Eight things you didn’t know about the penis

While many think penis knowledge is common, there are a number of things that aren’t learnt in school that impact the well-being of the organ.

Although it is used for sexual intercourse and urination, there are ways to ensure your penis is as healthy as can be.

1. Regular erections are important

Assistant professor of urology at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine Tobias Kohler says the penis has to essentially be exercised.

ALSO READ: What? Man GROWS 5cm ‘horn’ on the tip of his penis

According to Kohler, regular erections allow for one to keep their penis ‘in shape’.

Kohler says that the smooth muscle of the penis has to be periodically enriched with oxygen (by the rush of blood that comes with an erection) to maintain a healthy tone.

If people with penises are able to get erect but don’t have erections during the day, this is okay as the brain has somewhat of an automatic penis maintenance function.

Impulses from the brain cause erections during the dreaming phase of sleep.

However, some people with penises are unable to have erections due to a number of reasons. Kohler suggests using a device such as a vacuum pump.

This forces the penis to swell with blood and can assist men with erection problems.

2. Growers and show-ers actually do exist

There is no consistent relationship between the sizes of a fully erect penis and a flaccid penis.

An analysis of over 1 000 penis measurements taken by sex researcher Dr Alfred Kinsey showed that shorter, flaccid penis tend to grow about twice as large in length than longer flaccid penises when erect.

ALSO READ: Do men with big noses have big penises?

According to Kinsey’s data, about 12% of penises gained one-third (or less) of their total length while 7% doubled in length when erect.

3. The penis is not the only area of pleasure

While many people with penises believe that the head (glans) of the penis as well as the underside of the shaft are the most sensitive to sexual pleasure, this is not entirely true.

These two areas have the highest sensitivity rating for a majority of men. Following these are the upper side of the glans, the left and right sides of the glans, the sides of the penis, the upper side of the shaft and the foreskin. These findings were published in the British Journal of Urology International.

4. Penis sensitivity declines with ageing

The sensitivity of the penis is generally gauged by the least amount of stimulation that can be felt. This is referred to as the sensory threshold.

Penises tend to steadily lose sensitivity as the person ages – exactly how much is hard to tell. 

Studies show that the penis steadily loses sensitivity as men age though it’s hard to say exactly by how much. 

That’s because different researchers have used different ways to stimulate the penis and measure sensitivity.

It’s been widely reported through studies that from the age of 25, sensitivity begins to decline. The highest decline in sensitivity is seen between the ages of 65 and 75.

5. Vibrators also work on penises

A common misconception is that vibrators only work on vaginas. However, the vibration is also effective on the penis.

Many people with penises who have spinal cord injuries are able to ejaculate with the aid of medical vibrators, reports Web MD.

For people with delayed ejaculation or difficulty ejaculating, a store-bought vibrating personal massager is advised by Kohler.

6. Half of your penis is inside your body

A lot of people with penises would be excited to know that their organ is actually double the size of what they see.

According to reports, half the length of the penis is inside the body.

ALSO READ: Ouch! Doctors discover acupuncture needle inside boy’s penis

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) results published in the British Medical Journal show that the penis is somewhat boomerang shaped when erect.

7. There are bacteria inhabiting the skin of the organ

Researchers at the Translation Genomics Research Institute used genetic tests to identify bacteria found on penises.

The study showed a difference in the number of bacteria inhabiting the skin in uncircumcised and circumcised penises.

After circumcision, there tend to be fewer kinds of bacteria on penises. 

“I liken it to clear-cutting a forest. You’re going to get a lot more sunlight, and you’re going to drastically change the environment,”

said Lance Price, PhD.

8. Circumcision is not as common as one would think

A report published in Population Health Metrics showed that worldwide, approximately 37% to 39% of people with penises aged 15 and older are circumcised.

The above is according to a 2016 report.

The report stated that the rates do vary greatly depending on religion and nationality. Jewish and Muslim males account for nearly 70% of all circumcised males globally.

ALSO READ: LOOK: Man ‘breaks’ penis, hears ‘cracking sound’ during sex with wife