Penis Enlargement Consequences

Emma Howard: Hello! I am Emma Howard and I am joined by Dr. Jonty Heaversedge, who is an expert on men's health. Hello! Dr. Jonty Heaversedge: Hi Emma! Emma Howard: I've got a question here which I am sure a lot of people will be interested in the answer today. It's a young man who has written in, 20-years-old, having trouble approaching woman, because he says, that he fears that his penis is too small. Then clearly it is -- I have a lot of concerns in because he wants to know from you, should he have a penis enlargement? Dr. Jonty Heaversedge: Yeah, I think men are inundated. Advertisements all over the internet and newspapers and so on, all about having bigger penises. I think it actually kind of plays on a natural insecurity, but I think the reassuring thing for this chap, that the majority of men, you think that their penis is too small. Actually, all the research shows that penises are of normal size, okay. So I think that's the first thing. The other thing is that actually there has been a lot of research recently talking to women. And actually although some women, for some women the size matters, most women would also tell you the size doesn't really matter at all. Emma Howard: And they really mean it, don't they -- Dr. Jonty Heaversedge: They really do. Emma Howard: -- because women say, what kind of lover you are rather than the size of your penis? Dr. Jonty Heaversedge: Absolutely! Emma Howard: But men are very insecure about it. Dr. Jonty Heaversedge: They are very worried about it and actually if you talk to women, a larger penis can be more uncomfortable during sexual intercourse, so actually again you are absolutely right, women are not nearly as worried as men are about penis size. So I guess that's the other thing to say. And also if you look at the evidence behind all of the different operations and so on you'll see advertised and hanging weights off your penis and all the rest of it. Emma Howard: That's awful. Dr. Jonty Heaversedge: I mean it's terrifying and none of it has any good evidence to back it up to be honest. And the operation itself - there is an operation what's called the Suspensory Ligament that actually holds the penis up when it's erect. So the risk of that is, it does look longer, but actually during sexual intercourse it cannot hang at quite an uncomfortable angle and make sex more difficult. So realistically I think stay clear. Emma Howard: Thanks Jonty, good advice! And if you have a similar problem, we hope, we might have given you some help, but remember it's always best to go and see your own doctor for medical advice. Thanks for watching. We will be back with more health questions and answers.