Penis pills
Question
Is it safe to take penis enlargement pills? I'd really like to give them a try but I haven't been able to find out if they're OK to take or not.
Answer
We're not aware of any pills that successfully increase penis size. If you feel your penis is small and you're considering penis enlargement, medical advice should be sought, rather than attempting self-treatment. Most self-treatment methods are believed to be ineffective or dangerous, or both. In particular, penis enlargement pills or ointments offered for sale on over the internet are misleading or fraudulent.
Almost all men will experience anxiety about their penis size or appearance at some point in their life. Everyone's body is different and so is penis size and appearance. Some men may have a short, fat penis when flaccid that expands considerably during erection while others have a long flaccid penis that barely changes in size when erect but simply becomes more rigid. It is difficult to compare your body with other men, as you never see yourself as others see you. When you look down your body at your penis it will look smaller to you than it does to other people looking straight on.
Whether size matters or not will depend on your viewpoint. If you feel you have a small penis, it will matter to you, although it may seem unimportant to others. There is often pressure on men about satisfying their partner and penis size can play an important part in adding pressure. But research has shown that penis size does not actually affect partner satisfaction during sexual intercourse. Giving pleasure has nothing to do with penis size; being a good lover is about showing consideration for your partner.
In addition, remember that women have the exact same insecurities about their bodies that men have. Whether you have female or male partners, talking and sharing your feelings is an important part of feeling satisfied in a sexual, or any other type of, relationship.
It may be useful for you to know that surveys by sexologists have shown that almost all men who believed that their penis was of inadequate size actually had a 'normal-sized' penis. Often, despite being told that penis size doesn't matter or that women aren't attracted to a man because of the length of his penis, men continue to think it does matter. Most sexologists believe that worries about penis size come from some other source of anxiety or perceived inadequacy, mainly connected to physical and sexual self-image.
The internet can be a really useful tool to search for information but you need to ensure you are getting quality help and information from people that are medically qualified before making any decisions related to your health. If you are considering treatment, you can get medical advice from your local doctor (GP) or family planning clinic.
If you have been looking for health information on the internet, you should consider the following:
- Who is providing the information?
- Are they medically qualified?
- Who is managing the website and do they have anything to gain from proposing one particular point of view over another?
Feelings of inadequacy in relation to penis size can be persistent and affect a man's life and relationships. Talking things through and getting support can help. If you would like to talk to someone, you could pop along to your local Brook Centre and talk to someone in confidence. Young men are welcome at all their Centres and some run male-only sessions too. All offer free, confidential advice and counselling. GP surgeries and family planning clinics can also offer counselling or can refer you on.
Finally, if you'd like to discuss your situation further you can call the Brook Freephone Helpline on 0800 0185 023.
Updated: 17/01/2008
Question answered by YouthNet in association with Brook
