Penis size
Penis size is of great concern to many men. Some consider having a large penis a mark of masculinity; others are concerned that their penis is too small to satisfy their sexual partners. These insecurities have led to the creation of a whole industry devoted to penis enlargement.
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2 Penis size myths and legends 3 Penis enlargement 4 References 5 See also 6 External links |
Based on the data in the UCSF study published in 1996, the "typical" length of a fully erect penis is between about 4 to 6.25 inches (10 to 16 cm), with an average of 5.1 inches (13.0 cm), as measured along the penis from the tip of the erect penis to the pubic bone. But, this only represents a statistical range, and a certain percentage of normal men have a penis that is outside this range. The earlier Kinsey study had reported an average length of 6.20 inches (15.75 cm).
The length of the flaccid penis is no guide to the size of the erect penis; indeed, some men with small flaccid penes may have larger erections than other men with larger flaccid penes that do not increase as much in size when erect. When a man with a relatively large flaccid penis has a normal or below average length penis when fully aroused, or when a man with a relatively small flaccid penis has a normal or above average length penis when fully aroused, they are known by the slang terms as "showers" and "growers" respectively.
Environmental conditions also play a role in the perceived size of a penis, in particular cool temperatures. One general response to cold the body experience is the decreased circulation of blood to appendages. As the size of the penis very much relies on blood supply, this results in a decreased flaccid size. The slang term "shrinkage" is sometimes used to describe this phenomenon. As humorist Garrison Keillor once said, "At forty degrees below zero, all men are indeed equal."
Men also tend to misjudge the size of their penis relative to that of other men they have seen naked, simply because of the foreshortening effect obtained from always looking down at the penis from above. In addition, as Paul Fussell noted in his memoirs, men who are overweight or have large stomachs may fail to allow for the partial concealment of the penis by their abdominal region and thicker skin at the base of the penis.
A survey by sexologists showed that almost all men who believed that their penis was of inadequate size actually had a normal-sized penis. Most sexologists believe that worries about penis size come from some other source of anxiety or perceived inadequacy.
Average stretched penile length at birth is about 4 cm, and 90% of newborn boys will be between 2.4 and 5.5 cm. Limited growth of the penis occurs between birth and 5 years of age, but very little occurs between 5 years and the onset of puberty. The average size at the beginning of puberty is 6 cm with adult size reached about 5 years later. W.A. Schonfeld published a penis growth curve in Am J Dis Children in 1943 (65:535).
A penis that is more than approximately 2.5 standard deviations below average size but formed normally is referred to in a medical context as a micropenis. Some of the identifiable causes are deficiency of pituitary growth hormone and/or gonadotropins, mild degrees of androgen insensitivity, a variety of genetic syndromes, and HOX9 gene variations. Some types of micropenis can be improved with growth hormone or testosterone treatment in early childhood. Penis-enlargement self-treatments are not effective for this condition.
In some cultures, mass hysteria involving the believed removal or shrinking of the penis has been observed. See penis panic for a detailed discussion.
Many cultures have a persistent urban legend that the penis size of some minority groups is larger than the norm. In the United States, the minority group chosen is African-American. This appears not to be supported by anything other than anecdote. Fanon covers this subject in some detail in "Black Skin, White Masks", and tends to agree that this is a myth -- a conclusion that he backs up with statistics. On the other hand, Philippe Rushton has published statistics claiming otherwise (Race, Evolution, and Behavior: A Life History Perspective, 1995).
The only reliable penis-size studies commonly quoted in the literature are the Kinsey study, the UCSF study, and an Italian study, none of which even attempted to correlate size with race. There is an ongoing government study in India, as well, commissioned with the goal of helping reduce the high condom failure rate there. This study is not likely to answer the question either. There have been many other studies with claims of varying rigor - for example, the LifeStyles condoms study -- but they are generally flawed by selection bias.
Some men dissatisfied for some reason with their penis size seek to enlarge their penis. See penis enlargement for a discussion of the methods used.
Overview
Penis size myths and legends
Penis enlargement
References
See also
External links