Penis Enlargement and Sexual Function: What You Need to Know

What do you need to know about the impact of penile surgery on sex? Understanding the ins and outs is a fundamental step to take before deciding on such a life-altering change. Penis enlargement surgery, which is also referred to as “augmentation” and “enhancement,” refers to a procedure that increases the penile girth, length—or both. In most cases, the surgery is performed by professionals who are board-certified in the field of urology. However, one should keep in mind that the distribution of skills in help is not equal in broader areas. The reasons why individuals may choose to have a penis enlargement surgery performed vary from one person to another. Common reasons include altering the size of the penis for matters of personal satisfaction, becoming “more attractive,” meeting stereotype preferences in sexual performance after penile augmentation habits, or having a symbolic “treatment” for an underlying condition, “such as homosexuality,” even though its efficacy in helping and facilitating this treatment is very doubtful and debated. Journal of Sexual Medicine researchers revealed that even though many men wish to have a larger penis, only a small percentage of them really consider having a penile augmentation procedure done. Except for a few complications or side effects, in general, penile enlargement surgery may be carried out relatively safely. These, if they occur, can be very serious, and one should be delicate to the fact that the restored normal condition “cannot be treated” literally in the true sense of the word, but can only be a palliative effect. For many years, men have looked for therapeutic and aesthetic methods to enlarge the penis. In 1978, the first report suggesting lengthening by division of the penile suspensory ligament was published. Many changes and modifications have been described since then, and different techniques were established to solve different problems researchers encountered.

A very important aspect of penis size is related to the “gold standard” when it comes to surgical methods of penis surgery: the results achieved through psychological support or penis enlargement and sexual function are notoriously minimal, and, in any case, if commensurate with work and motivated, they require more or less long and continuous treatments and usually do not satisfy expectations, even in relation to the long duration of therapy that cannot always be documented. The size of the penis is important in these times of “body image.” In today’s clothing styles, garments such as swimming trunks, underwear, and “boxer shorts” should offer some scope for anatomy conformation and size adequacy and a potential psychological stabilization for the patient. A questionnaire survey study carried out in France on 405 men undergoing plastic surgery, laser facial resurfacing, or rhinoplasty showed that 40.8% of the sample wished for a change in their genital appearance. Concerning genital complaints, 21.2% showed a complex concerning the size of their penis while 17.1% felt inhibited in front of women and/or were single, and 11.1% reported dissatisfaction with their pre-ejaculatory ability. Fourteen percent reported accepting and being satisfied with a small penis, but 82.5% said that men need a certain size penis “to be visible.”