Men worry about penis size: they check each other out, make comparisons, and take note of ads and articles that promise ways to make their members longer. Some significant anxiety can be generated by men who are concerned about issues such as: what is the average penis size? What are some ways to increase penis size? Let’s explore these questions.

What is the average penis size?

What we refer to as the average or normal penis size differs depending on genetics and the nature of the research. Here are several cases in point. According to experts at Weill Cornell Medical College, the average penis size among the vast majority (95%) of white men is as follows:

• Flaccid penis: 3.4 to 3.7 inches (8.6 to 9.3 cm)
• Erect penis: 5.1 to 5.7 inches (12.9 to 14.5 cm)
• Girth of erect penis: 3.5 to 3.9 inches (8.8 to 10.0 cm)

Another authoritative source comes from a collaborative effort between a team from King’s College London and the NHS (National Health Service). The study, entitled “Am I Normal?” gathered information on penis length and girth from 15,521 men in 20 different projects from around the globe. The findings were as follows:

• Flaccid penis: 3.67 inches
• Erect penis: 5.16 inches
• Girth when erect: 4.59 inches

However, according to the results of the 2017 SKYN Condoms Millennial Sex Survey, the average or normal penis size for men between the ages of 18 and 34 is 6.1 inches. Note that this was a self-reporting study, meaning that the 3,037 sexually active men who completed the online form provided the information themselves, so the chances they exaggerated are quite high.

Related | Why Is the Penis Shaped Like That?

In another self-reporting study, the authors of a City University of New York effort collected data from 463 gay and bisexual men in New York City. More than half of the participants said their penis size was 6 to 8 inches when erect. One-third said their girth was 4 to 6 inches when erect.

What are some ways to increase penis size?

Despite what you may read in the back of magazines or on the Internet, there are no magic pills that make you larger. The use of a penile stretching device (penis extender) may result in a slight improvement (about 0.5 cm) in penis size if you are willing to wear a weight attached to your penis every day for about eight hours for six months. This approach, however, may leave you with torn penile tissues, broken blood vessels, and discomfort.

Several surgical options are available to increase penis size. One does not actually involve making the penis longer but instead allows about one inch or more of the shaft to become visible outside of the body. To achieve this, a surgeon needs to cut the ligament that connects the penis to the pelvic bone. Post-surgery, you would need to wear weights or a stretching device daily for about six months to prevent the ligament from reattaching itself.

Related | Why Men Wake up With Erections

Another surgical option is done as an outpatient procedure. The doctor partially disconnects the scrotum from the shaft of the penis, which may allow more of the shaft to be exposed outside of the body. This technique can be helpful for men whose scrotum is attached high on their penile shaft.

Surgical procedures to increase penis size are associated with a risk of infection, nerve damage, erectile dysfunction, and reduced sensitivity of the penis. Men who want to consider surgery to improve penis size should discuss the options and potential side effects and consequences with their physician.

This article was originally published on Prostate.net. Read the original article.