Male Enhancement; Real or Roping In Insecurities?

You see the ads everywhere; email, social media, TV, and even in certain stores. “The best version of YOU is waiting! Just buy NOW,” they claim, with the connotation that you’re inadequate without their products. This causes us to second guess ourselves and we take that clickbait without really thinking about it. In a small anonymous poll of 11 men, I concluded that 55% admitted to using some sort of male enhancement supplement or product. But how many of these men actually took the time to research these methods or talk to their doctors about them? With this industry being so seemingly successful, do male enhancements really work or do these companies just take advantage of a man’s biggest insecurity?

According to the Mayo Clinic, penis enlargement products (not including surgeries) are backed up with “little scientific support” and not only do most of the advertised methods provide no real results, but some can even damage your penis! An erection that reaches approximately 5 inches or more is considered to be of “normal” size and anything less than 3 inches when erect is considered to be a medical condition referred to as micropenis.

Many companies that advertise and sell these types of male enhancers claim to have “scientific” researchers backing and supporting their work; however, if looked at closely, statements of safety and effectiveness are not proven. Most marketing methods used are solely reliant on consumer testimonials, skewed data, and debatable before and after photos to pull in customers. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates a variety of products including food, prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vaccines, tobacco, personal care products, and much more. Although some dietary supplements do receive FDA approval, they are not required to do so, making it so that male enhancement products do not necessitate proof of safety or effectiveness.

There are many products on the market that claim to enhance the size of a man’s penis, some of the most popular being pills and lotions, pumps, exercises, and stretching. Pills and lotions often-times contain vitamins, minerals, herbs, and sometimes hormones that, according to manufacturers, supposedly help to increase the size of the penis; none of which claims have been proven to be true. Vacuum pumps can technically make the penis larger, but it is only temporary and can even lead to damage after long-term use. A pump is used to draw blood into the penis, in turn, making it temporarily engorged; however, when a vacuum pump is used too often, the possibility of the natural elasticity of the penis being worn out and injured is highly likely and then leads to erections that become less and less hard. Some exercises that companies claim to further help penile length are Kegels and Jelqing; Kegels are the purposeful contractions of the pelvic floor meant for strengthening and Jelqing is the act of using one’s hands to manually move blood from the base of the penis to the tip. Jelqing can be painful and even form scar tissue and deformities and neither method has been proven to actually work. Stretching techniques appear to be the most effective approach, but larger studies must be conducted to determine the full extent of its safety and other measures. In this process, a penile traction device is attached to the penis in order to gently use tension through pulling; small studies have shown results of 0.5-2 inch length increases using this method.

Believe it or not, some men even go as far as to surgically enhance their penises, despite the lack of research done in regards to safety, effectiveness, and satisfaction. Most surgeons will only provide this service if there has been injury or a deformity of the member, not strictly for cosmetic purposes. One surgical technique used to achieve a longer penile appearance is by the division of the suspensory ligament; however, this procedure only adds approximately 0.5 inches in the appearance of length to the flaccid penis by pulling additional skin down from the abdomen but does not actually give any real change in size. As with any surgery, there are risks and potential complications that come along with a surgical penis enhancement, some of which include infection, scarring, and loss of sensation and function, not to mention the amount of pain during recovery; I can only imagine how agonizing that must be, especially after having just woken up!

In a poll created by Cosmopolitan, 1,100 people (96% of which being women, aged 18-34) were asked many questions regarding sex and penis size, but the question (rather answer) that got me really intrigued was, “Are You Concerned About Your Partner’s Penis Size?” Now we all know that most guys always have this thought in the back of their heads, wondering if they are adequate enough and up to satisfaction. The results of 89% of people claiming “No,” to their partner’s penis size mattering to them was astounding! Just talking to your partner is a great alternative to being a test rat for potentially dangerous products and procedures and will likely put your insecurities at ease.

Other ways to help approach any concerns about penis length could be to talk to your doctor or counselor, as they may have techniques and advice to share, and to get further in shape! Working out and losing any belly fat present can give the appearance of larger manhood and regular exercise is a great way to help increase stamina and strength. Talking to your partner is a great way to feel validated and to also learn new ways to pleasure them specifically and learn what it is they like; not everyone has the same taste! These different plans of attack can assist in your reassurance and confidence in the penile department.

The potential for other, more serious, health risks are very present when taking over-the-counter male enhancement products and should simply not be fire you want to play with. In just my own very small poll, more than half of the men asked, reported using some type of male enhancement method, when it is likely not even needed in the first place and very doubtful they know the risks they put their bodies at. After all is said and done, these techniques of male enhancement have no scientific backing or any real oversight on effectiveness and safety. I think the penises and all of those receiving them, would be much more satisfied without any of the scary side effects and dangers of male enhancers.