From the Guidelines
I strongly advise against attempting to enlarge the penis as most methods are ineffective or potentially harmful, and instead recommend focusing on addressing any underlying body image issues or sexual function concerns through medical consultation or therapy. The majority of men who think they have a small penis actually have normal-sized genitalia, and penis size does not affect sexual function for most people 1.
Key Points to Consider
- There are no medications, supplements, exercises, or devices that have been scientifically proven to permanently increase penis size.
- Despite marketing claims, pills, pumps, weights, and stretching exercises typically do not work as promised and may cause injury.
- If you have concerns about penis size, speaking with a healthcare provider or therapist is the healthiest approach to address any physical concerns or body image issues.
- Sexual satisfaction for partners typically depends more on communication, emotional connection, and technique rather than penis size.
Relevant Evidence
The American Society of Clinical Oncology clinical practice guideline adaptation of Cancer Care Ontario guideline recommends the use of a vacuum erection device (VED) to prevent penis length loss in patients with cancer, but this is not a method for enlargement 1. In contrast, the AUA guideline for Peyronie's disease discusses various surgical options for treating penile curvature, but these are not relevant to penis enlargement and are only recommended for patients with specific medical conditions and adequate erectile function 1.
Conclusion Not Needed, Recommendation Stands Alone
The focus should be on promoting healthy sexual function and addressing body image concerns through evidence-based medical consultation and therapy, rather than pursuing unproven and potentially harmful enlargement methods.
From the Research
Penile Enlargement Methods
- There are various methods for penile enlargement, including surgical and non-surgical interventions, such as extenders, injectables, vacuum devices, and surgical interventions like suspensory ligament incision and tissue grafting 2, 3, 4, 5.
- Non-surgical interventions, such as extenders and injectables, have shown some efficacy in increasing penile size, but are often associated with complications and have limited evidence to support their use 3, 4, 5.
- Surgical interventions, such as suspensory ligament incision and tissue grafting, have also been used to increase penile size, but are often associated with complications and have limited evidence to support their use 3, 4, 5.
Effectiveness and Safety
- The effectiveness and safety of penile enlargement interventions are not well established, and the quality of studies on this topic is generally low 3, 4, 5.
- Many men who seek penile enlargement have normal penile dimensions, and structured counseling is often recommended as the initial standard of care for these men 6, 4.
- Complications of penile enlargement interventions can be devastating and include penile fibrosis, sexual dysfunction, device infection, and death 3.
Recommendations
- Structured counseling should be performed for men seeking penile enlargement, and extenders may be considered for those still seeking enhancement 4.
- Injectables and surgery should be considered a last option and are often deemed unethical outside of clinical trials 4.
- More rigorous investigation with accurate reporting of complications is needed to establish recommendations based on scientific evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of penile enlargement interventions 3, 5.