Women don't give a XXXX about penis size

Further evidence that for most men penis size is nothing to worry about: in a survey of over 50,000 heterosexuals reported in the academic journal BJU International, 85% of women were satisfied with the size of their partner's penis.

Men are worrying unnecessarily. In the same survey only 55% of men were satisfied. But according to the review in the journal which brought together all the findings of over 50 different studies ofpenis size carried out since 1942, women are much more interested in a man's personality and looks than the size of his dick.

The review included 12 separate studies into penis size in which a grand total of 11,531 members were measured. The size of the average erect penis ranged from 14-16cms (5.5 to 6.2 inches) in length and from 12-13cm (4.7 to 5.1 inches) in girth.

Down the years, men have engaged in many bizarre and dangerous practices to make their penises bigger.

The Topinama of Brazil encourage poisonous snakes to bite their penises to enlarge them. Indian Sadhus men are known to use weights to increase the length of their penis and Dayak men in Borneo pierce the glans of their penis and insert items into the holes to stimulate their partner. Makes your eyes water just thinking about it.

Apparently Mick Jagger once tried an old Amazonian marriage ritual designed to make the penis larger by inserting the penis into a bamboo tube full of stinger bees - but he still couldn't get no satisfaction.

Overall, the review also provided little evidence of racial differences in penis size.

Worry about penis size

One study found that 63% of men who thought they had small penises said their anxieties started with childhood comparisons and 37% blamed erotic images viewed in their teenage years.

Dr Kevan Wylie from the Porterbrook Clinic and Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield,who led the review of the research says: 'It is very common for men to worry about the size of their penis and it is important that these concerns aren't dismissed as this can heighten concerns and anxieties. It is helpful to normalise the situation and provide as much accurate information as possible, as many men either lack any information or have been misinformed.

'This extensive review aims to provide clinicians with an overarching summary of the many research projects that have been carried out into penile size and small penis syndrome.'

Wylie went onto recommend the best way for doctors to help men who are worried about penis size. 'The initial approach should be a thorough urological, psychosexual, psychological and psychiatric assessment, possibly with more than one clinician involved. Conservative approaches to therapy, based on education and self-awareness, as well as short-term structured psychotherapies, are often successful.'

Evidence on the effectiveness of vacuum devices, penile extenders and traction devices was limited and Wylie strongly advises against gadgets or surgery. 'There is poorly documented evidence to support the use of penile extenders, and while information is starting to emerge on some surgical techniques, this is not backed up by data on patients' satisfaction with such procedures.'