Is there a relationship between the size of a manhood and sexual satisfaction?

Women who are in sexual relationships with men of smaller penile sizes may be tempted to venture out

Women who are in sexual relationships with men of smaller penile sizes may be tempted to venture out to validate social claims regarding the prowess of men with larger than average penile sizes.

What you need to know:

  • The correct penile size is usually measured on erect manhood.
  • Twelve and a half centimetres or 4.9 inches, to 19.1 centimetres or 7.5 inches, is the normal size for adult men.
  • Although size is usually associated with sexual prowess, skill, and satisfaction, larger penile size has been shown to result in sexual dissatisfaction and pain.

Penile size. This issue creates buzz whenever it comes up. Socially, men with larger penile sizes are regarded highly. On the other hand, men with small penile sizes are the subject of ridicule. No man wants to hear that they have a defective size, especially if the size is on the shorter end of the measuring tape. In some cases, the psychological impact of having a small penis has been so dire that men have ended up acquiring the wrong condoms sizes just to look ‘blessed’.

The average size

According to Professor Joachim Osur, a reproductive and sexual health expert, the correct penile size is usually measured on erect manhood. Twelve and a half centimetres or 4.9 inches, to 19.1 centimetres or 7.5 inches, is the normal size for adult men. A penile size of less than 7 centimetres or 2.7 inches is considered abnormally small while size of 20 centimetres or 7.8 inches is considered abnormally long. The circumference of a normal erect penis is about 11 centimetres to 12 centimetres, or 4.3 inches to 4.7 inches. This estimation is echoed by multiple research studies. According to an analysis of 10 studies in which researchers took measurements of erect penises, the combined mean was 5.36 inches or 13.61 cm. For 21 studies in which researchers measured stretched penises, the mean was approximately 5.11 inches or 12.98 cm. These two studies put the average size of an adult man at between 5.1 and 5.5 inches or 12.95 to 13.97 cm. These results were published in the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy in July 2020. In the same vein, the study done by a team of UK researchers and published in the journal BJU International puts the average erect penis length at just over 13 centimeters, or around 5 inches. This study included 15,000 men drawn from different countries including Nigeria and Tanzania in Africa. Interestingly, the study disputed the myth that the size of a man’s foot, weight, or testicular size is directly proportional to his penis. According to the study’s findings, erect penises will tend to range from 9.5cm to 16cm or 3.7 inches to 6.2 inches in length. The average erect penis came in at 5.16 inches in length while a flaccid one had averaged at 3.61 inches.

Size and Infidelity in Kenya

Although size is usually associated with sexual prowess, skill, and satisfaction, larger penile size has been shown to result in sexual dissatisfaction and pain, leading to the possibility of infidelity as women seek healthier intimacy outside their relationship. For instance, a research study in Kenya, published in the journal PLOS One established that women married to husbands with larger penises are more likely to cheat than those married to men with shorter penises. This study included 545 married couples in Kenya. “Every one-inch longer penis increased the likelihood of women being involved in extra-marital partnership by almost one-and-half times. Women associated large penises with pain and discomfort during sex which precludes the enjoyment and sexual satisfaction that women are supposed to feel,” the researchers wrote. On the opposite extreme, women who are in sexual relationships with men of smaller penile sizes may also be tempted to venture out to validate social claims regarding the prowess of men with larger than average penile sizes. According to a survey that was conducted by the University of California and the University of New Mexico, the majority of women aged between 18 and 65 will to go for a slightly bigger penile size of about 6.4 inches or 16.3 centimetres for a one-time sexual experience.

Size versus intercourse

According to Sue Mc Garvie, a sexologist and author of The Suburban Hedonist, in intercourse, women are not likely to be obsessed about how endowed their partners are. “For the most part, women’s sexual satisfaction has to do with how great and experimental their partners are, not just the size or period of intercourse. They like inter-course, but a majority will get their most powerful orgasms by outer-course!” she says. Currently, it is estimated that up to 75 percent of women never reach orgasm through penetration alone. This means that regardless of penile size, there are other factors such as oral stimulation that play a more prominent role than penetration and its depth. In addition, there are certain sexual positions that will be more accommodating of different penis sizes. A position that will accommodate a small penile size may be hurtful when used with a larger penile size. The trick is for the man and his partner to know which positions work best for them and how any supposed deficiencies can be compensated.

Can the size be increased?

There are hundreds of penile enlargement options that are on sale online. Manufacturers and marketers claim that creams, pills, and stretching devices, can increase the size of the penis. However, procedures for penile enlargement are largely not recommended by the world’s leading urology bodies. “Subcutaneous fat injection for increasing penile girth is a procedure which has not been shown to be safe or efficacious. The division of the suspensory ligament of the penis for increasing penile length in adults is also a procedure that hasn’t been shown to be safe or efficacious,” states the American Urological Association and the Urology Care Foundation. Professor Osur echoes these findings, stating that advertisements that promise treatments that guarantee penis enlargement should be ignored. “Penis growth starts in the womb and continues to grow. Where there has been an abnormality such as micro penile growth, hormone problems are the main cause,” he says. Professor Osur explains that this means that detection of abnormal penis size at birth can sometimes be helped by correcting hormone problems before the male patient hits puberty. “After puberty, hormone treatment or any other treatment does not alter the size,” says Osur.