Penis size can be a sensitive subject for some teens. The good news is, most men have a penis that is average for their age.
Researchers combined data from 17 previous studies and created graphs to help doctors reassure men with small penis anxiety. Their findings were published Tuesday in BJU International.
Size is a Relative Topic
There’s a lot of pressure on teenagers during puberty to hit certain growth milestones. Guys may start to worry about whether their penis is growing at the expected rate and if they are too short or too large. Those fears are usually misplaced, but it’s important for teens to know what to expect when it comes to penis size.
Most penises will continue to grow until they reach the end of puberty, which typically happens between ages 16 and 18. In most cases, at this point, your penis should be about the same length it will be when you are an adult.
During puberty, your penis and testicles will grow and become thicker. This growth is most noticeable in the erect state.
If you have a very small penis, there are ways to treat it with hormones or surgery. However, it’s best to discuss any concerns you have with your doctor, as they can provide the most accurate information.
It’s also important to remember that your penis size has a lot of influence from your height and genetic factors. For example, tall men often have larger erect penises than shorter men. But the size of your penis doesn’t change your ability to have a successful sexual experience with a woman.
Your Age Isn’t a Sign of Something Wrong
If you are worried that your penis is too small, it is important to remember that genitals are not an indicator of a person’s testosterone levels or sexual ability. Unfortunately, many men have a negative perception of the size of their penis, leading to feelings of self-consciousness or insecurity. The average male penis is between 4.8 and 6.1 inches long, so it is likely that yours is within the normal range.
Boys begin puberty around the age of 9, and their testicles and penis both grow throughout this process. The growth of the penis reaches its peak between ages 14 and 18, but the development continues into adulthood for some individuals.
During puberty, the length of the flaccid (un-erected) penis is influenced mostly by genetics. The erect penis is influenced by both genetics and how much the individual drinks, exercises, and smokes. The length of the erect penis is also influenced by height, with taller men tending to have longer penises than shorter ones.
While a person’s genital size may play a role in their perceived attractiveness or virility, concerns about this part of the body can be harmful to self-esteem. This is especially true if the person believes that their penis is too small for them to be considered masculine or attractive to others. If a person feels this way, it is important to seek professional help to treat the underlying cause of these feelings rather than reinforcing their beliefs about how they should look or act.
Talk to Your Parents
If your child’s penis seems smaller than normal, it’s best to have a conversation with their doctor. This isn’t to check if the penis is developing on schedule (that is unlikely, anyway), but to ensure that the teen isn’t suffering from a medical issue that may be contributing to their penis being small.
A doctor can also offer insight on how big a person’s penis might get. They can explain that the size of a penis when it’s flaccid doesn’t have much to do with its length when erect, and that most people’s penises only grow a little at a time.
They can also share that it’s very common for a teen to worry about their penis size, but they should know that the penis doesn’t have anything to do with sexual performance or virility. In fact, a very large penis can actually be more of a hindrance in some cases. That’s because it may not fit well inside a woman’s vagina, and because it can be difficult to manage during sports or other vigorous activities. There are also risks associated with attempting to enlarge a penis, such as infections and other health complications.
Don’t Worry
Penises come in all shapes and sizes. The most important thing to remember is that a guy’s penis size doesn’t have any bearing on his ability to sexually satisfy his partner or himself. If you have concerns about the size of your penis, talk to a doctor or teenage health specialist for help dealing with those worries.
Penis size is a sensitive topic for many guys, and that is understandable. However, it is a myth that the size of your penis can tell you about your testosterone levels or your sexual abilities. This is a common myth that can lead to anxiety in young men.
Rather than focusing on what is or isn’t normal, teens should focus on healthy ways to deal with body image concerns, such as practicing positive self-talk and connecting with mental health professionals that have experience helping adolescents with these types of concerns. Additionally, they should learn about different ways to measure their penis for accuracy, including compressing any fat in front of the pubic bone and avoiding measuring from the tip of the glans. A girth measurement is also recommended because it can be more accurate than length measurements.
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