Debunking Four Common Misconceptions about Sexual Function and the Truth About Penis Size

There are many long-standing and widespread misconceptions about male sexual ability, which often cause anxiety and distress for men lacking sex education. It is necessary to dispel these myths, clarify the facts, and relieve men of unnecessary psychological burdens. One of the most common misconceptions is that "men who have not undergone circumcision can control ejaculation more effectively than those who have," and therefore, it is assumed that these men are more likely to satisfy their wives. The reason for this misunderstanding is the belief that the exposed glans penis after circumcision is more sensitive to external stimuli, thus making it more difficult for these men to control ejaculation.

In reality, when an uncircumcised penis is fully erect, especially during vaginal thrusting, 80% of the foreskin will retract to the coronal sulcus. At this time, the delicate glans penis, normally covered by the foreskin, will be more sensitive than a glans penis that has been exposed for a long time. Some young men also suffer from phimosis, where the foreskin cannot be retracted at all, commonly known as "non-retractable foreskin." One might assume that men with phimosis can easily control ejaculation time, but this is not the case. Some people also mistakenly attribute their partner's lack of sexual satisfaction to phimosis. Phimosis can restrict the development of the glans penis, and the accumulation of smegma is not only unhygienic but can also be a contributing factor to penile and cervical cancer.

Sometimes phimosis can cause pulling pain in the penis during intercourse, so it is advisable for men with phimosis to undergo circumcision before marriage. Of course, if parents have sufficient sex education, they should help their children resolve this issue before puberty. Some young men suffer from severe phimosis that restricts penile growth, resulting in an adult penis that is still similar to that of a child, causing lifelong regret. Phimosis: refers to a condition where the foreskin opening is too narrow to retract and expose the glans penis. Mild epithelial adhesions between the inner foreskin and the surface of the glans penis are absorbed, causing the foreskin to retract and expose the glans penis. If the adhesions are not absorbed, congenital phimosis is formed.

Acquired phimosis often results from inflammation of the glans and foreskin, leading to scarring and contracture of the foreskin opening. Severe phimosis can cause difficulty urinating or even urinary retention. Accumulation of smegma can cause itching of the glans. Long-term chronic irritation can induce infection and cancer. Some people believe that the larger the penis, the stronger the sexual ability. In fact, a man's sexual ability is primarily influenced by male hormones. It also requires a sound sexual psychology, normal nerve reflexes, a well-developed circulatory system, and sufficient sexual knowledge and skills; penis size is by no means a primary factor. As long as the penis size is within the normal physiological range and an erection is possible, normal sexual intercourse is possible.

For thousands of years, traditional beliefs have held that men should sexually satisfy women, often causing some men to exhibit fear or performance anxiety. This fear manifests in two ways: first, the fear that frequent ejaculation will deplete their vital energy; and second, the worry that premature ejaculation will leave their partners unsatisfied. Many people worry that frequent ejaculation will damage their vital energy, leading to physical weakness, emotional instability, or neurasthenia-these are all fabrications and misinformation created by traditional beliefs. Recent decades of research abroad have refuted the erroneous view of "greatly damaging vital energy," instead demonstrating that reasonable sexual expression promotes physical and mental health, while sexual repression causes serious physical and mental disorders.

However, due to the long-term sexual repression of women by traditional values, and the accumulation of conditioned reflexes, the speed and intensity of women's sexual responses have been suppressed, thus exhibiting differences from men. It has been proven that as long as women can break free from these psychological constraints, they will possess the same responsiveness and intensity as men, and their sexual desire may even be stronger because they are capable of multiple orgasms. Almost all cultural traditions and social customs assume that men will inevitably experience secondary impotence in old age; the impact of this misconception is perhaps more profound, widespread, and severe than any other misconception.

In fact, although aging does bring about a decline in bodily functions, secondary erectile dysfunction is not an inevitable consequence of aging, and even if it occurs, it is likely temporary. In most cases, without specific organic causes (surgery, trauma, vascular issues, etc.), secondary erectile dysfunction is a reversible process for all men, regardless of age. Of course, sexual ability does not necessarily increase with age. If older men interrupt their sexual activity for an extended period, their sexual ability will suffer irreversible damage as described above. What is a normal penis size? Many men feel their "shortness" in erectile function, so what constitutes an abnormal penis size?

In my country, the normal adult penis length ranges from a maximum of 12 cm to a minimum of 3.5 cm in a flaccid state, with an average of 7.1 cm. When erect, the maximum length ranges from 18 cm to a minimum of 7 cm, with an average of 12.4 cm. The maximum circumference in a flaccid state is 11 cm, the minimum is 5.5 cm, and the average is 8.1 cm. The maximum circumference when erect is 14.5 cm, the minimum is 8 cm, and the average is 11.1 cm. Dr. Chen Huanran, known as China's "transgender expert," has stated that there are several misconceptions about micropenis, the most significant of which is that many people (including both men and women) believe that the length of the penis in a flaccid state is very important.

In reality, the length of the penis in its flaccid state doesn't seem to have much practical significance for assessing sexual function, nor can it be used as a primary indicator of penile function. Therefore, a longer penis in its flaccid state is not necessarily better. Medical experts from the World Health Organization point out that the true standard should be based on erectile efficiency to evaluate penile size and function; the penile expansion coefficient after erection is typically 100%–150%. Dr. Chen Huanran believes that from the perspective of modern medical science, penile length and girth are related to the quality of sexual life to some extent, but they do not play a decisive role.

Given a certain penis length, the satisfaction of sexual intercourse depends primarily on the psychological state of both partners, their emotional connection, and their physical and mental well-being. Sometimes, it is also related to the location, method of intercourse, and position chosen by both parties.