العربية
中国
Français
Deutsch
Ελληνική
हिन्दी
Italiano
日本語
Português
Русский
EspañolHUMAN PENIS SIZE
'Human penis size' refers to the length and width of human male genitalia. Some individuals consider a large penis a sign of masculinity and a small penis a sign of not being able to satisfy a partner's sexual needs. Interest in larger penis sizes have led to an industry devoted to penis enlargement.
Compared to other primates, even larger primates such as the gorilla, the male human genitalia are remarkably large. The human penis is both longer and thicker than that of any other primate both in absolute terms and in relative size compared to the rest of the body.[1]
Measuring the penis
Circumference
Penis circumference or girth is measured by using a tape measure or a piece of string and a ruler while the penis is completely erect. It is variously quoted as an average of three measurements: just below the glans penis, in the middle of the shaft, and at the base. Correctly measuring your erection: Length
★ circumference
Problems
A penis must be completely erect in order to obtain an accurate measurement. This may be difficult to achieve in a clinical setting. At least one Brazilian doctor resorted to injecting penises with drugs to induce erection, which gave more consistent results.[2] Some clinicians measure the penis by stretching the flaccid penis as far as comfortably possible. Self-reported measurements tend to be unreliable because men often want to report a larger penis size.
Studies on penis size
Self-measurement studies are typically unreliable. Studies have consistently shown that when submitting measurements anonymously in on-line surveys, the average stated penis size is larger than in clinical studies. This is likely due to cultural factors.
Size at birth
Frequency graph of LifeStyles data
Percentile plot of LifeStyles data
Plot of LifeStyles data of circumference
Percentile plot of LifeStyles data of circumference
The average stretched penile length at birth is about 4 cm (1.6 in), and 90% of newborn boys will be between 2.4 and 5.5 cm (0.9 and 2.2 in). 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 (2.4 in) with adult size reached about 5 years later. W.A. Schonfeld published a penis growth curve in 1943.Schonfeld, W. A. (1943). Primary and secondary sexual characteristics:
Study of their development in males from birth through maturity, with
biometric study of penis and testes. American Journal of Diseases of
Children, 65, 535.
Size with aging
Age is not believed to negatively correlate with penis size. “Individual research studies have ... suggested that penis size is smaller in studies focusing on older men, but Wylie and Eardley found no overall differences when they collated the results of various studies [over a 60 year period].”[3]
Erect length
Several scientific studies have been performed on the erect length of the adult penis. Studies which have relied on self-measurement, including those from Internet surveys, consistently reported a higher average length than those which used medical or scientific methods to obtain measurements.
★ A study published in the September 1996 ''Journal of Urology'' concluded that average erect length was 12.9 cm (5.08 in) (Measured by staff).[4] The purpose of the study was to “provide guidelines of penile length and circumference to assist in counseling patients considering penile augmentation.” Erection was pharmacologically induced in 80 physically normal American men (varying ethnicity, average age 54). It was concluded: “Neither patient age nor size of the flaccid penis accurately predicted erectile length.”
★ A study published in the December 2000 ''International Journal of Impotence Research'' found that average erect penis length was 13.6 cm (5.35 in) (Measured by staff).[5] Quote: "The aim of this prospective study was to identify clinical and engineering parameters of the flaccid penis for prediction of penile size during erection." Erection was pharmacologically induced in 50 Jewish Caucasian patients who had been evaluated for Erectile dysfunction (average age 47±14y). Patients with penis abnormalities or whose ED could be attributed to more than one psychological origin were omitted from the study.
★ A study conducted by LifeStyles Condoms found an average of 14.9 cm (5.9 in) with a standard deviation of 2.1 cm (0.8 in) (Measured by staff).[6] The purpose of this study was to ensure properly sized condoms were available. 401 college students volunteered to be measured during 2001 Spring Break in Cancún, Mexico, of which 300 gained an erection to be clinically measured (without pharmacological aid). Some of these factors may meet the definition of possible sample bias.[7]
Erect circumference
★ A study conducted by LifeStyles Condoms during 2001 Spring Break in Cancún found an average of 12.6 cm (5.0 in) with a standard deviation of 1.3 cm (0.5 in).6
Similar results exist regarding studies of the circumference of the adult fully erect penis, with the measurement taken mid-shaft. As with length, studies that relied on self-measurement consistently reported a higher average than those with staff measuring.
Flaccid length
One study found the mean flaccid penis length to be 8.8 cm (3.5 in) (measured by staff).4Length of the flaccid penis does not necessarily correspond to length of the erect penis; some smaller flaccid penises can grow much larger, and some larger flaccid penises can not grow much larger.
The penis and scrotum can contract involuntarily in reaction to cold temperatures or nervousness, referred to by the slang term "shrinkage", due to action by the cremaster muscle.
Penis enlargement surgery
Main articles: Penis Enlargement
Surgical techniques used for penis enlargement (enhancement phalloplasty) -- penis lengthening and penile widening (girth enhancement) -- have been in the urologic literature for many years.
There two basic ways of enlarging the penis:
#Penis lengthening surgery[8] involves the release of the fundiform ligament and the suspensory ligament that attaches the 2 erectile bodies to the pubic bone. Once these ligaments have been cut, part of the penile shaft (usually held within the body) drops forward and extends out, enlarging the penis in 2-3 cm.
#Penis widening with PMMA injection. This method involves injection of silicone, PMMA[9] and other materials into the penis and scrotum, to achieve girth enlargement.
Perceptions of penis size
Historical perceptions
In ancient Greek art, it is common to see smaller male genitalia than one would expect for the size of the man.[10] Renaissance art also followed this aesthetic; note Michelangelo's ''David''.
Sources suggest in ancient Greece an uncircumcised and small penis was culturally seen as desirable in a man, whereas a bigger or circumcised penis was viewed as comical or grotesque, usually being found on "fertility gods, half-animal critters such as satyrs, ugly old men, and barbarians."10
Modern perceptions
Both men and women show a marked tendency to rate their own visible sexual organs as less satisfactory in size, than they are rated by the opposite gender. In men this gives rise to concerns over penis size, in women concerns over breast size.
A 2003 study found only 55% of men were satisfied with their penis size, whereas 85% of women were satisfied with their partner’s penis size, and only 6% of women rated their partner as smaller than average.[11] In the same data set, 70% of women expressed dissatisfaction with their breasts, whereas the majority of men (56%) were satisfied with their partner's breasts and only 20% of men wished their partner had larger breasts.[12][13]
Males may quite easily underestimate the size of their own penis relative to that of others, because of the foreshortening obtained from looking down, or because of the accumulation of fat at the base of the penis.[14] A survey by sexologists showed that many men who believed that their penis was of inadequate size had average-sized penises. Another study found sex education of standard penile measurements to be helpful and relieving for patients concerned of small penis size, most of whom had incorrect beliefs of what is considered medically normal.[15]
A study undertaken at Utrecht University found that the majority of homosexual men in the study regarded a large penis as ideal, and having one was linked to self esteem.[16]
Popular culture
Culturally, widespread private concerns related to penis size have led to a number of folklore sayings and popular culture reflections related to penis size. These include beliefs that it is possible to predict the size of someone's penis by observing other bodily features such as the hands, feet, nose or height, and in some cases so-called "penis-panic" - a form of mass hysteria involving the believed removal or shrinking of the penis, known as genital retraction syndrome. Penis size, and sexual anxiety generally, have led to products such as penis pumps, pills, and other dubious means of enlargement becoming some of the most marketed products in spam mail.
The suggested link between penis size, foot size and height has been investigated by a relatively small number of groups. Two of these studies have suggested a link between penis size and foot size, while the most recent report dismissed these findings. One of the studies suggesting a link relied on the subjects measuring the size of their own penis, which may well be inaccurate. The second study found statistically significant although "weak" correlation between the size of the stretched penis and foot size and height. A potential explanation for these observations is that the development of the penis in an embryo is controlled by some of the same Hox genes (in particular HOXA13 and HOXD13)[17] as those that control the development of the limbs. Mutations of some Hox genes that control the growth of limbs cause malformed genitalia (hand–foot–genital syndrome).[18] However the most recent investigation[19] failed to find any evidence for a link between shoe size and stretched penis size.[20] Given the large number of genes which control the development of the human body shape, and the effects of hormones during childhood and adolescence, it would seem unlikely that an accurate prediction of penis size could be made by measuring a different part of the human body.
Other studies correlating the size of the human penis with other factors have given intriguing results. Notably one study analysing the self-reported Kinsey data set found that homosexual men had statistically larger penises than their heterosexual counterparts.[21] One potential explanation given is a difference in the exposure to androgen hormones in the developing embryo. The study author's ''opinion'' is that evidence points towards both orientations being equally likely to exaggerate.[22]
Recently, there has been greater media attention to the issue of penis size and women being more vocal about their preferences. Television shows such as ''Sex and the City'' and ''Ally McBeal'' popularized the penis-size issue when characters in these TV shows stated their preference for well-endowed men and rejected men who had only average endowment. ''Sex and the City'' has also shown a character expressing displeasure over her partner having too large a penis, described in comic hyperbolic terms. The media have also been criticized for making "penis envy" into a male body issue equivalent to ''Cosmopolitan'' magazine being criticized for their coverage of women's weight.
Sexual preference
One source of continued debate is the extent to which women actually prefer certain penis sizes. In a 2005 UCLA study, 85% of women said they were "very satisfied" with the size of their partner's penis.[23]
A study published in BMC Women's Health, surveyed women's preferences concerning penis size and concluded that width rather than length is a more important factor of sexual stimulation.[24]
Similar results were found in a cover story published in Psychology Today,[25][26] which surveyed 1,500 readers (about 2/3 women) about male body image. Many of the women were not particularly concerned with penis size and over 71% thought men overemphasized the importance of penis size and shape. Details were examined among the women with a size preference. Generally women cared more about width than men thought, and less about length. "...the number one reason women preferred a thicker penis was that it was more satisfying during intercourse." It's suggested this is because a wider penis provides more friction to the clitoral area while a longer penis reaches an area less stimulable. The same article comments that there is a strong correlation whereby “Women who rated themselves as more attractive were particularly concerned with larger size. Of women describing themselves as much more attractive than average," 64 percent cared strongly or moderately about penis width, and 54 percent cared about penis length. Women who rated their own looks as average were about 20 percentage points lower.”
Another study, conducted at Groningen University Hospital, asked 375 sexually active women (who had recently given birth) the importance of penis size and concluded: "Although clearly in the minority, a nevertheless considerable percentage of the women respondents attached substantial importance to the size of the male sexual organ".[27]
The term 'size queen' is slang terminology for a person of either sex who prefers a larger-than-average penis on their sexual partner(s).[28][29]
Penis size and vaginal response
According to some sex researchers and therapists, several misconceptions have developed surrounding penile-vaginal intercourse.[30] Many men exaggerate the importance of deep vaginal penetration in stimulating a woman to orgasm.
The most sensitive area of the vagina is the section closest to the outside of a woman's body, which is roughly 10 centimeters (4 in) in length. Given that the average penis size is above this length, the majority of penises are of sufficient length to satisfy their partners.
Some women find striking the cervix to be uncomfortable or painful, while others report enjoying stimulation of the cervix.[31] The cervix may be confused with the anterior or posterior fornix, the deepest point of the vagina, above and below the cervix, respectively.[32] The cervix and fornix are within close proximity of each other, making it possible for there to be indirect and/or simultaneous stimulation between them Questions and Answers about Sexual Anatomy .
The fornix is said to be another possible orgasm trigger area.[33] Tests have shown that pressure on this area causes the vagina to lubricate very quickly.[34] The area of sexual response in the anterior fornix has also been called the epicentre, T-Spot, AFE-Zone, AFE or A-Spot; while in the posterior fornix it has been called epicenter (as well) or cul-de-sac (since the cul-de-sac, AKA rectouterine pouch, may be indirectly stimulated by pressure on the posterior fornix Questions and Answers about
Sexual Anatomy ).
During arousal, the vagina lengthens rapidly to an average of about 4 in.(8.5 cm), but can continue to lengthen in response to pressure.[35] As the woman becomes fully aroused, the vagina tents (last ²⁄₃ expands in length and width) while the cervix retracts,[36]. The walls of the vagina are composed of soft elastic folds of mucous membrane skin which stretch or contract (with support from pelvic muscles) to the size of the penis.[37] This means (with proper arousal) the vagina stretches/contracts to accommodate virtually any size penis, from small to large.[38]
Other variance in penis size
Micropenis
Main articles: Micropenis
An adult penis with an erect length of less than 7 cm or just over 2 inches but otherwise formed normally is referred to in a medical context as having the micropenis condition.[39] 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 variations in certain Homeobox genes. Some types of micropenis can be addressed with growth hormone or testosterone treatment in early childhood.
A news post on ''New Scientist'' dated December 6 2004 reads "A new surgical procedure has allowed men with abnormally short penises to enjoy a full sex life and urinate standing up, some for the first time. Tiny "micro-penises" have been enlarged to normal size without losing any erogenous sensation, say UK doctors."[40]
Race and penis size
To date, there has been no conclusive study linking penis size and race. All studies up to this point have been subject to both self selection bias and sample size flaws.
Penis size and condom use
Various studies have examined condom breakage. Ninety-two monogamous heterosexual couples (aged 18 to 40 for women, 18-50 for men) were enrolled in a prospective study of Durex Ramses condoms.[41] At each sexual encounter, a diary was completed which included information on condom use, and breaks and slips. In France a random telephone survey[42] of 20,000 individuals drew on 4,500 sexually active people, of whom 731 had used a condom in the previous year and 707 provided information on difficulties of use. In Australia 3658 condoms were used by 184 men in a study which looked, ''inter alia'', at penis size as a factor for breakage or slippage.[43]
Although the most common type of condom, made of latex, have great ability to stretch, they are vulnerable to dry friction (ie, the dry rubbing motion of sexual activity when there is tight pressure or a lack of smooth lubricated movement) as well as other mistakes of usage.[44] For example, in a separate study of people practicing anal sex, condom breakage was linked more to excessive friction (in this case due to low usage of a sexual lubricant) than to penis size ''per se''.
The rate of condom breakage for correctly used condoms was 1.34% and of slippage 2.05%, with a total failure rate of 3.39%. Penis size did not influence slippage, but penis circumference and broken condoms were strongly correlated, with larger sizes increasing the rate of breakage.
See also
★ Penis envy
★ Phalloplasty
★ Penis enlargement
Notes
1. Small, Meredith F., ''What's Love Got to Do With It? The Evolution of Human Mating'', 1995, Anchor Books
2.
http://www.free-condom-stuff.com/penis_size.asp
3. Men Worry More About Penile Size Than Women, Says 60-year-old Research Review
4. Penile Length in the Flaccid and Erect States: Guidelines for Penile Augmentation Wessels, H
5. Predicting penile size during erection Chen, J
6. ANSELL RESEARCH - The Penis Size Survey
7. "A sample that is not representative of the population to which generalizations are to be made. FOR EXAMPLE, a group of band students would not be representative of all students at the middle school, and thus would constitute a biased sample if the intent was to generalize to all middle school students."[1]
8. Suspensory Ligament Surgery for Penis Enlargement Blog
9. Penis enlargement Surgery: Myths and Facts
10. Why does so much ancient Greek art feature males with small genitalia? "From this vast array of XXX-rated artwork we can make a few deductions about Greek aesthetic preferences, genitaliawise (here I mainly follow Kenneth Dover's landmark study Greek Homosexuality, 1978): (1) Long, thick penises were considered--at least in the highbrow view-- grotesque, comic, or both and were usually found on fertility gods, half-animal critters such as satyrs, ugly old men, and barbarians. A circumcised penis was particularly gross. (2) The ideal penis was small, thin, and covered with a long, tapered foreskin. Dover thinks the immature male's equipment was especially admired, which may account not only for the small size but the scarcity of body hair in classical art. A passage from Aristophanes sums up the most desirable masculine features: 'a gleaming chest, bright skin, broad shoulders, tiny tongue, strong buttocks, and a little prick.'"
11. Does Size Matter? Men’s and Women’s Views on Penis Size Across the Lifespan, Lever, J., Frederick, D. A., Peplau, L. A., , , Psychology of Men & Masculinity, Derived from data from Lever, J. (2003, June). The Elle/MSNBC.com sex
and body image survey. Elle, pp. 111–113.
12. Does Size Matter? Most Romantic Partners Say 'No', E.J. Mundell, , , Forbes,
13. Frederick, D.A., Peplau, L.A., & Lever, J., (under review). ''The Barbie mystique: Satisfaction with breast size and shape across the lifespan''.
14. Partial concealment of the penis by the abdomen was noted in Paul Fussell's memoirs.
15. http://www.altpenis.com/penis_news/20050610180934data_trunc_sys.shtml
16. Size does matter (to gays)
17. Limb malformations and the human HOX genes, , , , American Journal of Medical Genetics,
18. Mutation of HOXA13 in hand-foot-genital syndrome, , , , Nature Genetics,
19. Can shoe size predict penile length?, , , , JU International,
20. The size of things to come
21. The relation between sexual orientation and penile size, , , , Archives of Sexual Behavior,
22. Research says erect gay penises are bigger
23. Mundell, E.J. "Does Size Matter? Most Romantic Partners Say 'No'," MSN Health & Fitness: Men's Sexual Health, MSN.com, 27 May 2005. Retrieved 23 September 2006.
24. Eisenman, Russell. "Penis size: Survey of female perceptions of sexual satisfaction," ''BMC Women's Health'' 1: 1, 8 June 2001.
25. Men's bodies--the survey
26. The beefcaking of America
27. "What importance do women attribute to the size of the penis?"
28. ''The Happy Hook-Up: A Single Girl's Guide to Casual Sex''. Alexa Joy Sherman, Nicole Tocantins. p208. Ten Speed Press, 2004.
29. "Size queen" at gaylife.about.com
30. Does Penis Size Really Matter?
31. How to Achieve Orgasm During Intercourse
32. "Cul-de-sac": Increase Her Orgasm
33. {{cite web | url = http://www.webmd.com/content/article/44/1689_50048.htm?lastselectedguid={5FE84E90-BC77-4056-A91C-9531713CA348 | work = WebMD | title = The Female Orgasm During Intercourse | accessdate = 2006-09-21 }}
34. Dr. Chua Chee Ann, British Journal of Sexual &
Marital Therapy Vol. 12, No 4, November 1997
35. Does size matter
36. do big penises hurt?
37. The female reproductive system
38. Facts about penis size
39. Surgeons Pinch More Than An Inch From The Arm To Rebuild A Micropenis "Whereas the average size of the human penis is around 12.5 cm or 5 inches, a micropenis spans less than 7 cm or just over two inches."
40. Length-boosting surgery for 'micro-penises'
41. http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=2841589
42. http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/journals/3127299.html
43. http://www.nature.com/ijir/journal/v14/n4/full/3900887a.html
44. AIDS Health Care
References
★ The Kinsey Institute penis size bibliography
★ Sutherland et al. "The effect of prepubertal androgen exposure on adult penile length." ''Journal of Urology'', Vol. 156(2S), 783-787, 1996.
★ Lee PA, et al. "Micropenis. I. Criteria, etiologies, and classification." ''Johns Hopkins Med J'' 1980; 146:156.
★ W.A. Schonfeld, ''Am J Dis Child'' 1943;65:135
★ Niels Lauersen, M.D. and Steven Whitney, "It's Your Body: A Woman's Guide to Gynecology", 3rd Edition 1983, p. 480 (Berkley Publishing Co.: New York), ISBN 0-425-09917-2
★ Bogaert, A. F., & Hershberger, S. L. (1999). The relation between sexual orientation and penile size. ''Archives of Sexual Behavior'' 28:213-221.(PMID:10410197)[2]
★ Mortlock DP, Innis JW (1997) Mutation of HOXA13 in hand-foot-genital syndrome.''Nat Genet'' 15(2):179-80.(PMID:9020844)[3]
★ Goodman FR (2002) Limb malformations and the human HOX genes. ''Am J Med Genet'' 112(3):256-265(PMID:12357469)[4]
★ Shah, J. & Christopher, N. (2002) Can Shoe Size Predict Penile Length? ''BJU Int'' 90(6):586-7 (PMID:12230622)[5]
★ Siminoski K and Bain J (1993) The Relationship Among Height, Penile Length, and Foot Size. ''Annals of Sex Research'' 6(3):231-235
★ Kondo T, Zakany J, Innis JW, Duboule D.(1997) Of fingers, toes and penises. ''Nature'' 390(6655):29(PMID:9363887)[6]
★ Rushton, J.P. & Bogaert, A.F. (1987) Race differences in sexual behavior: Testing an evolutionary hypothesis. ''Journal Research in Personality'' 21(4): pp. 536-7
★ Eisenman, Russell (2001) "Penis size: Survey of female perceptions of sexual satisfaction", PubMed Central (PMC)
★ Wylie K. R., Eardley I. (2007). Penile size and the �small penis syndrome�. ''BJU International, 99, 6,'' pp. 1449-1455. [http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-05/bpl-mwm053107.php [EurekAlert! summary]]
External links
★ Penile Suspensory Ligament Division for Penile Augmentation: Indications and Results
★ Kinsey Institute An information page on the penis.
★ Penis Size Based on Body Parts
★ Documentary of Penis Pictures and Surveys Devoted to proving the penis is more than a size.
★ "Chinese Men Do Measure Up"
★ AltPenis.com What's Average?
★ Erection Photos — FAQ
★ Penile Enlargement Surgery Photos
★ Penile Enlargement Surgery: Myths and Facts Blog
This article provided by Wikipedia. To edit the contents of this article, click here for original source.
psst.. try this: add to faves
