Surprising Penis Facts No One Teaches You in Sex Ed

I won’t penalize you (sorry, I had to) if you weren’t taught a lot about the penis in school.

Most of us learned about penises only as they related to sexual reproduction. The rest was, unfortunately, learned through locker room whispers and covert Googling. Whether you have a penis, are interested in penises, or just want to know more about the human body, here are some surprising penis facts that you should know.

Penis Fact #1

The penis’s three main parts are:

• The root. This is the part that attaches the abdomen to the penis.

• The body/shaft. This is the longest part of the penis. It is tube-shaped and consists of the corpus cavernosa and corpus spongiosum along with numerous blood vessels and nerve endings. Both the corpus cavernosa and corpus spongiosum make an erection possible making them erectile tissues.

• The head. This is sometimes called the “meatus” and includes the glans and the urethral opening.

Penis Fact #2

After the age of 40, men’s bodies make increasing amounts of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), which binds to testosterone leaving less testosterone available for the body to use. This decrease in available testosterone can result in changes to the penis’s shape and size, the testicles’ sizes, the scrotum’s appearance, and the penis’s sensitivity.

Penis Fact #3

The glans penis gets softer when the penis is erect to function as a shock absorber during intercourse.

Penis Fact #4

Premature ejaculation (also called “rapid ejaculation”) often has three primary causes: psychological, neurobiological, and penile sensitivity.

Psychological factors may connect with feelings of guilt surrounding sex and masturbation.

Neurobiological refers to low levels of serotonin causing issues in a desired ejaculatory response.

Penile sensitivity issues may stem from the penis’s head having increased sensitivity that causes premature ejaculation. Topical numbing agents, such as those containing lidocaine, can help with this by decreasing penile sensitivity.

Penis Fact #5

Shoe size is not an indicator of penis length.

Penis Fact #6

As many as 48% of penis-havers will have pearly penile papules (PPPs) at some point in their lives. PPPs are small, benign bumps on glans penis. They can appear as white or pink bumps or as finger-like growths. They are usually harmless and not contagious, but consult your healthcare provider if you have any concerns.

Penis Fact #7

Uncircumcised penises will have foreskin (also called a prepuce), which is a loose layer of skin that covers the glans penis. Circumcision can make hygiene easier and can reduce the risk of contracting HIV. Someone being uncircumcised does not make them “dirty.” Those who are uncircumcised and those who are circumcised seem to experience the same levels of sexual pleasure and function.

Penis Fact #8

Penis sensitivity varies from individual to individual. However, in general, the most sensitive part of the penis is around the frenulum.

Penis Fact #9

Size does not necessarily correlate to pleasure for the penis-haver or their partner.

Penis Fact #10

We need to discuss what is “normal.” First of all, “normal” is an unhelpful word. Penises are all different. But if you want “average,” then here are the true statistics.

Penis Length: On a global scale (yes, global) with a study of 15,500 men, the average length of a flaccid penis is 3.61 inches and 5.16 for an erect penis. Only about 5% of penis-havers have an erect penis that is longer than 6.3 inches and only 5% have an erect penis that is shorter than 4 inches.

Penis Girth: The average girth of a flaccid penis is 3.6 inches and the average erect girth is 4.65 inches.

It does not matter if you fall within or outside of the average range. Embrace your size, girth, and shape as uniquely you.

Want to learn more?

To find out more about the penis, what’s “normal,” and what feels good and why, check out my ezine’s The Penis Issue.

You can also chat with me. As an experienced sex and dating coach, I’ve helped people better understand their bodies, answer questions that they may not feel comfortable asking others, and improve their sex lives and dating strategies. Click here to learn more about sex and dating coaching with me.