WHILE THERE ARE a lot of factors that separate the modern man from his primitive ancestors, an obsession with penis size certainly isn’t one of them. In fact, 8,000-year-old cave drawings in Turkey feature men with penises the size of their legs (we’re guessing that’s not to scale, and they took some artistic liberties). The Kama Sutra describes a method of enlarging the penis by rubbing it with the bristles on the bodies of insects. And the Ancient Greeks wrapped a leather thong around their penis to stretch the foreskin upwards.
But what if men have been obsessing for no reason? What if the average penis size isn’t as big as you think it is?
Let’s get clear on one thing: size doesn’t really matter. It doesn’t impact your fertility, sexual stamina, or even your ability to please your partner. It seems that for centuries, we’ve associated bigger junk with more power, greater virility, and overall “manliness.”
But studies have proven that’s not necessarily true, and that beyond puberty, there’s literally no link between your testosterone level and the size of what you’re packing.
Still curious about how your penis stacks up? Let’s break down the science.
What’s the length of an average penis?
According to a 2020 review published in the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, most men think the average length of an erect penis is greater than 6 inches. But here’s the issue: This belief is based on studies that used self-reported measurements. And whether most men can really be trusted to give honest answers when it comes to the size of their own D is… uncertain, to say the least.
As it turns out, the average length of an erect penis is actually between 5.1 inches and 5.5 inches. Researchers think that when bias is factored in, the average falls closer to 5.1 inches.
According to the review, many men are worried their penis is too small. In fact, only 58% of men are pleased with what they’re packing, and men who think they have an average-sized penis wish their penis was around 7.27 inches.
Study author Bruce M. King thinks this is because we’ve been relying on unreliable self-reported data. In other words, insecure guys have been exaggerating about the size of their dicks, thereby making other guys insecure.
But here’s the thing. Research has shown that women’s estimates of the average penis length are closer to reality at around 5.29 inches. So, their expectations are a lot more realistic than you might think.
Besides, 84% of women say they’re satisfied with what their partner is working with downstairs. When one survey asked what’s important to them during sex, none of them mentioned penis size.
The moral of the story? Whatever you’ve got down there is likely more than adequate. And it’s important to add that it’s not about what you have, but what you do with it. Regardless of where you fall on the spectrum of penis size, the right sex position and technique can maximize the pleasure for all parties involved.
If only we could’ve passed this wisdom onto our Turkish cavemen ancestors, right?
Rebecca Strong is a Boston-based freelance writer and podcast host covering health and wellness, relationships, lifestyle, and travel. In addition to writing for Men’s Health, she has also contributed to Business Insider, Health.com, Healthline, AskMen, Bustle, Well+Good, Clean Plates, StyleCaster, and Eat This Not That, among other outlets. Her work has been shared and promoted by Drew Barrymore, Arianna Huffington, Esther Perel, and Good Morning America. You can tune into her podcast Well-Bent on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or follow along on Twitter and Instagram via @wellbentpod.
Read the full article here