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3 Penis size! It isn't big enough
4 The hidden penis - retracted inside the body
7 Newly wed husband with hypospadias
8 White or yellow spots on the penis skin
12 What's this veiny lump on my penis?
13 A penis problem that terrifies me
17 I never knew my foreskin went back!
20 Vein like swelling on my penis
22 What's this ridge on the underside of my penis
24 My foreskin won't go back over my glans!
25 Those tiny white spots again!
26 What's this bump on my penis?
28 Is this wrinkly skin normal?
29 A hypospadic penis with two holes
30 What's this lump on my penis?
31 My penis is too damn' small!
32 The doctor forced my foreskin back!
33 My penis hole is getting bigger
34 Penis snapped in an accident
37 Penis disappears into my body
38 One ball bigger than the other
42 My bendy erection point downwards
44 Ring of dark skin on penis?
45 Why does my husband masturbate?
46 Has masturbation like this ruined my penis?
47 No way I can get to orgasm except by this weird method
49 My penis is losing its sensitivity
50 Can't stay hard like I used to!
51 Rash on my penis - too embarrassed to get help!
52 Just pulled my foreskin back and penis head is too sensitive!
53 I didn't develop normally in puberty
54 What's wrong with my penis?
Q: I think I have Peyronie's disease. My penis bends to the left like the ones I have seen on websites about the disease. But on the sites it says that the condition arises because of an injury during intercourse. But I am a virgin, and my penis has been like this for as long as I can remember so I don't think it can be the result of anything that happened to it. My pee comes out of the tip and for the most part my penis looks like a normal penis, but will this get worse over time, and will I be able to make love to a woman?
Ans: If you have continuing pain in your penis you may have Peyronie's. It is possible to injure the penis even when you are unaware that you have done so. Even a small injury to the internal cavities of the penis can cause scar tissue and plaque formation, which causes one side of the penis to be less flexible on erection and makes it bend when erect. But the other possibility is that you have just been born with a penis that has one side bigger than the other. You don't tell me how bad the bend is, and I am wondering if it is less significant than you imagine. Lots of penises bend up or down, one way or the other, and many are not symmetrical. (You can see that on this website's page with photos of erection angles.) If your penis does not have more bend than is normal, and you are worrying about it because of some concerns about sex or masculinity, I think you may find that when you come to make love the shape of your penis will be much less important for your partner than you imagine. Many women actually like an upwardly curving penis as it can provide more stimulation of the G spot in the vagina.
Q: I have been worried for 30 years. Of course, I don't dare look at other men's parts in the changing rooms, but mine looks as though it has sewing stitches along it (they are very faint now that I am 40, but when I was 20 they were very clear). Is this normal, please?
Ans: Are you looking at the median raphe, which is the the join where the penile skin comes together during a baby boy's development in the womb? Sometimes this can be very prominent, a dark color, and zigzag its way up the penis. Sometimes it is hardly noticeable. I think you can stop worrying, though!
3. Penis Size! It isn't Big Enough
Q: Hi, I'm 22 years old. I live in California and I have a girlfriend. We haven't really done anything that involves my penis, this is because I'm embarrassed about my size. I need help in getting my penis bigger. I don't want surgery, I just want to exercise it to make it become larger and thicker.
Ans: You are going to have to get over the hurdle of showing it to someone, sometime. And if you're in a relationship where you love each other, then it won't be a problem. Besides, she may be worried about the size of her breasts, or something! Why don't you introduce her to the idea gradually - tell her that you feel you are a bit on the small side, and that you will need gentle encouragement and support? Honesty is always the best policy. And on a wider front, there is no doubt that guys are very concerned about penis size. Do they need to be? Good question. There is loads of information at Penis Myths and Facts about penis size, and the various options for enlarging your organ.
4. The hidden penis - retracted inside the body
Q: I am wondering what the problem is when someone's penis doesn't stick out like normal. When I am with a woman it gets erect, but under normal circumstances, though, it is not visible.
Ans: This is called a "retractile penis". Many men have a hidden penis that shows nothing or maybe just a bit of the glans when they are not sexually excited. This retraction into the body is just one of the aspects of human variation. Most of these men would show a normal - by which I mean 5 inches or more - sized erection. They are mostly quite unhappy about not having a prominent penis, as you can see if you visit the message forums and web sites devoted to penis size. For pictures of the condition, see: Images of Size
Q: My son is 8 years old. He was born with a large penis which is now probably 3" erect. I noticed one morning when he was using the bathroom and had a morning erection, his penis's curvature is down instead of the normal up position. It would not have caught my attention but is very pronounced like an L. I do not want him to have problems in the future and would appreciate any insight in this issue.
Ans: First off, don't panic. It's likely you can get whatever is wrong put right. This sounds a bit like chordee, which is usually associated with hypospadias. If you have read about hypospadias you may know that chordee is a tight band of tissue on the underside of the penis which is associated with a congenital malformation of the penis. Chordee will pull the end of the penis down. You can easily check if your son has hypospadias by seeing if his urethral opening is in the normal place. If it is a slit or a hole which is displaced backwards down the shaft (i.e. it opens on the underside of the glans, on the coronal ridge or on the shaft itself) he probably has. If so, you need to get the advice of a pediatric urologist and think about joining the support groups listed on Hypospadias Association
However, I think I am right in saying that chordee can develop without hypospadias on rare occasions, although even here, you still need the advice of a pediatric urologist. However, my first step would be to see the family doctor and ask advice. NB IF HE IS UNCIRCUMCISED, AND DOES HAVE A PROBLEM, THEN DO NOT LET ANYONE CIRCUMCISE HIM AS THE SKIN MAY BE NEED FOR REPAIR! THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT! You MUST also see an expert - as you will see from the messages in hypospadias support groups for parents, going to a medic who has no experience can result in devastating damage! If you can, try going to a teaching hospital as the expertise is often much higher. Please don't leave the problem unresolved - the psychological effects of this condition can be very severe, as you might guess.
Q: Hi. I am 17 years old and have hypospadias. It is bad. I can't piss standing up straight and my penis is only about 4" erect. This condition has made my life hell.
Ans: I know how you feel. I have counseled many men with a similar problem. And yes, it is true that it can affect life in many ways. You have certainly been given a short straw in life. The question is, can you get to an emotional place where you feel better about yourself? The first thing is that life seems hopeless right now, and that isn't surprising. You feel very different from the guys around you, and perhaps you are imagining that you can never do the things they are doing. OK, so you have a penis that is different. Does that stop you finding some way to achieve happiness? You may think so. But there are men in the world who have this condition and are in very loving relationships. I know, because I have met many of them. Do you believe that if they can do it, you can too? Somewhere inside, can you see that it might be possible to live with the hypospadias, even if it doesn't seem so right now?
Please go to the Yahoo support groups for hypospadias (the links are here: Hypospadias Association), and read the messages. You can read a lot of experiences from men with this kind of problem, and you will find that they understand your pain. They may not all have a penis like yours, but they all understand the pain. Are you able to speak to your doctor? Or Dad, or another male relative? Whether you can or not, please have a look at the Yahoo forum: think of it as a band of brothers! Have you considered the possibility of surgical correction, or at least seeing if it would be possible?
7. Newly wed husband with hypospadias
Q: I have just been on your very interesting and informative website. I am a relatively newlywed and I believe my husband has hypospadias. I had never heard of this condition, and didn't even know what it was until I started researching the internet. He has a regular hole in the tip but it is "sealed off". The pee hole is on the underside and he has half a foreskin. He has bouts of kidney stone attacks and always has a dribble (leak). I would appreciate any information you could offer. Please allow me to be frank about my feelings. In fact, when I first saw him, I was a bit shocked. It wasn't until I started searching the web that I found out what it was. Before we were married, we talked about things and he assured me that he was circumcised. Yes, he has half a foreskin...that is the only way I can describe it. On top there is loose skin, sort of a hood but underneath there is none. It is like a sort of split on the corona, then below that is the "pee hole." OK, now about his feelings. I don't think he has maybe never seen another man's parts because he thinks his is the way other men's penises look. Does that make sense? (My ex-husband looked very different.) To be perfectly honest, he got very defensive when I asked if he would like to read about hypospadias. Our sex life sucks, plus he has impotence problems, but I would never cheat. He is only 31. Can his impotence be a result of the urethral tube not being long enough? I am really searching for answers here. Even in the most "down and dirty" situations, he never gets very hard. He has a 9 year old daughter, though, so I know it works. I would greatly appreciate your advice and insight. Thank you so much for your help.
Ans: I don't think his impotence has anything to so with his penis structure. I feel it is much more likely to be psychological. And that might imply the need to see a sexual therapist or a psychotherapist....and I guess from what you say, it isn't going to be easy to persuade him to try that idea. It is possible, but a bit unlikely, that he doesn't know he is different; however, if you look at the messages in the Yahoo hypospadias forum (link to be found on this page: Hypospadias Association), you will see some guys in their 30s and 40s writing about not having known they were different until quite recently, so it is possible. But I do know that until you get him talking about it, nothing is going to change. Yet if he feels defensive or threatened by his problems - the hypospadias, or his impotence, or his kidney problems, or the urine leaking - he may be very unwilling to engage in a dialogue. You can imagine how much psychological stuff must be whizzing around in his mind and, of course, it's rubbing off onto you as well. Personally, I think he could benefit from seeing a urologist to find out if his penis can be surgically corrected. This may produce improvements in leaking and kidney problems, his impotence, and therefore also his state of mind. You have a lot on your plate, and so does he. I would start by trying to gently encourage communication. Or even make it clear to him that you expect him to talk about these issues, since they affect you !
8. White or yellow spots on the penis skin
(which you can read about by clicking here)
Q: Hi, I'm 15 (male) and, well, here's the problem. Okay, it all seems well and good that these tiny little white, yellow or creamy colored spots on the shaft of the penis or the coronal rim are just harmless sweat glands (they are harmless, right?). What did you call 'em, Fordyce spots, right? "They cannot be controlled, massaged, oiled, or wished away, or anything else." So what the hell am I to do if I've got these for the rest of my life? Have there been any cases where they've disappeared? Cos y'know, I'm a popular lad an' still a virgin, so it won't be good if my first sexual encounter ends with a scream of terror from my girlfriend followed by a slow embarrassing life at school, which is probably then followed by suicide... You say they are responsive to testosterone in the body...right? Well, since I'm 15 my hormones are goin' mental and I do masturbate (which I don't usually admit) regularly, as in, every day or so... (by the way, is that healthy, it can't be, can it?) Anyways, I guess you know how troubled I am about this, so PLEASE could you email me back, thank you VERY, VERY much...
Ans: Your email made me smile....sounds like you have a good sense of humor, which might be a good thing in the circumstances! On the subject, though, you have to learn to live with these "spots". (And yes, they are harmless!) You don't want to hear this, I know, but here's how it is: all men have them, you are not alone, and I get loads of emails from men and boys with exactly your query. So I do know how troubling they can be. OK, now, all these other guys have these spots (although I admit some men have more spots than others), but it hasn't stopped them having good sexual relationships, right? And it won't stop you, either! And, when the time is right for your first sexual experience, you will find it doesn't matter at all. For one thing, remember that the skin of the labia - the lips around the vaginal opening - can develop these spots as well, so your girl may have exactly the same "problem".
For another thing, she will probably be too concerned with the size of her breasts, or their shape, or the size of her labia, or whether she can please you - or something - that the last thing she will be thinking about is the spots on your penis! During sex, everyone is wrapped up in their own concerns, and seems to think that these problems will be just as significant to their partner - but the funny thing is that this is almost never the case!
I can reassure you that with age and experience, this will not seem like the big deal it does now. Believe me, I am not discounting your worries right now, but the fact is that you can't do anything about these spots. Also, here's another thought: you sound like a guy who can get along with people, so remember that when the right girl finds you (or vice versa) she won't want you just for your dick - she'll want to be with you for the sake of YOU. That's how women see sex - as a part of love, so to her it will be closeness, touching, kissing and loving intimacy that is most important, not the size and appearance of your penis.
By the way, are you worried about anything else? I ask because sometimes people project their sexual worries onto things that they can see, like these little blemishes on the skin.
As for the masturbation, I would say enjoy it - it's quite normal and very healthy (as long as it doesn't become an obsession!).
Q: I ran across your website out of curiosity. I am 34 years old and have hypospadias. At one time, I too felt that I was abnormal. When I was growing up I had to explain things to other boys on more than one occasion. I didn't feel like it was that big a deal and they must have agreed since I was never made fun of. My sex life started to blossom in my college years and a glorious time it was. Contrary to girls who had slept with me telling other girls that I was deformed or abnormal, they would brag to their friends about how big I was. My penis is 8 1/2 inches long, when erect, it has a strong curve downward (like a banana), and the head is huge since it is more or less separated on the bottom. My pee hole is located on the shaft very close to the head. Every girl I have ever slept with can't seem to get enough. Maybe that's because of the curve, head size, or both. Guys with this "problem" can hit areas inside of a vagina that very few others can. Think about it - if you are doing it doggie style you have got full pressure on a girl's G-spot! Face it, if you are capable of getting the ladies to take their clothes off and have sex, what your dick looks like will never matter one bit - it's what you do with it that counts! Any woman will tell you this - and they mean it. I'm not trying to come off as being a "stud". I'm trying to point out that this condition shouldn't be thought of as a deformity, it is a part of you that makes you unique. It is something that a lover gets from you that she may NEVER get again if she lets you go!
Ans: Many guys with hypospadias have actually got short-changed in the size dept as well. You are right in all the comments you make, but any guy who has the condition in the form you have it will know (well, maybe he will, let's hope so!) the truth of what you say. For someone who is struggling with hypospadias AND a small penis size, well, I don't think things are so easy. I am glad you have had such a great experience....you're a lucky guy.
Q: I'll try to get right to the chase. I am a 23 year old gay male. My partner and I have noticed that I am not as sensitive on my penis as other men, because it takes me a long, long time to reach an orgasm. The only part of my penis shaft seems to be sensitive is a small part on the underside where the glans and shaft meet. My partner is sensitive everywhere, and can have an orgasm very quickly. Is there any treatment or surgery which might help?
Ans: No. Men who have a penis sensitivity problem are often "cut off" from their feelings, by which I mean that something is blocking their experience of sexual enjoyment. It's not likely to be a physical problem, so I think the answer may lie in the area of sexual therapy to deal with emotional issues around sex.
Q: I’ve a problem that I never heard about before (and I’ve searched in various sites and forums) - I have too much pubic hair in my genital area. You might say that is very common, but it has spread to my penis and is growing in size and length. This is causing me various problems like pain, discomfort, bumps on penis caused by inner growth of hair follicles and so on.
Ans: An answer from a public discussion forum: "I have excessive hair growth on the shaft of my penis. One good thing is that I have blond pubic hair and it is not as noticeable. But the solution is simple. I just shave myself (carefully) every couple of days with a disposable razor while taking a shower. I must admit it is a real turn on to see the results."
12. What's this veiny lump on my penis?
Q: Hi there. I'm very worried about my penis because there's a lump on the top of it that looks like a shoe lace. It's only about 2 inches long and half the size of a shoelace. It feels hard, it's just under the skin and when I move the entire skin around my shaft it stays in the same position. I can move it with my finger. It also seems to get thicker and harder when my erection gets bigger. I'm only seventeen. What do you think it is?
Ans: I think it is a vein, and perhaps it has hardened by rough masturbation/sex. But to know for sure, you really need to have a quick check up at the doctor's to make sure that it is nothing more serious.
13. A penis problem that terrifies me
Q: Hi. I noticed a couple of months ago, that I had a cyst-like pimple at the base of my shaft, right above the testicles. When my penis is relaxed, it is soft, but when my penis is erect, the cyst gets harder and I can actually feel its roundness (it feels like a tiny pellet). It looks as though I can squash it, but it is fairly hard, I wouldn't try anyway. It causes absolutely no pain at all, it hasn't grown so far, but I know I didn't always have this and I'm terrified at what it is...can you help me?
Ans: The only way to be a 100% sure is to go and get a check at the docs. The sooner you go and get confirmation it is harmless, the sooner you can stop worrying!
Q: I have a problem. I am not a overly huge man, indeed I am about normal weight, but when I am not erect I have a problem with my penis going back into my body. I have been circumcised. This has just started four months ago, and at 25 years old it is very uncomfortable and irritating. Is there anything I can do to stop this from happening?
Ans: This is not uncommon, but what is a bit unusual is that it has started at 25. Most men whose penis does this would recognize it as a thing that has always happened to them. There seems to be no simple explanation of the retractile penis, which is what it is called, or why it happens. I think it is probably a genetic thing; you're just born with a penis like this. However, I do know that a nervous disposition, with a high-ish anxiety level seems to make it more likely, so it probably has something to do with the muscle fibers in the skin of the penis contracting under the influence of adrenalin. Also, I have the impression from my work with guys who have this sort of penis that a decline in testosterone makes it happens more often, so, if you're experiencing a decline in sex drive or difficulty in getting erections, you might like to go and get a hormonal check-up.
Q: I am miserable! A few days ago, I noticed that my foreskin and shaft has become thicker. Now, I'm a teenager, and this happened in the span of a few hours, after masturbation. I do not know if that was the trigger or not. There's no pain or discomfort, either flaccid or erect, but I'm worried about a sudden change in the skin - slight swelling, if you will. I can't tell whether it is inflammation of some kind, or irritation from a pubic hair I found caught underneath the foreskin when I was cleaning in the shower. I have not seen a doctor yet as I wanted to see whether it would return to normal by itself. Your advice would be greatly appreciated.
Ans: Could be a bit of edema or water retention in the tissues, especially if you were a bit rough during masturbation. I suggest if it hasn't gone down after a few days, you have a word with your doctor, just for reassurance, because although it doesn't sound serious, you won't want to take any chances with your most precious bodily part!
Q: Thanks for putting up the info on hypospadias. (That's to be found here.) I'm a guy in my early 20s and have mild hypospadias and chordee. Unfortunately, it has caused me so much psychological and emotional suffering that it's as if I had been born crippled. The problem is cosmetic, but when you're talking about something like the penis, it doesn't matter whether it's cosmetic or functional...any abnormalities are significant, and a large part about being male and having a penis IS cosmetic. I cannot have sex without it constantly being a worry for me what will be thought of my large opening and bent penis, and I simply don't have a feeling of comfort with myself that I know most men have when it comes to sex. What I would do to have been born with a normal penis like some I've seen. In any case, the reason I'm writing is to share my views/advice on 2 things I think anyone with this problem, or any parents who have a son with this problem should read:
1. If a son has any kind of penis abnormality, it is FAR better to have the problem fixed while the boy is young (6-12 months) rather than wait and "have him choose". Any surgery at that age most likely won't even be remembered by the child (do we remember being born?) and the psychological effect of having even the slightest abnormalities when older will most likely psychologically devastate him as they have done to me.
2. Be sure to find a doctor who has extensive, extensive, experience in reconstructive urology and don't just go to your local doctor. VERY FEW urologists know how to do hypospadias repairs properly and successfully. I had 2 operations on my penis when I was an adolescent, and not only were they emotionally painful because of my age, but they were done by an urologist who wasn't even close to being an expert in the matter. My parents didn't even take the time to get 2 or 3 opinions! Now I have to see someone to have the damage repaired. I live in a large metropolis and I've seen 3 uros here: 2 of them referred me to a world-renowned expert in reconstructive urology and both said that there is no-one in my city of several million who is qualified to do the surgery. Good thing I got 2 second-opinions, since the first guy didn't even know of this specialist, and was willing to do surgery that he admitted wouldn't result in much success. I wish my parents had done the right thing when I was younger, and maybe I wouldn't be in this predicament.
Ans: In the Yahoo hypospadias groups you can get support, and share your experiences. It's well worthwhile joining, as you'll soon begin to see yourself as less out of the ordinary and more normal. Links to join can be found on this page.
17. I never knew my foreskin went back!
Q: I am 23 years old and had never heard about retracting the foreskin till just recently. When I did try, it kinda hurt, so I stretched the opening, and that helped. But anyways my question is: After I push the foreskin back, is the glans supposed to feel so weird? It's such a different, weird sensation, and it's hard to describe.....
Ans: Hi. I would say you probably have a tight opening at the end of the foreskin, and if you can stretch it, that would make things easier for you. My guess would be that the glans feels weird because it isn't used to being exposed. After all, if it has been protected by the soft warm skin inside your foreskin, it will be much more delicate than if it had been exposed for masturbation or sex, or even just rubbing on clothes, for several years. I think it will feel better as time goes by, but if it still feels weird after a few weeks, then just visit your doctor for a check up. if you have a tight foreskin, you can read about the condition on this very website or Penis Myths and Facts
18. My penis makes me feel bad
Q: Just wondering, most places I have looked to see about these white spots on the penis say that they are normal and are just glands underneath the skin, something like that. I even asked my doctor. Point is, healthy or not, they produce a horrible insecurity that I have not been able to overcome in the last 5-6 years of my life. Do you know you know of anything that can be done to reduce or eliminate them?
Ans: Interesting question. Guys often project other worries about sex or their penises onto the small things they can see like these white spots. I wonder if there is something deeper bothering you, like you're ashamed of your body, your penis, or frightened to show it to others, or terrified of getting into sexual situations? If so, then I think a bit of counseling may be called for. And remember, a sensitive partner would probably help your confidence enormously, whether you are gay or straight. What's more, your insecurities are not going to keep you away from sex for ever! Your time will come, but maybe you can speed up its arrival by seeing a counselor.
19. I have a small penis at 16
Q: Hey, I'm 16 years old, 4" inch erect, 4" girth. And I wanted to know if this was a problem, and at what age does it stop growing? Thanks for responding.
Ans: OK, I know this is a sensitive subject. I have dealt with a lot of men and especially those with penis problems in my work as a counselor, so I know how sensitive this issue can be for teenagers and adults. I think you probably realize you are below "average" for your age. However, an average means of course that some will be bigger, and some smaller. So that isn't really helpful - some men will always be below average, some above, and you can't do a lot about it. It's like the size of, say, your feet: controlled by mother nature, and your inheritance. So, that raises the question, is it "normal", and will it get bigger? I don't know the answer, but maybe I can offer you some thoughts.
First of all, have you developed pubic hair, a deeper voice, and hair on your body (armpits, etc). Are you masturbating and ejaculating? Do you have a higher sex drive than at 11 or 12? I ask these questions because first and foremost if the problem is that you haven't started puberty, you need to get help or advice from a doctor. And I think the same is true if you started puberty late, or you feel it isn't going as it should. By the way, I don't think you can use penis size as a measure of that - I think things like testicle growth and body hair, and sex drive and masturbation are more likely to be signs of pubertal development. So, start by asking yourself if there may be a hormonal problem, and, if you think there may be, get the advice of a doctor.
On the other hand, if you feel happy that your puberty generally is going well, this leads to the question of penis size. I think it fair to say that penis growth stops at about 17. Two sources of information that may be helpful to you is the size page on this very website, and Jackinworld. These will tell you lots of things about development in the teen years, and maybe give you an idea how you are doing.
Suppose, having said all that, that your penis is now as big as it ever will be? I guess that's what you're thinking about. But this size of penis, however it makes its owner feel, is actually quite common. 0.5 per cent of men have a penis of four inches long when erect, which makes about 500,000 men in America alone. (By the way, there would be 2,500,000 men with a penis 4 and a half inches erect or less). The fact is, many of these guys have happy relationships with women who love them for more than just their dick size. They love things like their man's personality, loving nature, the fact that he a great dad to their kids - whatever.
I want to be realistic about this because it is true SOME women think penis size is important - but then some women think having a husband with an income of over 100,000 dollars a year is important. Do you see what I am getting at? Women love different aspects of a man, and that is why penis size is mostly a male issue, not a female one.
So, is having a four inch penis a problem? The simple answer is that it's only a problem if it's affecting your ability to interact in some way with people. Since you've said that you're basically shy of getting into a sexual situation because of your penis, therefore I would say it is a problem! However, the other way of looking at the issue is not from your point of view, but from the likely point of view of a woman. First let me say that I think you do need to accept that there are some women out there for whom things like penis size is important. This is inevitable, and whatever you think of this point of view, it is simply the case that some women believe it to be important to them. So in some cases, there will be women whom you meet for whom it may be an issue. But you need to remember that anyone who is taking the view that a physical characteristic like penis size outweighs the importance of a man's other qualities, like his caring nature, his sense of humor, and so on, is probably a superficial person anyway.
So, the question is, if you have these doubts, how can you