Penis size is a subject that most men have always been interested in, and at times, anxious about. For a society that gives maleness an emphasis on how large one’s penis is, it’s not surprising that men are forever desperate to be told what is normal. No single ‘normal’ or ‘standard’ penis size exists in reality. Actually, the size of the penis can really vary a lot between people; besides that, there are various factors involved. In this essay, let’s discuss the average penis and erection size and its possible causes.
Well, to start with, let’s consider the fact that the average size of the penis depends on where the data come from. The average length of a flaccid penis is 3.61 inches (9.16 cm), while an erect penis is 5.16 inches (13.12 cm) long (Veale et al, 2015). Another paper, in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, measured an average flaccid length of 3.61 inches (9.16 cm) and an average erect length of 5.16 inches (13.12 cm) (Herbenick et al, 2014). These numbers are tiny compared with media’s blatantly garish depictions of the male genitals, but they are still normal.
It’s important to note that the average size may vary in populations. According to a University of California, San Francisco study, the average length of a flaccid penis in Caucasian men was 3.61 inches (9.16 cm) long, compared with 3.96 inches (10.06 cm) in African Americans (Wessells et al, 1996). In addition, the average length of an erect male for Caucasian men was 5.08 inches (12.9 cm) and for African American men it was 5.30 inches (13.5 cm) (Wessells et al, 1996). This indicates that some size variation occurs among ethnic groups, but the variation is negligible.
Age can also impact the size of the penis. According to a report in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, flaccid and erect length both decrease with age (Herbenick et al, 2014). This decrease is more noticeable in men over 60, whose average flaccid length is 3.55 inches (9.02 cm) and their average erect length is 4.92 inches (12.49 cm) (Herbenick et al., 2014). But this drop is rather modest and might not occur to most people.
Changes during Puberty:
It is during puberty, when penis size rapidly grows and expands, typically between the ages of 10 and 16, that most penis size alters. The testosterone in the body builds rapidly during this period, with the penis and testicles expanding, and secondary sexual traits such as facial hair and a deep voice emerge. Your penis can expand by as much 50% through puberty, usually to the size you need by age 18 or 20.
Changes in Adulthood:
The penis is fully developed in adulthood, but small changes can happen over time. Various factors, including weight gain, disease and injury, affect penis size, but weight gain is the most prominent one. As men lose weight — particularly around the abdomen — fat tends to get accumulated in the pubic region, reducing the size of the penis.
Other than size, it can alter the shape of the penis over time. Men’s skin is not as elastic and can become more susceptible to wrinkling as they age. Even the skin might slough off, leaving visible the veins and arteries underneath.
Changes in Old Age:
As men age, testosterone naturally depletes, diminishing muscle mass and strength and decreasing the size and firmness of the penis. This also affects the penis, and can affect sexual activity and pleasure. Additionally, certain conditions like diabetes, heart diseases and others can also increase the size and function of the penis, which increases the risk of erectile dysfunction and other sexual complications.
Genetics influence the size of the penis, too. According to one study in the Asian Journal of Andrology, the size of a man’s limp penis is highly correlated with his father’s (Yang et al., 2010). It suggests that genes can play a critical role in affecting the size of the penis and that it can be passed down from parents.
Furthermore, the size of the penis of a man also fluctuates depending on his health status. For instance, men who suffer from erectile dysfunction may lose some of the length of their penis when they keep it upright. This is because the blood vessels in the penis do not fully expand, creating a smaller erection (Lue, 2000). Moreover, the penis can also be affected by obesity. A study in the International Journal of Impotence Research found that men with a high BMI had a shorter penis (Awwad et al., 2015).
Likewise, the amount of a man’s penis should not be taken to indicate sexual performance or enjoyment. According to a paper in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, penile size has no significant relationship with sexual function, self-efficacy or satisfaction (Herbenick et al., 2014). This means that although the penis size might cause some men anxiety, it does not affect their sex lives or their self-esteem.
Conclusion:
That is, penis size or erection size may vary across men and populations. They will have a median length of 3.61 inches or 9.16 cm and a median length of 5.16 inches or 13.12 cm. But keep in mind: there is no ‘normal’ or typical penis size. The size of the penis is a function of several variables: genes, age, health, etc. Nor is penis size directly a measure of sexual function or enjoyment. Whatever the proportions of a person’s penis, all that matters is their communication with a partner and their eros in sexual relations.
