PENIS ENLARGEMENT : DON'T BELIEVE THIS HYPE

We see scores of people coming to us for penis enlargement.The penile enlargement euphemistically called as male enhancement ; it includes enhancement of girth , width    and erectile rigidity.It has been called as Male Locker room syndrome as most of the people become anxious after comparing their organs in the shower-room.The peer talks, pornography etc can only add to the fuel for these obsession about the penile size.

These patients are often so panicky that how much ever we try to counsel them regarding the scientific irrelevance of penile length but these people go from pillar to post for getting enlargement.They fall prey to fraudulent products in markets.there have been numerous devices, creams, pills claiming success.Till date many of these things have not been validated scientifically.Infact some of them can be harmful to the health and penis.Many quacks exploit this weakness amongst males and propagate their unscientific products.Many patients keep secrecy about their feelings so even if they don't get benefit out of these fraudulent products/ creams/herbs they prefer to keep quiet. 

We have seen four cases of " koro" syndrome where the patients are panic stricken by penile retraction and assume that the penis is gradually getting drawn inside and one day it will burst inside leading to death.These have been documented as mass hysteria .The patients with  these beliefs strangely come in crops giving an impression of an epidemic.

Devices:

penile enlargement devices usually work with the basis of stretching penis .The elasticity of the penis makes it appear longer.There are devices which lock the venous outflow and then the patient increases the penile blood flow( inflow) by self stimulation or by vacuum.These devices are potentially dangerous as they can lead to penile vasculature damage because of the force , scarring ,pain , permanent deformity also can cripple the organ.

The stretching can though add 1-2 cm to the penile length , the penis becomes pendulum like ( and the effect may as well remain temporarily). 

There are two other methods " metallic penile rings" which are applied to the base of the penis and then the patient indulges in forceful masturbation to enhance the blood flow.If done wrongly these methods can lead to the strangulation of the penis.

SHARMA ET AL SHOWING DISASTROUS EFFECTS OF PENILE RINGS

Jelqing is a physical therapy technique wherein the person continuously strokes the penis from the base to the corona and thereby attempting to enlarge the blood sinuses by filling more and more blood.This method is called as " penile milking" and practised in Arabian Countries .These rings and massaging techniques are scientifically unproven.Many a times along with milking  some herbal creams are also provided.

The arabian tribes also follow a method called " taqaandan" where they bend the erect penis to make it flaccid.They  claim that by doing so it gives a satisfactory popping noise to them akin to knuckle- crack.This may result in increased incidence of penile hematoma and fractures.  

PENILE LENGTH A DEBATE:

The average penile length differs from men to men and also the different races. In general africans have a lengthier penises and East Asian counterparts have smaller ones.But what is more important in sexual activity is stimulation of the clitoris and lower vagina( which is sensitive to tactile stimulation)  and not the length.The foreplay and sexual vigor can itself bring a woman to the climax.It has been medically proven that only 4 cm part of the lower vagina is tactile sensitive.

But in the era of images, internet  (wider access to porns) many women also complain about smaller organ of the counterpart.A proper sexual counselling , advocating special coital positions( for smaller penises), indulging a prolonged foreplay.Some couple can use latex penile extenders for satisfaction.There is a counter view   that pelvic thrusting with penis hitting the cervix gives orgasm to woman( its a perception not scientifically founded at least to our knowledge).

Instead of focussing on length the couple can spice up the sexual life by adding foreplay and some devices like latex penis extenders or vibrating condoms.These condoms are made differently because instead of the usual sack to cover the penis with, it also comes with a ring that can produce vibrations throughout the act. As a result, couples will experience a higher level of sensation and a more fulfilling intimate experience together.

The average stretched penile length at birth is about 4 cm (1.6 in), and 90% of newborn boys will be between 2.4 and 5.5 cm . Limited growth of the penis occurs between birth and 5 years of age, but very little occurs between 5 years and the onset of puberty. The average size at the beginning of puberty is 6 cm (2.4 in) with adult size reached about 5 years later. 

The normal penis is 3-5 inches when not erect and 5-7 inches when erect.but the sizes can differ.We have seen many couple having robust sexual life inspite of male counterpart having seemingly smaller penis.Many times the woman counterpart is not aware of this also.

We consider the penis as small( micropenis) when the erect or stretched penis is less than 3 inches.

Surgical treatment:

We offer surgical treatment only for micropenis.Other patients usually we do extensive counselling and warn them about unscientific market products.

There are certain surgeries like cutting the suspensory ligament, penoplasty, trimming the pubic fat, injecting the microplastique to increase the girth or dermal fat injection subcutaneously etc have been employed by us.

Many patients believe that the penile implant is a good way to get well endowed but rather it reduces the erect penis length.It is good only for erectile dysfunction and strictly contraindicated for short penis or for those people who aim only for penile lengthening.

AMS has now come up with implant which they claim enhances the length by  1 inch or so.We feel that it rather maintains the previous length without shortening the penis.

Certain simple measures like weight reduction( can reduce the prepubic fat so effectually the buried penis resurfaces again), trimming the pubic hair( more an more penis becomes visible)   can go long way before any extreme drastic step to elongate the penis is undertaken.

REDUCTION OF WEIGHT CAN TRIM THE PREPUBIC FAT AND MAKE THE PENIS LOOK LONGER