While the topic may appear to be more suited to a porn magazine rather than a medical journal, it has to be said that medical studies and research on the subject are growing steadily.
Penis size is a huge concern for many men, even though very few have a penis that isn’t large enough for copulation or pleasuring their partner. This type of anxiety over penis size is known as “dysmorphophobia”, and it’s becoming more prevalent across the globe due to the rise of pornography.
Penis size can vary greatly from one individual to another and it’s difficult to find data. However, the general consensus is that flaccid penis length is around 3 inches on average; while the average erect length falls somewhere between 5 and 6 inches. This rising obsession and insecurity over penis size has led men to consider male-enhancement methods such as drugs and even surgery.
When it comes to male enhancement drugs, there isn’t much scientific data to support their efficacy. Surgery, on the other hand, is rarely recommended by experts because of the high risks and costs involved. So, are there any safe and effective penis stretching methods maybe to make sure you don’t have to resort to surgery or drugs?
As it turns out, prescription drugs and surgery aren’t your only options when it comes to male enhancement. Some experts have suggested that penis stretching methods such as exercises, devices, and natural supplements can also be used to achieve results. Over the course of this blog post, we’ll discuss the efficacy of these methods, and the results you can expect.
What is penis stretching?
How does penis stretching work?
Penis stretching exercises
Stretching devices
What are the risks or side effects
What results can be achieved
Alternatives to penis stretching
What is Penis Stretching?
Penis stretching is exactly how it sounds. You basically pull on your penis, and it grows a few centimeters if you do it on a regular basis. Penis stretching can be done through three main ways:
- Manually pulling your penis and generating a controlled amount of tension.
- Using a device, such as a penis extender, to keep your penis stretched for a prolonged period of time.
- Generating a controlled amount of tension by suspending specific weights from your penis.
How Does Penis Stretching Work?
Penis stretching exercises and devices function in two primary ways.
Rebuilding and expanding the spongy tissues in the penis that are known as the corpora cavernosa and the corpus spongiosum.
Elongating the penis ligaments, particularly the suspensory ligament, by stretching it out.
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There are two theories that explain how stretching the penis can eventually lead to an increased length and girth. Both have the same underlying principle. The basic concept is that when an action is applied to living tissues, they change and adjust automatically to meet that action.
A good example is how muscle tissues respond to physical training. While penile tissues aren’t exactly the same as muscle tissues, they are similar in many ways. If you subject your penile tissues to a specific amount of tension for a length of time, they go through the following three processes:
Hypertrophy
Like in natural bodybuilding, the gains you’ll make from penis stretching methods will be the result of a process called hypertrophy. When your penile tissues are stretched with the appropriate resistance to the point of fatigue, they break down in a painless type of way and sustain many “microtears”.
This is exactly the same process your skeletal muscles go through when you lift weights. With the right amount of rest and proper nutrition, these tears recover in a short frame of time (generally within a day), and the tissues become both bigger and stronger.
Hyperplasia
While most of the gains you make from penis stretching will be a result of hypertrophy, a certain extent of hyperplasia is also involved in the tissue regeneration process. When microtears form on the tissue, the body also generates new cells to aid the repairing process. These new cells actually fill the spaces in the tissue created by the tears. The generation of new cells is known as hyperplasia.
Ligament Extension
This process is the easiest to understand and the most obvious out of the 3. When your penile tissues and ligaments are stretched on a regular basis, they become longer and more flexible over time.
A good instance of ligament stretching can be seen in the “Giraffe Women” of Myanmar’s Padaung tribe. The Giraffe Women are famous for having extremely long necks.
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These females have metal coils wrapped around their necks in their childhood. The number of coils is increased until their necks are stretched out to as much as 12 inches.
Penis Stretching Exercises
There are numerous exercises you can perform to increase penis length and girth. However, it’s important to warm up before you begin. Warming up loosens up penile ligaments and tendons, which reduces the risk of injuries. Also, be careful with the force you apply during these exercises. Excessive force can lead to painful injuries like penile fracture and ruptured blood vessels.
Jelqing
Perhaps the easiest penis stretching exercise to perform, jelqing promotes blood flow and pressure in the penis which naturally helps in enlarging its length and girth. This exercise needs to be performed regularly in order to achieve results. Here’s a brief step-by-step guide to jelqing:
- Apply a natural lubricant such as petroleum jelly or coconut oil for comfort and safety.
- You can achieve better results if the penis is partially erect.
- Make a ring using your thumb and index finger, and grip the base of the penis with it.
- Applying light pressure on your penis, move up the shaft until you reach the glans.
- Repeat this procedure for 10-15 minutes.
Jelqing should not be performed with a full erection. Furthermore, be careful with the amount of pressure you apply and stop immediately if you feel any pain.
Stretching
This is one of the most-performed penis-stretching exercises. Combining it with jelqing can deliver even better results. ‘Stretching’ should only be performed when the penis is fully flaccid.
You can perform it standing up or sitting down. Here’s how you perform the exercise:
Hold your penis from just below the head and gently pull it for 30 seconds in upwards, downwards, straight out, left and right directions.
When performing this exercise, be careful that you don’t apply too much pressure while pulling. Overstretching the penis can lead to damaged tissues.
Stretching Devices
Devices that are purported to increase penis size mainly include ones that wrap around the penis and apply a squeezing type of pressure. Some devices are designed to be used while the penis is flaccid, while others are meant to be used on an erect penis. Most of these devices work by forcing the skin and the structures of the penis to narrow which allows the penis to lengthen.
They’re also penis enlargement devices available that are specifically designed to be used during jelqing.
However, it’s important to note that there’s little to no scientific data that supports the efficacy of penis enlargement devices. Moreover, if used wrongly, some devices can cut off blood circulation, potentially causing permanent damage. Here are the commonly-used penis enlargement devices:
Pumps and Vacuums
A penis pump is a vacuum constriction apparatus that is advertised to improve erectile function and increase penis size. The apparatus consists of an acrylic tube with a pump which is directly attached to the tip of the penis.
The pump is then used to create a vacuum in the cylinder which helps in increasing blood flow to the penis. There’s no scientific evidence which proves the effectiveness of vacuum and pumps, and they can also potentially cause injuries.
Penis Extenders
While there are no FDA-approved devices for penile extension, you can still find penis extenders that are advertised to increase the size of the penis. These mainly consist of a weight being attached to the tip of a flaccid penis with the purpose of increasing the length by a couple of inches.
Such devices are not to be confused with the medical device known as the Extender, which is designed to improve penis shape and size in men who suffer from Peyronie’s disease.
What Are the Risks or Side Effects?
Using excessive force while performing penis stretching can cause large tears in the penile tissues and tendons, or even worse, damage connective ligaments attached to the penis. Such injuries can cause lasting damage and even lead to problems such as erectile dysfunction.
When using penis stretching devices, follow your urologist’s instructions for the length of time you should wear it. Wearing such devices for too long can lead to injuries that can impact penile function.
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When it comes to using a penis pump, be careful of how long you trap blood into the penis. Keeping blood in the penis for more than half an hour can be severely harmful for your testicles and penis. The following risks and symptoms are also associated with penis stretching devices and exercises:
- Minor discoloration or bruises
- Numbness
- Itchiness
- Reds spots along the shaft of the penis
- Ruptured veins
- Ruptured blood vessels
- Penile fracture
It’s best to schedule an appointment with your doctor if you notice any of these symptoms.
What Results Can Be Achieved
So, what results can you expect from penis stretching exercises and devices? Well, it depends on which approach you opt for and how consistent you are with it.
Penis traction devices, for instance, need to be used on a daily basis for a number of months if you want to achieve any noticeable results. When it comes to penis pumps and exercises, there are some reports which suggest that they can deliver results much faster. However, these reports are just anecdotal and there’s no credible research that supports these claims. It’s also unclear how much time manual penis stretching exercises take to provide to deliver results.
Alternatives to Penis Stretching
In addition to penis stretching exercises and devices, there are also other male enhancement alternatives which you can try. These include surgical options, prescription drugs and topical products such as penis enlargement creams.
Surgical Options for Penis Enlargement
There are no penis enlargement surgeries that are approved by the FDA. Moreover, penis enlargement surgeries are also generally quite expensive. Here are some surgical options for penis enlargement:
Penile Implant Surgery
Penile implant surgery involves placing a silicone implant in the penis to increase its length and girth. This type of surgery generally costs thousands of dollars and the risks associated with it include infections and ruptured implants.
Suspensory Ligament Surgery
This surgery involves cutting the suspensory ligament, which is a fibrous chord that starts at the pubic bone and runs down the shaft of the penis. When the ligament is cut surgically, the penis is allowed to hang a little lower, which gives the illusion of a longer length. The risks associated with this kind of surgery include infections, loss of penile function and sensation and scar tissue.
Penis Enlargement Creams
While topical penis enlargement products such as creams, lotions and oils are widely advertised, there’s no scientific data or studies to support their efficacy.
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Topical penis enlargement products may contain vitamins, herbs, hormones and medications that enhance blood flow.
Pills
Many manufacturers also offer pills that are designed to enhance penis size. However, the efficacy of synthetic penis enlargement pills is debatable at best. Some products may contain drugs – such as Sildenafil – that can be dangerous for men who’re affected by cardiovascular conditions.
Conclusion
If you have an average penis size, there are no proven ways to increase its size. However, if you’ve lost size due to a medical condition, such as Peyronie’s Disease, there is a variety of penis enlargement options you can try.
Surgical procedures are rarely recommended by doctors because of the high costs and risks involved. Prescription drugs, on the other hand, can be effective; however, there are certain risks and side effects associated with them as well. Therefore, most experts suggest a combination of all-natural male enhancement supplements, lifestyle changes and exercises as the best option.
All-natural supplements such as Male Extra are formulated with herbal ingredients that have proven male sexual health benefits. These include L-arginine, pomegranate juice, L-methionine and Zinc. These supplements work by improving blood flow to the penis and boosting testosterone and nitric oxide production in the body. Moreover, there are little to no adverse side effects associated with these supplements.
However, it’s important to consult with a sexual medicine expert before you opt for any penis enlargement treatment.
