Have you heard the term “zombie lie”? It’s a statement or idea that’s proven to be a falsehood, but it doesn’t die; it keeps coming back and back, just like a zombie. One of the biggest zombie lies, responsible for diminishing the self-esteem of men and boys, is the idea that penis size matters.
“In a world of supersize cars, jobs, meals, and just about everything else, it’s hard to stop thinking about whether bigger is actually better for everything. Men are competitive when it comes to their ability to satisfy women, and unfortunately after years of locker-room comparisons, the go-to source of pride or shame is the size of that with which they’re working.” – AskMen.com
But do men need bigger penises? What do women say? Does length or girth make you more or less attractive? Is it the size of the ship or the motion of the ocean that affects satisfaction?
The Costhetics team has done its research on this hot topic, and the information we’ve uncovered in our search may surprise you.
Penis Enlargement: Don’t Fall for It
One reason the lie about size and female satisfaction persists is that advertisers use it to sell penis enlargement products, which perpetuate another zombie lie: that the size of a man’s penis can be augmented without surgery.
“There’s little scientific support for nonsurgical methods to enlarge the penis. And no reputable medical organisation endorses penis surgery for purely cosmetic reasons. Most of the techniques you see advertised are ineffective, and some can damage your penis. Think twice before trying any of them.” – Mayo Clinic
No pump, exercise, or exotic topical ointment can alter the length of a man’s penis.
The Science of Sexual Selection
Charles Darwin is credited with developing the theory of sexual selection. He explained that male animals develop secondary sexual characteristics—the elaborate tails of peacocks, bright plumage or expandable throat sacs in many birds, large antler racks in moose—as an indication of their superior status as a mating partner.
A longer penis is one indicator that a male will be able to deposit his sperm more deeply within a woman, which is more likely to lead to successful impregnation.
The Reality of Sexual Satisfaction
How long is long enough? Good question. The Australian average is 13.2 centimetres. The vagina of a woman who hasn’t had a child is only 7.6 long when she’s not sexually excited, and even when she’s aroused the average increase in size is only another couple of centimetres.
Even if a man is packing an impressively long-barrelled pistol, anything over the average is going to waste; there’s simply no place for the extra inches to go.
Here’s another consideration: having a very long penis may in fact be a bit of a disadvantage. It is harder to keep a strong erection along the length of a long penis, so it may not be as firm or last as long as in a man with a more average penis length.
Don’t Change Your Size for Your Woman
Despite the hype and the zombie lie that the length of a man’s penis can be increased, it appears that women don’t care about size nearly as much as men think. In a British study, 55% of men surveyed were dissatisfied with their measurements while 85% of the women surveyed reported they were happy with their partner’s equipment.
What accounts for the discrepancy? Women consider size only one small part in the overall equation for sexual satisfaction. The factor that’s much more important to women is emotional connection which, unlike penis size, is something that can be improved.
Wrapping Up the Size Debate
Every penis is different. Just like women’s breasts, each has its own set of characteristics, and there isn’t much consensus as to what makes an ideal member.
A man who is looking for bragging rights about his sexual equipment should keep in mind that humans have the biggest penis of any primate, both in terms of absolute size and relative proportion. And remember: It’s not what you have, it’s what you do with it that counts!