What is the Average Penis Size? | Urban Reproductive Health
What is the Average Penis Size?
Big, small, we love ’em all… Okay, well maybe not us, but someone does.
What can we say that every comedy movie hasn’t already covered? From the comically huge schlongs in films like BASEketball to the casual jabs at minis in films like You Don’t Mess with the Zohan, Hollywood has poked fun at male protrusions for decades.
Unfortunately, this has left a surprising number of men worrying about the size of their penis. And you’re not wrong to do so. After all, small and skinny boys tend to catch a lot of flack in media and high school, while the big, girthy numbers often shown in XXX movies seem to soak up all the praise.
In fact, with such a big emphasis placed on packing a huge, well, package, a whopping 68.3% of men out of a 200 man study admitted that they had concerned about the size of their penis.
On a scientific level, size doesn’t matter too much. Regardless of your size, it doesn’t actually affect your sexual function (short of you experience a form of psychological erectile dysfunction that stems from disappointment with your penis, more on this later).
Still, having a negative outlook on your number can actually have huge and negative impacts on your sex life and your sexual health.
Not only can discomfort over your package cause issues in your relationship, but it can also instill low confidence and even lead to erectile dysfunction. But the consequences don’t stop there. Men who feel like they aren’t packing enough heat tend to be gun-shy when it comes to healthcare providers. This actually leads to more sexual health problems. Again, we’ll go into more detail on this a little later in the article.
But all of this together is what it’s so important for every man to understand the real average penis size. After all, knowledge is half the battle or some such thing, right?
Drumroll, please…
And the average length of a fully erect member is… 6”, with an average girth of 5”. Flaccid, the averages are 3.61” and 3.66” respectively. Hardly the foot-long depiction in media and specialty strip clubs.
You should keep in mind though, that your little guy’s size isn’t static. You might notice he likes to wiggle around with the temperature. For example, a flaccid member may shrink when it’s too old. It’s your body’s way of keeping your reproductive system safe.
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What factors into the size of my junk? Can it be enlarged?
The biggest factor is hormones – and lots of ’em.
During puberty, your body is flooded with hormones. For men, this typically takes place between 10 and 14 years of age. However, depending on the guy, your penis may continue to grow until you’re 21!
While there are plenty of people out there – women in particular – who will tell you that your age, weight, foot and hand sizes, and height can all be indicative of your penis size, they actually don’t have anything to do with it at all.
Proportionally, height and weight may make a man’s penis look larger or smaller than it really is, but it doesn’t actually change the length or girth.
To be honest, the size and shape of your Lil’ buddy can’t easily be enlarged or altered.
There isn’t an exercise in this world that will pump him up or get him well. That’s because, contrary to the vernacular “love muscle”, your penis is actually made of erectile tissues rather than muscles. (More on this later!)
Even things like vacuums and pumps don’t actually make your penis longer – it just increases blood flow to your member, making him strong and fully erect. (AKA – you reach your full potential.)
Yes, your penis can shrink - and permanently.
Now, having said all that, there are some pretty detrimental things you can do to actually shrink your penis and kill your sex drive. It’s actually a lot easier to shrink your penis, and the results are often long-lasting, if not permanent.
The biggest leader of shrinkage, underuse, and even ED is soy. Soy is terrible for men. It’s long-since been known but is rarely talked about. (In fact, some scientists are even trying to push it as good for men, despite decades worth of evidence.)
The short version is that when men consume soy, even just very small amounts, it causes their bodies to produce estrogen (and not just a little bit).
You may hear arguments of “What about men in Asian countries where soy is a staple part of their diets?” While some authentic Asian soy-based foods have been specially fermented in a way that (mostly) negates these effects, those are few and far between here in the states.
Sugar is another culprit of killing the mood, as a preliminary study shows that it can decrease your testosterone by up to 25%. If you’re not really feeling it, you won’t be fully erect, which can cause your penis to seem smaller than it really is.
Your penis and sex life are actually pretty dependent on you giving your body what a man needs, and avoiding what is very literally toxic for you.
To make it quick and easy (I already know I’m prone to talking way too much), you basically want to avoid anything that promotes or produces estrogen.
You also want to make sure that you’re eating plenty of foods that promote testosterone.
Watch out for foods that boast about being high in lignans, as it has been loosely linked to helping with estrogen production. Another easy way to look out for estrogen-producing foods is to look for things that promote breast health or claim to reduce the risk of breast cancer. Now, that doesn’t mean everything that promotes breast health will make you produce estrogen, but some studies have shown a link, so you might want to eat it cautiously and sparingly.
And don’t worry too much – soy is the absolute “winner” when it comes to altering male genitalia. The rest won’t impact you nearly as much. And you can always add estrogen-blocking foods like red grapes and mushrooms to your diet to help negate some of the effects.
Doing a little research now can help you save yourself a lot of worry in the future.
Unrealistic standards and sexpectations for men.
Let’s be honest, you’re not an adult film star and even those guys are probably using a combination of Hollywood magic and penis extenders.
Women aren’t the only ones pressured to look like porn stars. But while women can easily get a new set of tig ol’ bitties with praise and support, there aren’t that many options (or support) for men who feel unsatisfied with their own bodies.
While extenders can be great fun (whether as a prank or in the sack), they aren’t required by far. (I’m sure we’ve all heard the joke about the woman who was yelling “harder, harder”. When her husband yelled back “tighter, tighter”, she was pretty bent out of shape, but also got the point.)
So if you’re beating yourself up for not being able to compete with those XXX stars, it’s time to accept reality: You are likely already average or above average.
So, does size really matter that much?
It’s easy to buy into the media and believe that bigger is better and that the little guy is always left out. But that’s not necessarily the case. Of course, it’s your penis and you’re the one that has to live with it, but if you’re worried about what your partner may think, it’s time to take a look at some studies.
An in-depth study on straight women’s penis preferences was conducted in 2015. The goal was to figure out what women wanted both in terms of looking at and experiencing their partner’s penises. So what did this study find?
When looking at d*ck pics, women actually only preferred slightly larger than average penises (6.4” rather than 6”), visually.
In terms of physical preference, sexually active women were polled on their preference both for one-night stands and long-term relationships. The difference just wasn’t that large.
Women preferred a raging 6.4” for one-night stands, and a nearly equal 6.3” for long-term relationships. Yes, guys, that’s right. Whether women wanted casual fun or a partner to last them for the rest of their lives, the difference was a measly 0.1”. That means that odds are in your favor that you’re already at a size she would be more than happy to take.
The women polled explained that with long-term partners, they wanted someone that felt nice but wasn’t so large that they could get hurt. They wanted comfort along with pleasure.
Another similar study found that your girth has more to do with sexual satisfaction than your length when it comes to women. (Something women have tried to tell men for ages.)
In yet another study, 45% of men said that they weren’t satisfied with their penis size, while 85% of women said that they were satisfied with their partner’s penis.
Science isn’t just in favor of average penises, either. Studies have also shown that small penises are actually pretty rare. Especially the “dreaded” micropenis. This is an incredibly rare condition that affects only about 0.6% of all men. Having a micropenis means that your penis is shorter than 2.8”. (Even then, don’t feel too bad, as there is a fetish for that known as Small Penis Humiliation [SPH].)
Am I crazy for blaming my penis?
Men, their penises, and their self-confidence are closely tied together. When a man isn’t happy with the size of his Johnson, it has a huge impact on his life. It can actually hugely impact your psychological health and have pretty dire negative consequences in other areas of your life.
If a man has a smaller penis, he has low self-esteem.
If he has low self-esteem, he may end up not having sex or not having sex very often.
This feeds into his low self-esteem, which can lead to him having a psychological sort of erectile dysfunction, where he is too insecure to maintain or even attain an erection.
Likewise, because he may not have as much sexual experience, he may end up cumming prematurely, which just feeds into that same vicious cycle. This can lead to a lack of or poor performance in the bedroom department.
It’s easy to see how this snowballs quickly, but it doesn’t just affect your sex life.
Oftentimes, this negativity bleeds into other areas of your life and can ultimately end up leaving you in a negative spiral until you are where you think you belong in life: alone, with a job you hate, a place you don’t care about, and no girl in sight.
So no, you’re not crazy if you blame your penis for low self-esteem and the problems that come from it. But you don’t have to stay in that spiral. There are plenty of tips and tricks to keep even the little guys slaying in the bedroom. (And there are plenty of women out there who prefer a smaller package.)
Showers and growers: the differences between hard and flaccid penises.
Sometimes there’s a clear difference between erect and flaccid penis sizes. If there’s more than a 1.5” difference when you become erect, you’re considered a grower. If there’s less than a 1.5” difference when you get hard, you’re a shower. That’s it. Really.
Regardless, a study from 2018 found that both showers and growers grew an average of about 1.5” when hard. I guess that means there’s not that much of a difference between the two, typically.
Altogether, you shouldn’t judge your package based on your flaccid length. This is largely to do with the fact that a smaller flaccid penis will typically lengthen at bigger percentages when growing erect.
So whether you’re a grower or a shower, you can expect to see at least some difference when you get excited.
Some things that might factor into “health erections” are blood flow, collagen, genetics, and tissue elasticity. When you achieve a “healthy erection”, you can expect to see more length and girth because you’re reaching your full potential.
Bigger may not always be better.
Sure, Da Vinci’s Notebook made a song about it, but an enormous penis might not be all it’s cracked up to be.
It may come with bragging rights and some wild stories, but large penises also tend to come with higher infection risks for your partner.
Oddly enough, this is because it can cause too much friction against condoms during sex, which in turn can allow more bacteria into your girl’s vagina. This, coupled with a higher risk for genital injury, can mean that women won’t always come back for seconds. (And yes, homosexual men also experience higher rates of infection when having sex with someone with a large *ahem*.)
Okay, but how do I measure it?
It’s actually really easy. While some guys choose to use a ruler, tape measurers are easier to use and are much more comfortable.
You’ll want to measure your flaccid penis from where your penis connects to your pubic bone, to the tip of your penis. And if you’re fully erect? You’ll want to measure from where your penis connects to your pubic bone, to the tip of your penis. (I don’t know what to tell you, it’s a pretty simple process!)
To measure girth, simply wrap the measuring tape around the thickest part of your penis.
While you probably won’t have a practical way to use these measurements outside of curiosity and to find out if you’re more of a shower or a grower, you can probably impress a chick or two with your stats if you’re particularly proud.
Although, as a bit of personal advice: women rarely know what they want when it comes to measurements.
There’s a reason that dating sites have tons of women asking for someone who is 6’5” but who are more than happy to date someone who is 5’11”. The number just sounds better.
When women give you an extreme measurement, it’s more likely that she has an idea of what’s too short rather than wanting the number she gives. For example, if she says she wants someone who is at least 6’5”, she probably really means she doesn’t want someone under 6′. The same goes for your package. If you say that you have 6”, but she has it built up in her head that she needs at least 7” because she doesn’t want someone with 5”, she’ll probably give you a pass. (This also has something to do with the rumor that guys always exaggerate by an inch or two.)
With so much mistrust, misinformation, and an image built up in her head, it can be easy to forget reality and buy into her own BS.
Chances are, she will enjoy the LOOK and FEEL of your penis more than some spoken messages. Because of this, it might be better to let her find out the old-fashioned way just how much you’re packing.
Be playful and flirty, but don’t hesitate to play show and tell.
Is there any way to make it bigger?
Of course, where there’s a will, there’s a way (or so they say). While this is hotly debated, there are some ways to temporarily (and sometimes permanently) lengthen your package.
Pills are pretty touch-and-go, with science saying that, for the most part, it’s bogus. While others tout their validity because it can help issues related to damaged tissue and blood flow (which, as we’ve stated before, can help you reach your full length).
There are also stretching “exercises” that can permanently add up to 1” to your penis – but it is hardly instant. This can take hours a day, every day, for months. But if you’re really concerned or want some extra bonus points, this might be worth trying out.
Just remember that you should *probably* consult with your doctor before you add any new pills to your routine, and you might want to get some practical, how-to advice when it comes to wearing devices that claim to help with the size of your penis. (Pretty common sense, but we have to add that for both legal reasons – for we are not doctors – and moral reasons – for we do not want to c*ckblock you because you decide to play doctor and end up Frankenstein.)
If you’re really unsatisfied with your penis, there is always Penuma. As of 2019, it was the only FDA-approved penis enlargement surgery. It’s not covered by insurance, costs about $15,000, and can be a day procedure. It can add anywhere from 1.5” to 2.5” to your penis and requires circumcision.
The touchy feely part.
While you might be concerned that little slugger isn’t up to bat, you really don’t have to worry. An overwhelming number of women are satisfied with their partners. You don’t have to focus on whether your size will keep you from having sex or pleasing your lady.
In fact, a study in 2017 showed that 24% of women thought that a man’s chest was the most attractive area, while 13% thought that a man’s stomach was his most attractive feature.
Together, that means that your torso has more play to more women than anything below the belt.
As mentioned before, there are plenty of sex tips and tricks to please your partner even if you do feel that you’re inadequate. Many women believe that it’s not the size of the boat, but the motion in the ocean.
There will be a lot of people out there who will encourage you to go to therapy or speak to your doctor if you are having hard feelings about your junk. But the truth is, the best cure would be to date around. Your best bet might be to try a fetish site. If you’re truly rocking a mini, you’ll meet a surprising (to you) number of interested women. And if they say you’re too big – you now know for certain that you’ve got nothing to worry about.
But if you take into account that most women care more about men’s chests, stomachs, backs, eyes, and arms, you might do better dating around and hitting the gym. You’ll be surprised how little your penis matters to everyone but you.
Should I seek help?
Okay, okay. Time to get serious.
There’s a big difference between some disappointment and outright depression. Men are underdiagnosed for depression because they are much less likely to actually seek help for mental health issues. This is one of the reasons that suicide ranks in the top 3 for both teens boys and older men.
If your penis size is actually making you depressed and affecting your love life, work-life, and home life, then it may be time to actually talk to your doctor. Your doctor can refer you to a therapist or phycologist. Going to a sex therapist or a therapist that specializes in sexual issues could be a huge help.
Getting help for mental health issues isn’t bad; sometimes you just gotta pull your head out of your own a**. (And sometimes, it’s so far up there you need help to remove it.) So don’t beat yourself up if you feel that you need help pulling yourself up out of that hole.
About those sex tips for men with debatably small penises?
While I would love to go into a whole thing about this, it’s not the main focus of this article. Who knows? Maybe we’ll plan for one in the future.
If you’re in a long-term relationship or trust the person that you’re having sex with, you can just ask her what she likes. You’d be surprised how many women prefer all the lead-up to sex over the actual act itself.
From talking dirty to heavy petting, massages to foreplay, women are really into feeling desired and being made to feel nice. (There’s a reason a simple foot massage can lead to some hanky-panky).
It also doesn’t hurt to get creative. There is more than one spot to stick your pickle and a surprising number of spots that are fun to stimulate with other body parts.
Men often complain that women are complicated, and it’s true. But that can really work to your advantage (in the bedroom) if you’re worried that you have a small penis.
The inevitable end.
Hopefully, now that you’ve read this article, you’ve discovered that you’re actually doing pretty good in the “D” department. Maybe you’ve even learned a thing or two and will be able to put into practice some new health or sex routines to help both you and your penis feel more satisfied and confident.
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Kevin Reynolds is an avid health fan and founder of Urban Reproductive Health. A website aimed to help bring more awareness to men’s health. Kevin has studied medical and nutrition science since an early age and holds a BA in Holistic Health. Kevin has been featured in major publications for his studies on men’s health and fitness. When Kevin is not working he loves to exercise and go to the beach.
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