In the vast majority of cases, size does not matter

The same size

Natalia Reznik, "Trinity variant" No. 10-2015

Some men are ashamed of the size of their penis, although they have normal-sized genitals. This is a serious problem that prevents them from living and communicating peacefully. Psychologists call men's excessive anxiety about this small penis syndrome. In severe cases, dysmorphic phobia develops – a mental disorder in which a person is overly concerned about defects or features of his body, including the size of the penis. Such patients need the help of a psychiatrist, because conversations with a psychologist in this case can not do.

Doctors consider a micropenis an organ whose length in a stressed state is less than 7.5 cm, and in a sluggish state – less than 4 cm. Adult men with such a defect are slightly more than 2%. The rest suffer in vain due to the lack of reliable information - they simply have no idea what the normal length of this organ is. Oddly enough, doctors also do not have too much data, since no one has generalized the results of disparate studies on this topic. This work was undertaken by specialists of the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neurology of King's College London and several clinics [1].

Scientists analyzed data from 20 studies on penis size, which involved 15,521 men over 17 years of age from Nigeria, Tanzania, Egypt, Jordan, Iran, Turkey, Korea, India, Scotland, Italy, France, Germany, Bulgaria, Greece, Canada and the USA. The studies were selected according to strict criteria: they should have at least two authors, the sample size is more than 50 people, and participants should not suffer from diseases or abnormalities of this part of the body, complain of small size or erectile dysfunction. In other words, the researchers were dealing with mature, healthy, confident men. And no amateur activity – the parameters of the penis were determined only by specialists using a certain technique. The length was measured from the root to the tip of the head along the upper part in a relaxed hanging, relaxed maximally elongated and in the most tense state, girth – at the base or in the middle of the penis.

After collecting and statistically processing the results, the researchers determined the average penis size in different states (see the table). In addition to these measurements, the works contained data on the size of other body parts and the age of the participants. Scientists have not found a correlation between these indicators, finding only a small dependence of penis length on height.

Table. Average penis sizes in different statesIndicator

Measurements of a strained penis were carried out in a hospital, and there are relatively few of them – only a few hundred. However, as it turned out, the length of a strained penis can be represented by the length of a stretched one, that is, it is not necessary to measure it directly.

And finally (an involuntary pun), the researchers compiled nomograms of the length and circumference of a relaxed and tense penis.

Nomogram of the length of a flaccid hanging (flaccid), flaccid stretched (flaccid stretched) and strained penis [1]

Nomogram of the circumference of a flaccid hanging (flaccid) and tense penis [1]

The work does not allow us to draw any conclusions about the comparative size of the penis among representatives of different cultures and races, since the samples of Negroes and Mongoloids were much smaller than Europeans: only a few hundred people. Now every man who is ashamed of a certain part of his body can check his size with a nomogram and make sure that he has nothing to worry about. According to researchers, it makes sense to think about penis enlargement if its length is less than 6 cm in a sluggish state, and less than 9.5 cm in a tense state. That is, if the dimensions are less than 5.2 and 8.5 cm, respectively, then this is already a pathology. However, scientists do not rule out that these indicators may be somewhat overstated, since the studies involved mainly self-confident men, so that the body parts under discussion are quite large.

It would seem that the available information should put an end to anxiety and discontent, but it still needs to be used competently. One of the authors of the article, Gordon Muir, working with Italian scientists, found that doctors with the help of nomograms managed to calm 70% of men who complained about their small penis [2]. However, many men, finding that their indicators, although within the normal range, are below average, are already worried about this. The researchers suggest that men whose sizes are above average are proud of this, and plan to check it out. They also want to compare the reaction of those patients with small penis syndrome who are simply informed that their size is within the normal limits, and those whose indicators are compared with others. Perhaps the comparison is not always beneficial to patients.

Men suffering from small penis syndrome are afraid of women's ridicule, ashamed to undress in front of them. However, practice shows that ladies do not evaluate the size of the penis as strictly as men believe. Researchers from California conducted an online survey of 52,031 heterosexual men and women [3]. 66% of men rated their penis as average, 22% as large, and only 12% considered it small. Their assessment correlates positively with growth and negatively with the degree of obesity. In general, slender tall people have a higher opinion of their masculinity than overweight men. Only 55% of men are satisfied with what they have, 45% wanted their penis to be bigger, and only 0.2% wanted to reduce it. Satisfaction with the size does not depend on age (18-65 years). At the same time, 85% of women are satisfied with the parameters of their partners. Thus, only 15% of ladies are dissatisfied with the size of the male penis, and they are more interested in its circumference than its length. Apparently, the fact is that women's assessment is more objective. It is unknown, however, how many of these women are dating men who consider their penis too small.

Measuring the size of the penis is, of course, only one aspect of the problem. It is very important that men understand the meaning of these indicators, know that their problem is most likely psychological, widespread and solvable. And then it's up to the enlighteners.

1. Veale D., Miles S., Bramley S., Muir G., Hodsoll J. Am I normal? A systematic review and construction of nomograms for faccid and erect penis length and circumference in up to 15,521 men // BJU International (2015), doi: 10.1111/bju.13010
2. Mondaini N., Ponchietti R., Gontero P. et al. Penile length is normal in most men seeking penile lengthening procedures // International Journal of Impotence Research (2002), 14: 283–6, doi:10.1038/sj.ijir.3900887
3. Lever J., Frederick D. A., Peplau L. A. Does size matter? Men’s and women’s views on penis size across the lifespan // Psychology of Men & Masculinity (2006), 7, 129–143, doi: 1037/1524-9220.7.3.

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