The truth about penis extensions

Please note: This article is graphic in parts and not for the faint-hearted or minors. May best be viewed in private! This is a general reference and funny article, not intended to diagnose, cure, offend or advise anyone. Reading it does not mean you "need" it.

One of the most common words typed into the LA Muscle Search Box is "penis"! Why? I have no idea! When the MD asked me to research and write an article on penis extensions, I wasn't that shocked. I was however surprised as to why he chose me! Did he know something I didn't? Was he trying to tell me something? Did one of my ex's give him this lead?!

To be honest, I really didn't know anything about "penis extensions" apart from the odd email that appears in my mailbox every once in a while (fellas, you get the same stuff, right?).

In this article, you will learn a great deal about the penis, function, sizes and the many options on offer for extending it. You will also learn some natural techniques for extending the size. Even if you are completely happy with your/your partner's size, it still makes an interesting read; just check out some of the statistics throughout the article, shocking!

The average penis size when erect is between 5-7 inches. Just slightly off the topic, whilst doing the research for this article I came across (no pun) research from the University of Alaska showing the penis of Oxyura Vittata Duck, when fully extended, to measure about 17 inches (0.5 meters) long. When not in use, the corkscrew-shaped penis retracts into the duck's abdomen. Imagine that, a bird with a penis longer than its body! Anyway, let's move on...

It is estimated that 30 million men in the USA alone suffer from Erectile Dysfunction. Penile problems and penis obsession is a real problem in many societies.

A recent study claimed that those with inquiring minds need merely take a look at a man's forefinger to find out his size! According to Greek scientists, the length of a man's index finger can accurately predict the length of his penis [Journal of Urology 2002;60:485-491].

The real growth of the penis occurs between ages 11 and 17. The testicles increase in size and the penis begins to increase in circumference as well as in length. Of course this stops at some stage!

The penis is complex and interesting in its function. I don't want to get too technical, but it is good to have a general idea. When men get aroused, their brain releases a hormone and tells the body to send blood to the penis, which engorges the spongiosum and cavernosa and stimulates pleasure receptors; this is what's known as an erection. The penis is full of a spongy tissue which absorbs the increased amounts of blood and expands. So unlike what some people believe, the penis is not a muscle, but a sponge!

The human body grows and adapts to physical stimulation and exercise. The tendons, ligaments, muscle fibers and cellular tissue stretch and heal to adapt to new stressors on them. This is the fundamentals of bodybuilding and how your muscles grow. You put stress on them, they respond and grow.

The erectile tissue (corpora cavernosa) is the spongy tissue containing distensible blood spaces, which increases in size when blood is pumped into it. It is not a muscle and doesn't react in the same way (well, sort of).

A theory is that continuous stretching and healing should cause the distensible blood spaces to increase their ability to absorb more blood, as a sponge does with water, and thereby increase actual size of the erectile tissue.

The penile pump is a device which is placed over the penis and creates a vacuum around it so that blood is forced into the erectile tissue. By forcing the expansion of the tissues of the penis (using a vacuum) the penis is forced to stretch and thereby fill by sucking blood into the blood spaces and veins. This is on the positive side.

On the negative side, misuse of this device can create serious malformations, breakage of capillaries and veins and even breaking open the distensible blood spaces of the corpora cavernosa. Nice!

In one set of instructions for a pump device it states (err, so I hear!) that just before having sex with your partner you need to bring out the pump, apply it to your penis, and then after gaining an erection with it remove it and do the job! I don't think that would be your partner's dream of exciting foreplay!

Another method purported to increase the size of the penis is the hanging of weights on your penis. And no, I don't mean a 20kg plate! A special weight is left on the penis for a period of time daily to allow it to stretch the Fundiform ligament and the erectile tissue. Again, that's

Weights can cause problems in the penis, due to their possibly cutting off the blood circulation to the penis. If the device is left on for any lengthy period the penis receives a restricted blood flow and this can cause the tissue to atrophy and desensitize the penis. Not desirable

In many cultures, the principle of traction/weights is applied to lengthen parts of the body. It is used to lengthen the neck of the giraffe women in the Paduang tribe in Burma and the penis in the Indian culture, where people are known to hang stones from the penis as penance, resulting in an increase in penis size.

Penile injection therapy uses a needle to insert a medication into the corpora cavernosa, which acts on the smooth muscle tissue allowing erection. There can be pain from the injection and costs can be as high as £40 per injection. This is more for erectile disfunction/impotence, though some people tout it as a penis extension procedure. The injection really needs to be done just prior to sex! Can you imagine whipping out a massive needle to inject into your penis just before sex?

Oral medications which allow for the penis to become erect, but don't increase the size of penis nor sex drive and are used for erectile dysfunction. Some of these state headaches, flushing and visual problems as just some of the side effects.

More relevant are pills in the form of supplements, hailed as saviours for many small penises. The active component in most of these pills is Yohimbe, the subject of several studies with laboratory animals. In rats, Yohimbe was found to boost the sex drive, hence its reputation for being an aphrodisiac. This herb has been used by several tribes across the world for many years for sexual problems.

In humans, Yohimbe can raise blood pressure and increase the heart rate. It can also assist with blood circulation. Because of its effect on blood circulation, it is likely that Yohimbe could also have an effect on the erectile function of the penis.

Penis pills commonly claim improved blood flow, faster healing (for cell-rebuilding, which promotes quicker length and girth gains) and increased stamina and sex drive by increasing cardiovascular power and improving circulation.

Whether they work or not is anyone's guess. For the purposes of this article I did try some yohimbe and definitely did notice an increase in sex drive and my erections became harder.

With so many clinics offering surgery, this subject is a controversial one. Surgery promises miraculous increases in girth and length. Does it work? It obviously does to a great extent as they use it on under-developed children. Whether it is advised for adults is another thing.

In surgery, the Fundiform ligament is cut which means the erection could still stay in a down-turned state. That's great isn't it? You extend your penis, but instead of going up, it loses all sense of direction and ends up somewhere else!

Surgery comes in many forms. Sometimes a 10cm by 5cm fat graft is taken from under each buttock and later used to make the penis wider. So your ass becomes part of your penis!

After surgery, the penis is usually quite sore and swollen for a while and the patient won't be able to have sex for at least six weeks.

Penile extension (phaloplasty) is largely a mechanical operation. It involves the partial separation of the ligament that suspends the penis from the pubic bone and the externalisation of part of the two-thirds of the penis that actually lies within the body.

The nerves that supply sensation to the penis and the nerves that are responsible for co-ordinating the ejaculatory mechanism are kept away from the operative site and are therefore unaffected by the procedure. Erection and ejaculatory dysfunction are therefore rare complications of this operation. But again like any surgery they ARE a possible risk. I would personally opt for a smaller penis than a larger disfunctional one! But I guess it all depends on how desperate someone is. For many people, the potential benefits far outweigh the risks.

It seems that the only true method of penis enlargement (without dangerous surgery) is to expand the actual blood-holding capacity of the Corpus Cavernosum. This seems possible through the use of dedicated exercises and techniques created especially for penile growth and development. Natural exercises seem to help break down the cell walls of the Corpus Cavernosum by forcing blood into the erectile tissue in a safe, controlled manner. Each time this is done, the cells are expanded beyond their normal limitations.

The human body then repairs the cells, making them larger and stronger to withstand the increased flow of blood generated by the exercises. This adaptation allows the penis to hold more blood than it could before. Over the course of a few weeks, the constant breakdown and rebuilding of cells within the Corpus Cavernosum could equate to a noticeable increase in size of the penis.

You can actually do a workout for the penis. Workouts are based around a daily session of around 20-30 minutes. The exercises usually start with a penis warm-up involving a warm bath or a towel soaked in warm water applied to the penis to increase blood flow and prepare it for the exercises. Once the warm-up is completed, the technique should only be attempted with a semi-erect penis.

Some lubricant should be applied beforehand and the hand-grip should completely encircle the base of the penis thus ensuring that no blood escapes from the penis. The penis is then milked, moving towards the head and forcing the blood toward the end of the penis. 100-200 movements is the average workout. The exercises should be stopped immediately if there is any pain or the penis becomes fully erect. Ejaculation should not be allowed to occur and if the urge becomes apparent then a pause is recommended.

After several months, penis size is purported to increase, both in girth and length. After a year, gains of several inches in length are reported. That's from the day or so research I conducted. I obviously didn't have a year to do the whole thing!

One of the worst things men can do for penis size is to smoke. Smoking can actually shrink the penis and its effects on health in general are well documented. Smoking restricts blood flow, so vital for healthy penis function. So if you can, try reducing or giving up smoking.

Excess intake of alcohol can also have a detrimental effect. Alcohol can also cause a general weight increase and impotence (sometimes referred to as brewer's droop!). Weight can have a real effect on the size of the penis as excess body fat can cause more of the penis to remain hidden "inside" the body. In very obese men, penis size is often reduced dramatically. Also a fatter penis can mean a softer penis and this can have a negative psychological effect on some people.

Zinc is a very good supplement to take for a healthy penis. Take 15-25 mgs of zinc and you will literally feel your sex drive increasing. Zinc helps produce healthy sperm in men and is great as an immune system booster too.

Vitamin E can ensure a healthy blood circulatory system. Try taking some vitamin E 1 hour prior to having sex.

Saw Palmetto is specially helpful for older men as it aids in keeping the prostate functioning properly. The prostate is very important for healthy sexual function.

The marketers of penis extension gadgets/methods & pills play on the male insecurities. They promise you more confidence, more power, more women... They promise your life will be changed and you will become a new person. You are told you can satisfy more women than ever and that you should be ashamed unless you have a massive tool in your trousers.

Anyone who has had a fair number of sexual encounters can tell you that you can satisfy a woman even without using your penis. So having a penis or a massive one at that, is not a pre-requisite to being able to satisfy women.

Happiness with penis size and confidence are from within. Unless you have a penis which is unusually small, you are probably better off going to a psychologist than a surgeon.

Surgery, pills and devices can help you, but they can also leave you worse off, financially, emotionally and physically. Penis extension is big business, so even if you are quite happy with your size, people will always try and tempt you.

As a final word, be careful. Make sure you research whatever that is being offered fully and thoroughly. The penis is an extremely complex bodypart. Obsessing about it can become a vicious circle. Interfering with it can be detrimental to your psychological or physical health.

Hope you enjoyed the above. Had a bit of trouble explaining the vaccum device to the wife though. She just wouldn't buy "research purposes" as an excuse!

Please note that none of the above is to be considered as a substitute for medical advice. If you have or suspect you have a problem, always consult your physician.