Top Five Facts: Penis
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Penis: top five facts

Penises come in all kinds of different shapes and sizes… But what’s normal? And can you really tell the length of a man’s penis by looking at his nose? Do all men have spontaneous erections? And what exactly is an ejaculation?

  1. Sizes around the world

    Let’s talk about size. When soft, a penis is usually between 6 and 13 centimeters long. An erect one gets somewhere between 7 and 17 centimeters. Compared to large penises, smaller ones often grow more in size when they become erect.

    The size of your penis will also depend on your ethnic background. Men of African descent have slightly longer and wider penises compared to European men, who have medium-sized penises. If you come from an Asian background, you are likely to have a slightly more narrower and shorter penis, the World Health Organization says.

  2.   Like nose, like penis?

    So, can you really tell how big a man’s penis is by looking at his nose? Or his feet? If you are curious about a man’s penis size, it’s actually his hands you should sneak a peek at. The longer a man’s ring finger compared to his index finger, the longer his penis is likely to be, South Korean researchers say.

    The more testosterone the man was exposed to when he was still just a baby growing in his mother’s womb, the longer his ring finger will be. But it’s not just the length of his ring finger it affects, but also the length of his penis.

  3. But… does size actually matter?

    So now you may be looking down at your fingers wondering if size really matters. It turns out that girth (the thickness of a penis) is actually more important to satisfy your partner because that’s what stimulates large areas of the vagina.

    And penis sizes aside, women also find a stable relationship and their partner’s other physical features, like hair, very important factors for a satisfying sex life! 

  4. Erections

    When you are sexually aroused, your penis becomes hard and gets bigger – you have an erection. It’s pretty common for a man to have spontaneous, unwanted erections. While they may be embarrassing, they are perfectly normal. This can also happen at night, usually three to five times every night! 

  5. Sperm and ejaculation

    When you get really aroused, you can have an orgasm and ejaculate. This means that a sticky, whitish fluid comes out of your penis. This happens when you masturbate or have sex. But also in your sleep, which is called a ‘wet dream’, ‘night fall’ or ‘nocturnal emission’. Like masturbation, wet dreams are completely natural and harmless – except that you wake up feeling a bit sticky!

    The older you get, the more sperm you produce. So the first semen you ejaculate contains very little sperm. A couple of years later though, there’ll be 900 million or more sperm per ejaculation.

     

    Any more penis facts you want to share? Or are you wondering if a ‘fact’ you’ve heard is actually a myth? Leave a comment below or join the discussion on Facebook.

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Recent Comments (143)

  1. hmmmm, sounds like true
    hmmmm, sounds like true

    1. Hi Jeff, that’s good. Do you
      Hi Jeff, that’s good. Do you have anything you think should be added?

  2. hmmmm, sounds like true
    hmmmm, sounds like true

  3. can 1 get pregnant 3 dayz
    can 1 get pregnant 3 dayz after havng her periods

    1. Hi Sharon, that is pretty
      Hi Sharon, that is pretty unlikely, but it has happened. The best way to prevent pregnancy is to use a contraception method every time you have sex. Counting safe days or relying on your period aren’t effective birth control methods.

  4. this is realy educative like
    this is realy educative like it

    1. Hi Shazz, thanks! Make sure
      Hi Shazz, thanks! Make sure to check out the other sections on our website as well, I’m sure you will find more articles that interest you!

  5. i think the way u play sex
    i think the way u play sex matters alot,when it comes to satifaction also tyme taken to play.

    1. Hi there, you are absolutely
      Hi there, you are absolutely right!

  6. This a very gud lesson. Next
    This a very gud lesson. Next time i suggest u also teach us mo abt the use of condoms and its effects. Thanks.

    1. Hi Matano,

      Hi Matano,
      check out our birth control section, you will find lots of information on condoms and how to use them, there!

  7. How many times shld a normal
    How many times shld a normal man release when having sex?

    1. Hi Collins, that really
      Hi Collins, that really depends. Once is normal. Then, there is a period where a man and his penis need to recover. The amount of time depends on several factors, age for example. If he then can go again, or even thrice, great. But there is no real number that’s a must. Does this help?

    1. Hi Jeff, thanks for your
      Hi Jeff, thanks for your comment!

  8. Wow what cool size lol
    Wow what cool size lol

  9. hi

    hi
    i have been in a relationship with agirl and have sex bt she does not get pregnant and my dick is long enough

    1. Hi there,

      Hi there,
      the length of your penis has nothing to do with the ability to get a girl pregnant.
      A woman needs to have sex during a certain window period of her cycle to get pregnant. Check out our pregnancy-section for more detailed information. If you have tried for more than 18 months without success, you might want to see a doctor. Does this help?

  10. A good lesson nxt tym try da
    A good lesson nxt tym try da va()na

    1. Hi Peterson, thanks! And we
      Hi Peterson, thanks! And we have a ‘top five facts’ article on the vagina as well, and many more topics that might interest you. Just check the ‘Top 5 Facts’ section.

  11. kindly educate more on
    kindly educate more on counting safe days.thanxs

    1. Hi there,

      Hi there,
      I hope you don’t mind becoming a mum or dad soon. Safe days are an extremely unreliable method of birth control, and the chances of getting pregnant are very high. So you are better of looking for a more reliable method. Check our birth control section.
      But generally, the idea of safe days is that, within a 28 day cycle, the first seven days after a period, and the 7 days before the next, are safe to have sex. This also requires a very regular cycle. Does this help?

  12. If u r virgin n when u r
    If u r virgin n when u r broken no blood comes is that normal ?

    1. Hi Katz,

      Hi Katz,
      yes, that’s totally normal. It’s a myth that all girls bleed the first time they have intercourse. For many women, the hymen is already stretched or damaged during exercise, while using tampons or other activities. Check out our virginity section for more information: http://lovematters.co.ke/resource/virginity

  13. that was funny and educative.
    that was funny and educative. am at the cyber and i just found myself looking at everyones nose

    1. Ha Royal, that’s funny 🙂
      Ha Royal, that’s funny 🙂

    1. Hi Rubby, thanks, it’s good
      Hi Rubby, thanks, it’s good to hear you agree with our article!

  14. i need to impregnate my lady
    i need to impregnate my lady,Kindly give me way out

    1. Hi Kiarie, I’m not sure I
      Hi Kiarie, I’m not sure I understand your question. Do you also want to get her pregnant, or you don’t?

  15. Hey thats real, but what are
    Hey thats real, but what are the causes & effects of masturbation?

    1. Hi Alex,

      Hi Alex,
      after masturbating, you will feel happier, less stressed and sexually satisfied. There are no negative effects. Please check out our Top Five Facts on masturbation for more information.

  16. Hae thea, would like to know
    Hae thea, would like to know if its normal for a lady to have sex yet they dont feel the swit side of it,ez in you are not aroused nn you dont enjoy it at all???

    1. Hi Lydia,

      Hi Lydia,
      unfortunately, that can be true for some women. Many women don’t know their own bodies well enough to know what they want in bed, and men aren’t mind readers (and frankly, they are a bit mystified by women’s bodies…). So women need to know what they want and communicate that to the men they sleep with if they want to have satisfying sex.

  17. Datz really gud, bt hw abt
    Datz really gud, bt hw abt virgina? You find at times,there are more watery and otherz are dry!wat might be da problem?

    1. Hi Merrynd,

      Hi Merrynd,
      there is no problem, that’s totally normal. Vaginas, just like penises, vary in their shapes, sizes, smells and all other qualities.
      How wet or dry they are depends on a bunch of different factors as well, most importantly, the level of arousal. The more aroused a woman is, the wetter the vagina is.
      Check out our top five facts on the vagina, and the her body section for more information.

  18. nice education here i
    nice education here i appeciate it alot

    1. Hi Justin, we are glad to
      Hi Justin, we are glad to hear that! Keep coming back for more articles that you might find interesting!

  19. when some is pregnant at
    when some is pregnant at early stages does she experience pain in te breast?

    1. Hi Gladoh, discomfort and
      Hi Gladoh, discomfort and some pain in the breasts are normal during pregnancy. If it gets worse, please see your doctor about it. Enjoy your pregnancy!

  20. Hi, i dont ave protruding
    Hi, i dont ave protruding nipple is that normal or should i seek 4 a doctor. Am worried

    1. Hi Sharnne, in most cases,
      Hi Sharnne, in most cases, this is normal. Somewhere between 10 to 20 percent of people have inverted nipples. If you have had them all your life and don’t have any pains or complaints, it should be fine. If they only recently inverted, you might want to talk to a doctor about this. Does this help?

  21. Why other ladies don’t have
    Why other ladies don’t have warm in there vagina?

    1. Hi Allan, we are not quite
      Hi Allan, we are not quite sure that we understand your question, could you explain some more, please?

  22. I usually have sex almost
    I usually have sex almost everyday with my man who does’nt like missing it .is it normal

    1. Hi Esther, everybody has a
      Hi Esther, everybody has a different sex drive. Some people like to have sex every day, others far less. So as long as you are okay too with having sex every day, it’s all good. If it’s too much for you, talk to your man. You could also suggest that on days when you need a break you could have oral sex or masturbate him.

  23. what cause some women to cry
    what cause some women to cry during sex ?

    1. Hi Nelson, do you mean cry
      Hi Nelson, do you mean cry like scream or crying with tears?

  24. nyc advise, wht couses a girl
    nyc advise, wht couses a girl to swollen Breats

    1. Hi Letaya, often, this has to
      Hi Letaya, often, this has to do with hormonal changes. Right before her period, a woman’s breasts might get bigger and even painful. Or, when she is pregnant. If your breasts swell and stay swollen for a long time, you should consider talking to a healthcare provider about this.

  25. Hae, i want to get pregnant
    Hae, i want to get pregnant but i ave tried 4 long without success z there anything wrong coz i usually sleep with my man everyday apart from my period day. pliz help

    1. Hi MerryAnn, how long have
      Hi MerryAnn, how long have you been trying? It can several months or longer. Most couples who are trying get pregnant within 18 months. You can check out our pregnancy section for tips and information. If you have been trying for a long time without success, it might be a good idea to see a healthcare professional to talk about your options. Does this help? Good luck!

  26. Knowledge is power.Thank you
    Knowledge is power.Thank you m really getting educated.

    1. You are most welcome, Lynn!
      You are most welcome, Lynn!

  27. can a girl notice same day
    can a girl notice same day after the game tharl she is pregnant a

    1. Hi Frida,

      Hi Frida,
      that would be very, very unusual, if not impossible.
      Usually, the first signs of pregnancy start showing after a few weeks.

  28. How can yu notice if a woman
    How can yu notice if a woman is sexualy aroused even in public.like 4 men yul notice the trouser swollen

    1. Hi Austinho,

      Hi Austinho,
      a woman might look a little flushed, and pink-cheeked, but other than that, you can’t really tell.

  29. Does masturbation have
    Does masturbation have negative effect to men?

    1. Masturbation is a normal part
      Masturbation is a normal part of a healthy sex life.

  30. After a prolonged sex
    After a prolonged sex sometimes a woman begin to feel pain. What might be the cause?

    1. Dryness and general lack of
      Dryness and general lack of lubrication, most likely.

  31. Does D Amount Of Hair Around
    Does D Amount Of Hair Around Yo’ Penis(pubic) Affect Yo’ Rate Of Erections $ Strength Of Erections? Thanks

  32. How do I stop maturbation
    How do I stop maturbation

    1. Austin,

      Austin,
      let me ask you- why do you want to stop? Masturbation is a normal part of a healthy sex life.
      If you feel you are doing it too often (several times a day, for example), try to slowly cut down through time.

  33. Why Do Women At Times Are
    Why Do Women At Times Are Harsh And Then At Times Not

    1. Josh,

      Josh,
      you will have to ask the woman in question.

  34. thanks a lot for the lesson.
    thanks a lot for the lesson. please i need an insight on the “withdrawal” sex method.

  35. THANKS LOL ADD MORE SO
    THANKS LOL ADD MORE SO EDUCATION

    1. We are publishing a new
      We are publishing a new article every day, so keep coming back 🙂

  36. i dont have full erection
    i dont have full erection what could be the problem and is it curable

  37. could u email me with those
    could u email me with those articles of sex education every day and is there any danger of oral sex.thnks email.([email protected])

    1. As long as both of you are
      As long as both of you are healthy, oral sex is totally fine!
      We can’t email you daily, but please feel free to visit our website as often as you want.

  38. i like the discussions…
    i like the discussions…

  39. This is what we need.I Seek
    This is what we need.I Seek to be part of the educating team kindly. Help me forward.

    1. Justo,

      Justo,
      we regularly post vacancies under ‘News’. Feel free to check regularly!

  40. Am happy to hear that.

    Am happy to hear that.
    A normal ejaculation should be after how long?

    1. Anywhere from a few minutes
      Anywhere from a few minutes to up to an hour.

  41. Can impotence be treated and
    Can impotence be treated and how? Thanks

    1. Matthew,

      Matthew,
      it really depends. Please talk to the doctor who made the diagnosis.

  42. Can impotence be treated and
    Can impotence be treated and how? Thanks

  43. How can impotence be treated?
    How can impotence be treated?

  44. How can impotence be treated?
    How can impotence be treated?

  45. Can impotence be treated and
    Can impotence be treated and how? Thanks

  46. hi?can p2 make a gal barren?
    hi?can p2 make a gal barren?

    1. Fey,

      Fey,
      no. The high hormone content can mess up your cycle for a while, but if will not affect your fertility.

  47. hi

    hi
    if u r dick is short and u want u r dick to be long n size what u ganna do?

    1. Unfortunately, there is
      Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do. You can’t change the size of your penis, just like you can’t change the size of your ears, for example.

  48. Hi, av gt ski rushes n
    Hi, av gt ski rushes n suspect tht its a STI, my whole body is itching! pls advice!

    1. Domy,

      Domy,
      please see a doctor about this as soon as you can.

  49. can using p2 make a gal
    can using p2 make a gal barren?azn what are the effects.

    1. Have a look here, Fey. ]https
      Have a look here, Fey. ]https://lovematters.co.ke/resource/emergency-contraception

  50. Hi, can sex during periods
    Hi, can sex during periods get a woman pregnant?

    1. The risk is very low, but it
      The risk is very low, but it can happen.

  51. I always feels pain after
    I always feels pain after having sex then when using condoms i also feels as if am i hv bn infected by stds bt wen tested am jst normal.what can b the cause

    1. If you feel itchy, then it
      If you feel itchy, then it could be a latex sensitivity.
      Do discuss this with a doctor, and use latex free condoms for a while to see if it makes a difference.

  52. hi,i want to concieve but i
    hi,i want to concieve but i dont really knw my fertile days coz some articles say that its the 14th day 4rom ur last period..so do yu start counting from the 1st day yu received or the last day(after)

    1. The first day of your period
      The first day of your period is the first day of your cycle.

  53. Is it true that if a man
    Is it true that if a man stays a week without having sex he ejaculates early on the first round? What about the one who also stays a week without sex but he takes about 30minutes to ejaculate, is that normal?

    1. It really depends on the
      It really depends on the person. It will be different for everyone.

  54. At least you have given many
    At least you have given many people hope. My question is how come most men fire blanks .? How about the family planning methods viz a vis next pregnancy? Ladies who use FP often get hard time getting pregnant even upon leaving.J5bFU

    1. Why do you think most men
      Why do you think most men fire blanks?
      And it’s true that after stopping a birth contriol method, it can take a few months for the usual hormonal balance to get back to where it was.

  55. i luck words to say when am
    i luck words to say when am with my chic, how can i improve on that

    1. Maybe you can decide on what
      Maybe you can decide on what you want to say beforehand and practice?

  56. Does masturbate have side
    Does masturbate have side effect?…….becuase my doctor me that masturbate can lead to high DHT level wich lead to loss of hair and poor erection

    1. Marcel,

      Marcel,
      scientifically, masturbation is a normal part of a healthy sex life, and doesn’t have negative side effects in general.

  57. HOW CAN I KNOW SHE IS VIRGIN
    HOW CAN I KNOW SHE IS VIRGIN

  58. I don’t have a wife but
    I don’t have a wife but always masturbate using oiled hands but the surprise is that I ejaculate very fast and my penis seems soft, so how can I make my penis hard and stop ejaculating very fast? Thank u

    1. Get to the point where you
      Get to the point where you are almost ready to ejaculate, and then stop until the urge passes, and then start again and do it a few times.

  59. I take a long time before I
    I take a long time before I cum and when I do its mixed with blood. How normal / abnormal is this?

    1. Jason,

      Jason,
      please see a doctor about this.

  60. Hi, do man self ejaculation
    Hi, do man self ejaculation effective(scrubing ones tick to release sperms)

    1. Edwin,

      Edwin,
      rubbing yourself, masturbating, is totally fine.

  61. Is it advisable to have sex
    Is it advisable to have sex with a pregnant woman?

  62. can a lady urinate after sex,
    can a lady urinate after sex, prevent pregnancy

  63. hae.. my friend some advice
    hae.. my friend some advice on how to stop masturbation…how can i advice him.??” and what are the effects?

    1. Masturbation is a normal part
      Masturbation is a normal part of a healthy sex life.
      If your friend wants to stop though, he should start reducing slowly. It will take time to reduce, so he shouldn’t get discouraged.

  64. i wonr to kno tha the priod
    i wonr to kno tha the priod tha the woman does not get pregnanat and wha couse

  65. Are there drugs to use to
    Are there drugs to use to inlarge a penis?

  66. My penis is small and short
    My penis is small and short and when having sex it gets more soft after i release sperms. Yet am an African. Am i normal? Please help me im worried.

    1. Emma, there is nothing wrong
      Emma, there is nothing wrong with being an African and having a small penis. Size is relative, what might be small to you might be big to someone else. It is also normal for a penis to shrink after ejaculation. If you and your partner are having good quality sex then you should not be worried. If not you need to talk to your partner and try make it more interesting and orgasmic.

  67. after my 1st ejaculation i
    after my 1st ejaculation i take long to erect if i want a second round…hw ca i improve pllse

    1. Hi Ben , that is not an issue
      Hi Ben , that is not an issue and its normal with most men. Men tend to take time before rising to the occasion again.

  68. Thanks for the advises.How
    Thanks for the advises.How many times should a normal man ejaculate?

    1. Nikkol, one can ejaculate as
      Nikkol, one can ejaculate as many times as they can. There is no limit or standard times.

  69. May the lmighty God bless you
    May the lmighty God bless you big for your good work

  70. hi,hw can i stop my feelings
    hi,hw can i stop my feelings coz they a high

    1. Hi Atwoods, which feelings
      Hi Atwoods, which feelings are you referring to?

  71. allow wmen also share sea
    allow wmen also share sea issues

    1. Thanks Beatrice for your
      Thanks Beatrice for your input.

  72. iwant to know more abt when
    iwant to know more abt when do safe days and dangerous days occur cox idnt want to concieve

    1. Methods where you avoid
      Methods where you avoid having sex when you are most fertile. This is around the time of ovulation, when your ovaries produce an egg. You don’t get pregnant because you only have sex when there’s no egg ready to be fertilised.

      There are two main ways to work out when you are ovulating: look at the calendar, or look at your body for symptoms.

      With a calendar-based method, you count the days between your periods. In the week before your period and the week after it starts you’re least fertile. In the two weeks after that, you’re most fertile. There are different ways to keep track of the days, ranging from counting beads to receiving text messages.

      With a symptoms-based method, apart from being aware of the days between your periods, you also check your body for signs you are ovulating. You can do this by regularly taking your temperature, or checking look and feel of the mucus coming out of your vagina.

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