Just about every guy wonders how he measures up in the
"down-there" department at one time or another. Here's the lowdown for any guy
who's ever worried about whether his penis is a normal size.
There's a fairly wide range of normal penis sizes - just as there is for
every other body part. And just like other parts of the body, how a penis
appears at different stages of a guy's life varies quite a bit. You wouldn't
expect someone who is 11 years old to look the same as someone who's 19.
Guys normally develop at different times. Some may start developing as early
as 9 whereas others may not start developing until 15 or even later. The age at
which a guy starts to grow varies from person to person. It all depends on when
he enters puberty
and his hormones start doing their thing.
Growth in penis size is just one part of puberty, which also includes such
changes as pubic hair development, testicular growth, muscle development, and
growth spurts. Late starters almost always catch up fine - they just reach full
maturity a little later.
Penises come in different sizes, shapes, and colors. These traits are
hereditary, like eye color or foot size, and there's nothing you can do to
change them. Despite what you may hear or read, no special exercises,
supplements, or diets will speed up the development process or change a guy's
size. Also, like his feet, a guy's penis may appear smaller to him just because
the perspective is different when he's looking down. And there's a lot less
difference in penis size between guys when they get an erection (a "boner" or
"hard on") than when their penises are relaxed.
In addition to size, guys also wonder about other aspects of how their
penises look, such as whether the skin covering the penis is normal or if
it's OK for a guy's penis to hang to the left or right (it is!). If you're
concerned about how your penis looks, ask your doctor. Guys who are reaching
puberty should have regular testicular exams, so
that's a good time to ask your doctor any questions.
Taking a ride on the hormonal roller-coaster means lots of changes - and a
lot of common worries - for both guys and girls. Just as guys may wonder about
how their penises develop, lots of girls ask the same thing about their breasts.
If you're wondering about your development,
don't try to compare yourself to your older brother or your best friend -
they're probably at a different stage of development than you are anyway. The
important thing to remember is that it's OK to not be a mirror image of the guy
at the next urinal.
Updated and reviewed by: Steven Dowshen,
MD Date reviewed: November 2003 Originally reviewed by: Neil Izenberg,
MD
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