While genetics plays a major role, it is not the only factor.
Nutritional deficiencies and environmental toxins can affect thedevelopment of the penisbefore and after birth.
Congenital and hormonal problems can also influence penis size by lowering the production oftestosteroneduring puberty.
Illustration by Zoe Hansen for Verywell Health
Child obesity and eating disorders may also factor in.
Genetics of Penis Size
The one major factor that influences penis size is genetics.
Each contributes in different ways:
What Is the Average Penis Size?
Chief among these is a person’s height and nose size.
This suggests that taller men tend to have longer penises and shorter men tend to have shorter penises.
This is evidenced by a 2018 study from Brazil involving 627 men ages 18 to 86.
In the end, the difference was relatively small, only around 1/4 inch.
A similar review published in 2023 challenged the myth that Asian men have inherently smaller penises.
Congenital Conditions Affecting Penis Size
Certaincongenital disordersinherited at birth can influence penis size.
Nutritional deficiencies and environmental toxins can also affect penis development before and after birth.
Examples of this include:
Can You Change Penis Size?
The only reliable method for penile enlargement is a surgery called aninverted V-Y skin plasty.
This involves the severing of theligamentthat anchors the shaft of the penis to the pelvic bone.
The surgery might affect nerves and blood vesselsinvolved with erectionsand increase the risk oferectile dysfunction.
Summary
Genetics plays a major role in the size of a penis.
This includes genes on the X and Y chromosomes that direct the formation of the testicles and penis.
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