24 fun facts about the penis explained by experts

The penis has been part of the conversation for hundreds of years. It is revered, envied, ridiculed, sculpted, painted, photographed, described and observed.

No other small anatomical member raises so many doubts and questions and represents in such a small space (about nine centimeters on average in a flaccid state and around 13 in an erection) such abstract concepts as masculinity, power and life itself.

We turned to experts in anthropology, andrology and sexology to answer some of the most common (and some not so common) curiosities that men and women have about the penis. This is the result.

1. Can penis size undermine a man's self-esteem?

Eva Moreno, sexologist, couples therapist and founder of Tapersex is emphatic: "Unfortunately, the vast majority of men measure their self-esteem by their penis. If they have a good erection, if they can last more or less... And, of course, by size. The penis size is important, both big and small, but it does not determine its functionality, much less the value of a person "

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"Masculinity stereotypes and the idea of ​​an ideal body make many men feel bad about themselves and are often the reason for frequent consultations", highlights sexologist and doctor Elena Requena.

Moreno adds: "The sex toy and cosmetics industry knows very well the value of penis size for men. Therefore, Among the best-selling male products on the Internet are all those that promise to increase penis size."

2. Do penis extenders work?

"It is well documented that the gradual expansion of tissues by traction results in the formation of new connective tissue", explains urologist specializing in andrology Alejandra Egui. "This phenomenon has been demonstrated in bone and muscle tissue and is the basis of expander treatment used in plastic surgery." Of course, this is not a miracle, but an exercise in perseverance: "It is possible to enlarge the penis, but this requires following a very strict treatment schedule that includes wearing the device for at least an average of 6 to 8 hours a day."

The big question is: how many centimeters can the member gain? "The devices claim, based on clinical studies, that the penis can grow by around 0.5 centimeters per month. With proper use of the device, the length of the penis can be increased by around two centimeters at the end of treatment."

3. Do penis enlargement surgeries really work?

Yes and no. Dr. Egui explains further: "The length of the corpora cavernosa itself cannot be modified. The most common procedure for genital enlargement consists of surgical section of the penile suspensory ligament, which allows the externalization of the portion of the penis that is located behind the pubis and thus gains approximately two centimeters in length. This technique is usually combined with other procedures to improve the aesthetic result of the intervention, such as fat liposuction. supra pubis, abdominoplasty or scrotal repair. To improve thickness, the patient's own fat is usually injected circumferentially. In other words, it will be visibly longer, but without actually changing the length.

4. Is a large penis a sign of virility in all cultures?

"Yes, if it is considered that male identity has an anatomical foundation", explains Professor Consuelo Álvarez, professor and researcher of Social Anthropology at the Complutense University of Madrid. "In the same way that larger hips and breasts can be more guaranteed for motherhood in the case of women, greater virility could be justified, from a Western point of view, with the issue of size."

Sexologist Elena Requena points out: “In Greek culture, as we see in artistic representations, a small penis was a sign of measure and proportion, and a large penis was attributed to beings such as satyrs, considered vulgar, rude and drunk.”

5. Is it normal for men to like seeing the size of other penises in the gym locker room?

"Yes, we are in a competitive society in everything!", explains Requena. "The size of the penis is no less important, especially when it comes to seeing ourselves as normal or within what is considered normal. This reassures us and makes us feel comfortable.I'm average, but it also makes us forget that every man is different and this is the basis of human wealth." For sexologist Eva Moreno, "it's neither normal nor abnormal. It's just a curiosity."

6. Why do some men like to photograph their own penis and send the image to other people?

"It's a form of exhibitionism", replies sexologist Eva Moreno. "Behind exhibitionism there is insecurity and low self-esteem. Photographing your genitals rectifies your body. Showing is now much easier with new technologies." For Requena, “historically the penis was a symbol of power, of potency, of the masculine. Sometimes, your image serves as a showcase for all of this."

7. How do I know if I have a very small or large penis?

"The average length of the penis in a flaccid state is about 9 centimeters and when erect it can reach 13.1 centimeters", responds urologist Alejandra Egui citing the study published in the British Journal of Urology in December 2014. "In Regarding thickness, it was concluded that the penis measures an average of 9.3 centimeters in circumference when flaccid and 11.6 centimeters when erect. si is defined as a penis that is less than 7 cm long in an adult male and usually has an underlying medical cause."

8. Does the legend relating the size of a man's penis to that of his hands or nose have any basis in fact?

According to Egui, “the aforementioned study showed that there is no proven relationship between the size of the feet, weight or other parts of the body and the length of the penis, nor was any significant evidence found.”

9. Why does the penis have an erection in the morning?

"Morning erection is not the result of sexual excitement", replies sexologist Eva Moreno. "The penis responds to the relaxation of all muscles during rest. It is a natural mechanism. Thanks to relaxation, the corpora cavernosa and venous arteries of the penis are irrigated. Furthermore, during rest, testosterone levels increase. erection. It is a natural regeneration of the penis that helps it function better. It is interesting to know that these erections are repeated several times."

10. Is there a man with two penises?

Yes, if a man is born with a congenital anomaly called diphallia that affects one in every 5.5 million men.

11. Can a penis fracture occur?

"Although the penis as such does not have bones", informs Alejandra Egui, "it can fracture due to the rupture of Buck's fascia, which is the structure that surrounds the corpora cavernosa. For this to happen, the penis must necessarily be in an upright state. "

12. Is having erections very frequently and at inopportune times a reason to worry?

Yes, mainly because of the discomfort. "The erection is a physiological response to a sexual impulse", reports sexologist Eva Moreno. "This impulse can be caused by a thought, a memory, by contact... When a premature erection occurs, an untimely reflex also occurs. These are uncomfortable erections, not only due to erotic thought, but also due to the sensitivity of the penis. The glans is the most delicate part of the penis. With an unwanted erection, the glans will rub under the pants and cause discomfort", adds Moreno.

13. Does it take all men the same amount of time to get an erection?

"The great sexuality researcher Alfred C. Kinsey valued the time it takes a man to have an erection in 3 seconds", reports the sexologist. "But, age can influence it and if you take any type of medication too."

14. What type of underwear is most appropriate for the well-being of the male genitalia?

"Urologists always recommend the use of tight-fitting slip-type underwear, as they provide better support for the genital area", responds Egui.

15. What is the most common cause that a man usually takes to the urologist?

"Typically, men consult due to urination difficulties, especially those over 50 years old", according to Dr. Egui. "Many patients have also been requesting a prostate exam. Regarding the area of ​​andrology, the main reason for consultation is erectile dysfunction of greater or lesser intensity".

16. Should the foreskin be retracted in newborns, as recommended by some doctors?

"Manipulation of the foreskin is not recommended in newborns up to 6 months of age", says Alejandra Egui. "From then on and following the professional's instructions, the skin of the foreskin should progressively retract, taking advantage of the bath time. Under no circumstances should spasms be made, as was the practice a few years ago.

17. At what age should I start talking to my son about his penis and how it works?

"When the child is a baby, he will begin to explore his g organsenitais, mainly because we change the diaper frequently. With older children, the secret is not to rush into answers, not to be shocked or to imprint feelings of guilt or shame in our speech. With love and understanding, everything will be much simpler than we think", replies Requena.

18. Why do some penises get bigger during erection and others remain almost the same size as when they are flaccid?

Sometimes a large penis at rest can remain the same size when erect. And it's common for a small penis at rest to grow larger when it's erect. Depends on what? Easy: some penises are more elastic than others. "The growth of the penis during erection occurs due to the increase in the length of the corpora cavernosa when they are at maximum distension", explains Dr. Egui. In other words, when blood flow penetrates the interior of the corpora cavernosa of a more elastic penis (this is generally the case with smaller ones), that penis will grow at a greater rate than a larger, less elastic one at rest.

19. Should I be worried about an excessive curve in my penis? What is the normal curvature?

"It is normal to have a small lateral curvature of the penis to the sides, although it predominates on the left", responds Egui. "It is advisable to consult a urologist if you have pain, if the degree of curvature prevents you from having satisfactory sexual intercourse or if the penis curves downwards."

20. How many times can a man ejaculate a day?

"After each ejaculation, the man needs to go through a period called refractory", explains Eva Moreno. "It's a recovery time of about ten or fifteen minutes. So, each man has his own time, depending on sensitivity. There is no rule for how many times a man can ejaculate in a day. With that in mind, let each one calculate your time between one ejaculation and another. Dangerous? No!

21. How big is the biggest penis in the world?

Jonah Falcon, a New Yorker born in 1970, has the largest penis ever measured and recorded. He measures 34 centimeters in an erect state (the average is about 13). His record is held by a Mexican named Roberto Esquivel Cabrera, born in 1963 and star of a video published by the tabloid website TMZ that went viral in 2015 and today has almost 11 million views. Roberto's penis would measure, according to him, 43 centimeters in erection. However, Esquivel always shows his penis wrapped in bandages (according to him, to avoid friction) and it was not possible to verify the veracity of this data.

22. What is true in the legend that it is healthier to urinate sitting down?

"In a patient who does not have difficulty urinating, there is no difference between urinating while sitting and urinating while standing", explains Egui. "However, in patients who have difficulty emptying their bladder, urinating while sitting helps reduce the amount of residual urine after urination, which prevents infections. Therefore, we could say that it is a half-truth that it is healthier for men pee sitting down".

23. Can a cut penis return to the body with satisfactory results, like the famous Bobbit case?

Egui responds: "Realistically, the case of John Wayne Bobbitt is the exception rather than the rule. Successful reimplantation of an amputated penis requires several conditions: that no excessive time has elapsed since the event, that the amputated tissue remains viable, requires advanced knowledge of microsurgery and an uncomplicated postoperative period."

24. Is impotence easier to resolve if it is of psychological origin or if it is of physiological origin?

erectile dysfunction can be of psychological origin (i.e. due to emotional causes) or organic (i.e. due to physical causes).

"In theory, psychological dysfunction has a better solution than organic dysfunction”, explains Dr. Egui. “But it is necessary to individualize each treatment, since in many cases the approach to the psychogenic problem also requires psychological monitoring of the patient and your partner."

Sexologist Elena Requena adds: "When a person with erection difficulties comes to us, we must approach them from a sexological point of view, find out how long ago it happened and investigate their sexualization process. Sometimes there are organic causes in problems".