TEMPTED BY PRODUCTS THAT CLAIM TO INCREASE PENIS SIZE? GET THE FACTS ABOUT WHAT TO EXPECT FROM MALE-ENHANCEMENT PILLS, PUMPS, EXERCISES AND SURGERIES.
By Mayo Clinic Staff
Ads for penis-enlargement products and procedures are everywhere. A plethora of pumps, pills, weights, exercises and surgeries claim to increase the length and width of your penis.
However, there’s little scientific support for nonsurgical methods to enlarge the penis.
Most of the techniques you see advertised are ineffective, and some can damage your penis. Think twice before trying any of them.
PENIS SIZE: WHAT’S NORMAL, WHAT’S NOT?
The fear that your penis looks too small or is too small to satisfy your partner during sex is common. But studies have shown that most men who think their penises are too small actually have normal-sized penises.
Similarly, studies suggest that many men have an exaggerated idea of what constitutes “normal” penis size.
The length of a non-erect penis doesn’t consistently predict length when the penis is erect. If your penis is about 13 cm or longer when erect, it’s of normal size.
A penis is considered abnormally small only if it measures less than 7.5 centimetres when erect, a condition called micropenis.
HOW PARTNERS VIEW PENIS SIZE
Advertisers would have you believe that your partner cares deeply about penis size. If you’re concerned, talk to your partner.
DON’T BELIEVE THE HYPE
Companies offer many types of nonsurgical penis-enlargement treatments, and often promote them with serious-looking advertisements that include endorsements from “scientific” researchers.
Look closely — you’ll see that claims of safety and effectiveness haven’t been proved.
Marketers rely on testimonials, skewed data and questionable before-and-after photos. Dietary supplements don’t require approval by the Food and Drug Administration, so manufacturers don’t have to prove safety or effectiveness.
PENIS-ENLARGEMENT PRODUCTS
Most advertised penis-enlargement methods are ineffective, and some can cause permanent damage to your penis. Here are some of the most widely promoted products and techniques:
- Pills and lotions. These usually contain vitamins, minerals, herbs or hormones that manufacturers claim enlarge the penis. None of these products has been proved to work, and some may be harmful.
- Vacuum pumps. Because pumps draw blood into the penis, making it swell, they’re sometimes used to treat erectile dysfunction.
A vacuum pump can make a penis look larger temporarily. But using one too often or too long can damage elastic tissue in the penis, leading to less firm erections. - Exercises. Sometimes called jelqing, these exercises use a hand-over-hand motion to push blood from the base to the head of the penis.
Although this technique appears safer than other methods, there’s no scientific proof it works, and it can lead to scar formation, pain and disfigurement.
Stretching. Stretching involves attaching a stretcher or extender device — also referred to as a penile traction device — to the penis to exert gentle tension.
A few small studies have reported length increases of half an inch to almost 2 inches (about 1 to 3 centimetres) with these devices.
Larger, more-rigorous research is needed to establish safety and effectiveness.
PENIS SIZE: WHAT’S NORMAL, WHAT’S NOT?
The fear that your penis looks too small or is too small to satisfy your partner during sex is common. But studies have shown that most men who think their penises are too small actually have normal-sized penises.
Similarly, studies suggest that many men have an exaggerated idea of what constitutes “normal” penis size.
The length of a non-erect penis doesn’t consistently predict length when the penis is erect. If your penis is about 13 cm or longer when erect, it’s of normal size.
A penis is considered abnormally small only if it measures less than 7.5 centimetres when erect, a condition called micropenis.
HOW PARTNERS VIEW PENIS SIZE
Advertisers would have you believe that your partner cares deeply about penis size. If you’re concerned, talk to your partner.
DON’T BELIEVE THE HYPE
Companies offer many types of nonsurgical penis-enlargement treatments, and often promote them with serious-looking advertisements that include endorsements from “scientific” researchers.
Look closely — you’ll see that claims of safety and effectiveness haven’t been proved.
Marketers rely on testimonials, skewed data and questionable before-and-after photos. Dietary supplements don’t require approval by the Food and Drug Administration, so manufacturers don’t have to prove safety or effectiveness.
PENIS-ENLARGEMENT PRODUCTS
Most advertised penis-enlargement methods are ineffective, and some can cause permanent damage to your penis. Here are some of the most widely promoted products and techniques:
- Pills and lotions. These usually contain vitamins, minerals, herbs or hormones that manufacturers claim enlarge the penis. None of these products has been proved to work, and some may be harmful.
- Vacuum pumps. Because pumps draw blood into the penis, making it swell, they’re sometimes used to treat erectile dysfunction.
A vacuum pump can make a penis look larger temporarily. But using one too often or too long can damage elastic tissue in the penis, leading to less firm erections. - Exercises. Sometimes called jelqing, these exercises use a hand-over-hand motion to push blood from the base to the head of the penis.
Although this technique appears safer than other methods, there’s no scientific proof it works, and it can lead to scar formation, pain and disfigurement.
Stretching. Stretching involves attaching a stretcher or extender device — also referred to as a penile traction device — to the penis to exert gentle tension.
A few small studies have reported length increases of half an inch to almost 2 inches (about 1 to 3 centimetres) with these devices.
Larger, more-rigorous research is needed to establish safety and effectiveness.
