dangerous and ineffective. Penis injections and gel (creating microtears that enlarge the penis when it heals) are not recommended. Dr. Bol explains that penis pumps can be used to temporarily increase the size of the penis during sex, but it does not result in permanent changes.
How to make your penis look bigger
A few simple tricks can make the penis look bigger than it is without any body modification surgery or devices.
“Weight loss and/or pubic hair trimming (styling) are ways to make the penis appear larger, which can make it appear longer,” says Dr. Bol.
Ultimately, while a person can't do anything about the genetic card combination they've been dealt, they can try these options or talk to their doctor about penis enlargement methods that work if size really matters to them.
