A number of males worry about their penis size but a new analysis gives assurance to most guys that theirs are just normal. Although it has long been accepted that six inches is the normal length of manhood, the results revealed that the average is nearly a full inch smaller.
In the new study published in the British Journal of Urology International on March 3, David Veale, from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience in London, and colleagues reviewed the data of 17 earlier published studies that made measurements of over 15,500 men from around the world. Participants of the study were between 17 and 91 years old and the studies were conducted in Asia, Europe, Africa and the U.S.
The study participants' penises were measured using standard procedure by health professionals allowing the researchers to determine the averages and model the distribution of penile dimensions.
"Penis size nomograms may be useful in clinical and therapeutic settings to counsel men and for academic research," the researchers reported in their study.
The results revealed that the average length of a flaccid penis measured 3.6 inches while the average length of a flaccid stretched penis measured 5.3 inches. The average length of an erect penis, on the other hand, measured 5.2 inches. The average circumference of flaccid penis was found to be 3.7 inches while the erect penis has an average circumference of 4.6 inches.
The results were used to come up with a set of graphs that according to the researchers should help doctors when investigating a possible association between condom failure and penis size as well as when they counsel men who are concerned about the size of their penis.
"We believe these graphs will help doctors reassure the large majority of men that the size of their penis is in the normal range," Veale said. "We will also use the graphs to examine the discrepancy between what a man believes to be their position on the graph and their actual position or what they think they should be."
The researchers likewise did not find evidence for penis size differences that are associated with race albeit majority of the participants were of Middle Eastern and European descent and thus a full comparison cannot be made. They did not also find evidence that support the belief that the size of the foot reflects the size of the penis.
Photo: Bradhoc | Flickr
