Penis size is closely linked to ideas about masculinity, status and sexual prowess. Pornography reinforces distorted expectations by presenting extreme choices as the norm. Therefore, many women are afraid of making a mistake, so they try to determine a man's penis in advance. But how realistic is it to do this from a scientific standpoint? Read in the Rambler article.
Before talking about evaluation methods, it's important to clarify what exactly size means. In scientific studies, a distinction is often made between the length and girth (girth) of the penis when erect. These are the parameters used in clinical measurements and meta-analyses. According to a large systematic review published on BJU InternationalThe average length of the erect penis is about 12–14 cm and the circumference is about 11–12 cm. Of course, there is a range of values, but it is much less than what is commonly believed.
It is also important that at rest the dimensions do not yield much information. Penises differ in the type of changes they undergo during erection: in some they grow significantly larger, in others they change less. Therefore, visual assessments “by eye” in the non-erect state practically do not allow one to draw reliable conclusions.
Myths about big and small penises
Many women are vying to talk about the signs that supposedly can help reliably determine the size of a man's penis. But none of them are true.
- Height and physique. It is commonly believed that tall or big men necessarily have larger penises. However, according to many studies, the correlation between height and size is absent or extremely weak.
- Size of the foot or palm. This is one of the most enduring myths. Despite the popularity of this idea, scientific work has yet to find a statistically significant association. So if big feet tell you anything, it's the size of your shoes.
- Big chin, big nose, deep voice. There is no scientific evidence about the relationship between facial proportions, voice timbre and penis size.
- Nationality and ethnicity. Common generalizations about this issue are not only inaccurate but also scientifically inaccurate. Within-group differences significantly exceeded the average differences between populations.
The final size of the erect penis is influenced not only by the anatomy but also by the level of stimulation and the conditions occurring. Psychological state, feeling of security and lack of anxiety directly affect the level of erection. This means that even the same penis can be noticeably different in different situations.
It is noteworthy that in a calm state, the penis also does not have fixed parameters. Its anatomical position changes throughout the day under the influence of environmental temperature, physical activity and stress levels.
Sexual taboos in different countries
Why is size not the main thing?
From a scientific point of view, it is certainly impossible to determine penis size before sex without directly measuring it in the erect state. All indirect signals either do not work or cause too large an error. However, a study published on Semantic Scholarshows that size is not the main factor.
An important role is played by the level of arousal of both partners, anatomical compatibility, adaptability, changes in rhythm and posture, as well as the quality of communication and feedback. Many studies show that for most people, what is more important is not length in centimeters, but the feeling of fullness, the ability to control movements and attention to the partner's reactions. In addition, the sensitivity of the vagina is unevenly distributed, and the greatest number of receptors is located in the entrance area, not in the depth.
So, to the question of whether it is possible to accurately determine penis size before sex, science has given a clear answer: it is not possible. All the popular methods – from height assessment to palm shape analysis – are just myths.
Furthermore, focusing on size often distracts from the real factors that can affect the quality of sex. Therefore, from a sexual health and satisfaction perspective, discussing expectations and preferences is much more effective than trying to guess anatomical parameters.
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