From the Guidelines
There is no scientifically proven method to permanently increase the size of erectile tissue. While some medications like phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitors, such as sildenafil, vardenafil, and tadalafil, can temporarily improve blood flow and erection quality, they do not increase actual tissue size, as noted in the American Cancer Society Prostate Cancer Survivorship Guidelines 1.
Some key points to consider when addressing erectile tissue size include:
- The use of PDE-5 inhibitors, which can assist with smooth muscle preservation and improve erectile function through increased tissue oxygenation 1
- The potential for penile shortening after prostate cancer surgery, which may be addressed through various treatment options, including intraurethral dissolvable prostaglandin pellets, intracavernosal prostaglandin injections, vacuum erection devices, and penile prostheses 1
- The importance of overall health and lifestyle factors, such as regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding smoking, limiting alcohol, and managing stress, which can improve blood flow and erectile function
It's essential to prioritize these factors and consult a healthcare provider to address underlying health conditions that might affect sexual performance, rather than pursuing unproven enlargement methods. Vacuum devices may create a temporary enlargement effect by drawing blood into the penis, but this is not permanent, and surgical procedures exist but carry significant risks and have inconsistent results 1. Despite marketing claims, supplements, exercises, and stretching devices lack scientific evidence for permanent enlargement.
From the FDA Drug Label
Penile erection during sexual stimulation is caused by increased penile blood flow resulting from the relaxation of penile arteries and corpus cavernosal smooth muscle. The inhibition of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) enhances erectile function by increasing the amount of cGMP. Tadalafil inhibits PDE5
The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
Methods to Increase Erectile Tissue Size
- The use of penile-extender devices has been suggested to increase penile length and circumference, as shown in a study published in 2011 2.
- In this study, patients wore a penile-extender device for 4-6 hours per day during the first 2 weeks and then 9 hours per day until the end of the third month, resulting in a significant increase in flaccid and stretched penile lengths.
- Another study published in 2017 discussed the advantages and disadvantages of common techniques for penile girth enhancement, including minimally invasive injectable girth augmentation techniques 3.
- However, there is limited research on the effectiveness of these methods for increasing erectile tissue size.
Medical Treatments
- Phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors, such as sildenafil, tadalafil, and vardenafil, are commonly used to treat erectile dysfunction, but their effect on increasing erectile tissue size is not well established 4, 5, 6.
- These medications can improve erectile function, but their primary purpose is to treat erectile dysfunction, not to increase penile size.
- Some studies suggest that PDE5 inhibitors may have a positive effect on penile size, but more research is needed to confirm this 2, 5.
Important Considerations
- Any attempts to increase erectile tissue size should be done under the guidance of a medical professional to ensure safety and effectiveness.
- More research is needed to fully understand the effects of different methods on erectile tissue size and to develop safe and effective treatments.