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Highlights
- A meta-analysis of studies has discovered the average erect penis size.
- The study also offers penis size comparison between countries and other useful data.
- Some men can become so obsessed with the belief that they have a small penis they develop a form of body dysmorphic disorder, or BDD, which can cause or be comorbid with erectile dysfunction.
- ED medication can help with blood flow to the penis and as part of BDD treatment.
What is the average penis size? It’s the question of locker room banter and the cause of private anguish among some men who worry that their penises are too small. The good news? We have an answer! Learn what the true average erect penis size is, what it means for men worried about it, and how to manage performance anxiety around ED.
What Is The Average Penis Size?
Through the years, a number of studies have looked at average erect penis size among men living in a particular country or region. However, until nearly 2015, we were lacking a scientific consensus about the average penis size.
A team of researchers affiliated with London’s Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience and King’s College London Medical School conducted a review of the scientific literature.
Based on all the data they reviewed, they calculated that the worldwide erect penis size average to be 5.17 inches — about the length of a can of soda. While many men might feel relieved to learn that, however, there’s a subset who won’t.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder and Normal Erect Penis Length
While many men experience a little anxiety about penis size, a small percentage of these will develop an extreme version called body dysmorphic disorder, or BDD, according to Stephen Snyder, M.D., an associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Icahn School of Medicine in New York.
BDD is an obsessive focus on a supposed flaw in your appearance, no matter how minor — or even imagined.
In an article posted at SexualityResource.com and still available on the Internet Archive, Snyder offers a transcript of an interview he had previously with Men’s Health writer Tori Rodriguez discussing BDD and male penis size.
Snyder said that few men with penis-centric BDD seek professional counsel because “part of the psychology of BDD is the conviction that one has an actual physical problem.” He said that such men might be much more likely to seek out the services of a surgeon about penile enlargement surgery or purchase devices designed to accomplish that goal.
Ironically, most men suffering from this form of BDD prove to have penis measurements well within the normal range.
Snyder notes that men with this form of the disorder are also far more likely to develop sexual dysfunction than those who are unconcerned about penis size. He also observed that the partners of men preoccupied with penis size tend to regard the obsession and resulting behavior as selfish.
What Women Really Think
Men overly concerned with penis size might fear that their feelings of inadequacy are shared by the women who are their sex partners. In fact, according to a 2006 study conducted by researchers at UCLA and Cal State LA, 84 percent of women — or almost seven out of every eight women — feel “very satisfied” with the size of their male partner’s penis.
Of the 16 percent who expressed some dissatisfaction with their partner’s penis, 14 percent said they wished his penis were larger, while 2 percent would prefer a somewhat smaller penis.
It’s here we should note that the average depth of the vagina tends to be about 3 to 5 inches. One 2010 study, for example, found sexually active women had a vaginal depth of 9.1 cm, or 3.6 inches. So an average penis is, unsurprisingly, well suited to an average vagina in terms of length.
A Scientific Review of Average Erect Penis Size
The British research team responsible for the review on penis size mentioned above said its goal was to systematically review flaccid and erect penile size measurements. The team selected 17 relevant studies covering more than 15,500 men in countries from around the world.
In each of the studies the researchers reviewed, data on penis size was reported by medical professionals who had measured penises in two or more of the following conditions: flaccid length, manually stretched length, erect length, flaccid circumference, and erect circumference.
Because some of these measurements were obtained from men who were under general anesthesia or otherwise unable to achieve an erection at the time, only flaccid and stretched data was available in those cases. In others, all five measurements were provided.
The results of their review were published in the June 2015 issue of “BJU International.”
Worldwide averages, according to the review, were 3.60 inches flaccid length, 5.20 inches stretched, 5.17 inches erect, 3.66 inches flaccid circumference, and 4.59 erect circumference.
Penis Size Comparison: How US Men Measure Up
Among the 17 studies reviewed by the British research team was one conducted by U.S. urologists in 1996. Their goal was to establish guidelines for what was normal in terms of penis length and circumference for the purposes of counseling men who inquired about possible penile augmentation surgery. Their findings were published in the September 1996 issue of “The Journal of Urology.”
They calculated the following averages for U.S. men:
- 3.48 inches flaccid length
- 4.90 inches stretched length
- 5.07 inches erect
- 3.82 inches flaccid circumference
- 4.84 inches erect circumference.
The U.S. averages are very close — sometimes a bit under and sometimes a bit over — to worldwide averages. This is not really surprising when one considers that the United States population is made up of people descended from men and women who emigrated to America from around the globe.
Criteria for Penile Enlargement
As previously noted, the 1996 study of American penile size averages was conducted to provide some guidelines of what was normal and what was not in order to better counsel men seeking penile enlargement surgery.
In addition to their calculations of penis size averages, the researchers determined that only men with a flaccid penis length less than 1.57 inches or a stretched or erect length less than 2.95 inches should be considered for such procedures.
ED Medication Helps You Address What Matters
The moral of this story? Penis size is rarely the cause of sexual difficulties, unless you allow it to be — making the most of what you have is what matters. Men who are anxious about the adequacy of their penis size sometimes find it difficult to achieve and maintain strong erections.
If you’re struggling with difficulty reaching your full erection potential, erectile dysfunction medications can help.
Medications like Viagra, Cialis, vardenafil (formerly Levitra), or Stendra could boost your confidence so you can overcome self-doubt and enjoy a more satisfying sex life.
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Disclaimer: This article provides general information about health and related topics but is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Dan is a long-time freelance writer focusing on technology, science, health, and medicine, with a lifelong interest in physics, biology, and medicine. His work has taken a particular focus on scientific studies “beyond the headlines,” reading the study to more closely examine the results.