Most men who feel their penis is too small do not compare it to the medical average.
They are comparing it to what they see above, an image carefully selected on a screen or a brief glimpse of an unfamiliar individual in a locker room. None are particularly reliable.
Their view from above might make their own penis appear smaller. Pubic hair and the natural folds of the stomach could easily be obscuring some of the length.
Pornography stars are typically attractive models chosen for their looks and further enhanced by expert cinematography and editing.
More reliable are the numbers gained from scientific research.
What is the average penis size?
One of the more comprehensive studies, based on measurements taken from over 15,000 men, concluded the following:
- Flaccid: 9.16 cm or 3.61 inches,
- stretched flaccid: 13.24 cm or 5.21 inches,
- erect: 13.12 cm or 5.17 inches,
- flaccid circumference: 9.31 cm or 3.67 inches,
- erect circumference: 11.66 cm or 4.59 inches.
As an indication of where the penis size falls, most men will comfortably score above the average.
The study does confirm the suspicions many men have about the flaccid vs erect length. While some men may look small when they are not erect, they can balloon up to a healthy average size when they become aroused.
The locker-room champion may well have only an average or even small erect length.
How do you measure a penis?
Measuring length is relatively simple.
Using a ruler, place it along the upper ridge of the penis and extend it to the tip. Gently press the ruler into the fat pad at the base, but do not dig into the pubic bone.
Do not measure the foreskin when the penis is flaccid.
The circumference is measured with a tape measure around the thickest part of the penis. If you do not have a tape measure, a piece of string will do, as long as you can then measure the length of the string.
The penis should be fully erect. Partial erection can give you inaccurate results if you need to press the ruler harder to get a good grip. You can also lose up to a centimetre or more when the penis is not completely erect.
Temperature, stress levels, and sexual activity can also affect the flaccid size. Measuring five times in the same evening will not provide a satisfactory answer. Nor will it improve your mood.
Erection quality can change apparent penis size
A full erection is more than the penis being pointing upwards. Blood rushes into the erectile tissues to fill the chambers and make the penis stiff. Poor blood flow can lead to less than a full erection if the blood vessels are constricted in any way.
This can be due to high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, vascular disease, performance anxiety or medication. A man may feel that his penis has shrunk when in fact it has simply stopped getting a full erection.
Morning erections are usually a good sign. If they appear regularly and are of good quality, the problem is likely to be performance-related.
If morning erections become less frequent or disappear altogether, there is a physical cause. Our article on erectile dysfunction symptoms covers many of the causes of partial or absent erection.
Does penis size change with age?
As men get older, their penis size rarely decreases dramatically. There are, however, several age-related conditions that can make the penis appear or feel smaller.
Weight gain can lead to the fat pad on the stomach becoming thicker, which can cover part of the penis. The same weight gain might reduce the amount of testosterone produced, lowering sex drive and the frequency of erection.
Another possibility is Peyronie’s disease, which causes the penis to bend unnaturally. Scar tissue can restrict blood flow and cause the penis to contract during erection. The condition can also cause the penis to visibly shorten. Prostate surgery can also cause issues with erection and apparent penis size.
Loss of length due to Peyronie’s disease or prostate surgery, along with sudden changes to penis shape or the appearance of hard knots, should be checked by a doctor. These are conditions that a urologist can treat.
Does penis size matter for sex?
It can matter to the owner. Even if his penis falls within the normal range, a man can still feel self-conscious about his genitalia. That alone is a reason to address concerns about penis size, even if they are not entirely founded.
It should also be noted that penis size rarely plays a role in sexual satisfaction. How well the erection is sustained, the emotional connection with one’s partner and the level of stimulation paid far more attention to than the mere act of penetration.
It is also important to remember that the vagina is not a rigid tube designed to accommodate a penis of a certain size. The majority of sensation is located close to the opening, and many women find it difficult or impossible to have an orgasm from penetration alone.
A penis that is too large can be uncomfortable and even painful for the receptive partner. It might also require more preparation and time to have sex.
Can you increase penis size?
There is a wide range of products that claim to permanently increase one’s penis size. Pills, oils, injections and creams fail to deliver on their promises, mostly because they do not have any active ingredients.
Supplements that enhance erection quality can make the penis look bigger if the erection is fuller and harder, but the actual anatomy is not permanently changed.
Vacuum pumps manipulate blood flow to create a temporary increase in size. They are effective treatments for erectile dysfunction, particularly when used regularly, but they will not permanently enlarge the penis.
Traction devices can permanently increase the length of the penis, but only by a few millimetres or centimetres. The results are often exaggerated in advertising.
Surgery and injections are also available, but they come with significant risks. The potential for unsightly scarring and loss of sensation is high, and men should always consult a professional before considering any form of genital surgery.
Men who feel especially dissatisfied about their penis size should seek professional help. A medical practitioner or a therapist can help them understand their concerns.
Repeated visits to random size comparison sites and forums will rarely soothe their worries. Our male sexual health articles contain more information about penis size and sexual health.
The average penis size when erect is just over five inches. That number will comfort some men, but it will be instantly dismissed by others. What most men discover is that a strong erection often feels better than an extra centimeter in length.
