If you have a penis and you are concerned about its size, you may have noticed that there are lots of supplements, male enhancements, and creams out there claiming they can increase the size of your package by harnessing the power of testosterone. So, the question is, does that actually work? Can ingesting or applying testosterone alter the size of an adult penis?
I won’t keep you in suspense, the answer here is, for people who are not dealing with a medical condition such as hypogonadism (a condition in which the body doesn't produce enough testosterone and has potentially arrested the development of the penis at testicles at a young age), no, testosterone won’t alter the size of your adult penis.
Read on to learn more about the role testosterone plays in penile development and what recourse you have if you are unhappy with the size of your package.
The Role of Testosterone in Adults
Testosterone is an essential sex hormone responsible for the development of certain attributes in AMAB (assigned male at birth) people. Testosterone plays essential roles both during puberty and over the course of one’s life. These roles include:
- Enlargement of the penis and testes during puberty
- Deepening/breaking of the voice when going through puberty
- The appearance of facial and body hair
- Production of sperm
- Sex drive/libido
- Bone and muscle strength
Someone with low testosterone in their teenage years may not experience what is referred to as “full masculinization”. Examples of this can include the penis not fully developing and facial and pubic hair growing in scarcity or not at all.
Testosterone and Development
Let’s talk about early development a bit. Growing up just before puberty, children, regardless of gender, have pretty much the same level of hormones. This is why small children of the same age tend to be pretty similar in size, appearance, strength, etc. Things start to visibly change when puberty hits.
For AMAB kids, the body starts producing approximately 50 times more testosterone. This is what triggers growth spurts, vocal changes, the development of facial and pubic hair, as well as the increase in penis size that happens during puberty. Age-wise, this stuff tends to happen between ages 12 and 21. Testosterone is essential to the development and determination of the penis size both in utero (that’s right, way before you were even born!) and throughout childhood until the completion of puberty.
Would Increasing Your Testosterone Level Increase Your Penis Size?
So, can testosterone increase size? Not really. Testosterone can affect the size of the penis but not in the way people typically think it could. Your adult penis size is pretty much programmed when you are in utero. The flood of testosterone that hits during puberty is responsible for penile growth in childhood and puberty, but it basically serves to get it to that predetermined size.
Neither high or low testosterone levels nor anything else will increase your genetically-determined penis size. The people for whom additional testosterone works to increase penis size are the ones who had a medical issue that prevented full development during childhood and puberty. In their case, they need that additional testosterone to complete the (once again, predetermined) development process.
There are lots of medications and enlargement pills out there that will try to tell you something different. But it’s important to understand that flooding your system with a bunch of extra testosterone would most likely backfire by completely shutting down your body’s natural testosterone production, leading to (among other things) loss of sexual function.
Speaking of penis enlargement rumors, maybe you've heard a few more? Ever wondered what exercises can make your penis bigger? Curious if your penis gets bigger when you lose weight? Maybe you’ve spent some time researching what foods make your penis bigger? We’ve got the answers in our linked articles.
What is the Average Penis Size?
Penis size varies significantly from person to person, but the average size of an erect penis is between 5.1 to 5.7 inches long with a circumference of 3.5 to 3.9 inches. The average size of a flaccid penis is 3.4 to 3.7 inches long.
It’s important to remember that those numbers are the average, but lots of people have penises that are smaller than those average numbers, while others might be larger. There’s a whole range of normal and healthy penis sizes. Additionally, it’s important to remember that penis size doesn’t affect sexual performance. Additionally, it is not reflective of one’s high or low testosterone levels or overall “manliness”.
Can You Increase Your Penis Size?
So, in general, no. But also, your penis is already awesome. That said, if you find yourself wishing there was something you could make it bigger, longer, thicker, whatever, you are not completely without options. There are some stretching exercises that some believe will make your member a bit bigger. Additionally, with correct use, a penis pump can temporarily increase your size a bit.
If your desire to be bigger is an aesthetic thing (ie, you want to LOOK bigger), that’s something you can accomplish with a little grooming. Trimming back your pubic hair can make your penis look bigger simply by removing a visual barrier (hair!) and exposing the base. This makes your penis look bigger by making sure every inch of it is visible.
A cock ring can also temporarily make your penis look larger and thicker. A ring, when placed tightly over the testicles and the base of the penis, can help keep the penis in question engorged with blood. As a result, your penis may look and feel wider, longer, and firmer. Of course, as soon as the ring is removed (and it’s not good to leave them on for longer than 20 minutes at a time), blood flow will return to normal, and your penis will return to its natural size.
If, on the other hand, you want to be bigger because you think that will be more pleasing to your partner, check-in with them. There’s a pretty good chance that they already think your cock is great and wouldn’t change it. Plus, bigger isn’t always better for partners; that extra size can actually cause discomfort. So, if you want to be bigger because you think that’s what partners want, make sure you’re on the same page.
If you and your partner(s) want to try exploring a different size, a penis extender or sleeve could help. There are two main types of penis sleeves – full ones, which cover the entire penis, including the glans or head, and partials that allow the glans to peek out. While it’s being worn, an extender or sleeve of either type will increase the size of the penis in question, both by adding penile length and a small amount of width.
Conclusion
While testosterone does help the penis develop to its full size, it’s not something you can change. Your penis length and size are predetermined. Testosterone just helps it get there. Additionally, your penis length and size are not a reflection of how much testosterone you have.
Curious about cock rings, penis pumps, extenders, sleeves, and more? Check out Pink Cherry’s selection of male enhancement products!
