This Doctor Is Revealing Surprising Penis Facts Most People Don't Know, And It's Both Interesting And Eye-Opening

    "Down there, you'll lose girth and length if you're rarely using it."

    Krista Torres
    by Krista Torres

    BuzzFeed Staff

    Kathy Hoang / BuzzFeed

    BOY, OH BOY, DO I HAVE A TREAT FOR TODAY'S EPISODE OF FIND THE FACTS! 😁 If you haven't already come across this series, hi! I'm Krista, and I am on a mission to learn about things we don't know but should and debunk viral information from the internet.

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    If the title of this article wasn't a dead giveaway, it's penises.

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    Kathy Hoang / BuzzFeed

    So let's get started with today's expert: The ~Dick Doc~ from TikTok. Dr. Edward Zimmerman — who originally started in family medicine — has performed aesthetic procedures since the '90s.

    Kathy Hoang / BuzzFeed

    Here's a video of the interview with Dr. Zimmerman — or you can scroll down to read a breakdown of the info!

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    We sat down with Dr. Zimmerman to talk about all things penises; from average size to the best way to clean 'em, we've got it all...

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    To start, what exactly _is _the average penis size? Dr. Zimmerman said that, when erect, the average penis is about 5 inches long. "And, interestingly enough, the average penis at its widest circumference is about 4 3/4 to 5.1 inches around," he added.

    @dickdocontiktok

    Dr.Z answering the question, “What’s the average size of a pickle?” #happenis #maleenhancement #girth #length #pickle #doctok #menshealthtips

    ♬ original sound - Dr. Edward Zimmerman
    "We get questions like, 'Are finger size, shoe size, or nationality related to the penis?' And there is no good science to support that. In addition, a penis under 2.5 inches is considered a microphallus, but even small penises can get the job done," he said, adding, "I can speak to the fact that the exterior presentation of a gentleman has very little to do with what you'll find under the belt. Sometimes it's quite humbling and quite surprising."

    If you want to know how to properly measure your penis, check out Dr. Zimmerman's video tutorial here!

    When we think about penis size, some people may wonder if their penis ever stops growing. Dr. Zimmerman said that they do, and you can expect this to happen after puberty or up until your early 20s. On the other hand, penises do not stay the same length forever. "Penises shrink with age — just like how you lose volume in your face and neck. Down below, you'll lose girth, and you'll also lose length if you're rarely using it. It truly is a use-it-or-lose-it type of deal."

    Ericsphotography / Getty Images

    BASICALLY, HAVE LOTS OF SEX AS YOU AGE IF YOU WANT YOUR PENIS TO STAY AS BIG AS POSSIBLE!

    So if you have an average penis but still aren't thrilled about your size, can you actually make your penis longer? Dr. Zimmerman's answer for that is relatively simple, telling BuzzFeed, "Think about how hard it would be to try to make someone taller. If you damage the internal organs that cause the erection, then you may have erectile problems for life, and that's not worth it."

    "To get length, you can do something called jelqing (penis-stretching exercises), or you can use penis pumps to give you a temporary elongation, but it's like going to the gym. Once you stop going, things pretty much go back to the way they would have been if you'd never done it," he added.

    But just because it may not be safe to make your penis longer, that doesn't mean there aren't other ways to safely enhance the size of your penis! In fact, Dr. Zimmerman said the best way to make a penis bigger is not by adding length — it's by adding girth. "Girth is probably more important in terms of how we satisfy our partners. The first two inches or so of the vaginal canal has the most sensory elements, and more girth is probably more important to stimulating and satisfying a partner with a vagina," he explained.

    To get into more detail about what adding girth would look like in practice, Dr. Zimmerman broke it down for us. "The procedure is done by placing either fat grafts or FDA-approved materials in the space between the inner organs of the penis and the outer skin of the penis."

    Zoom / Dr. Zimmerman

    "Inside the penis, there are three elongated tubes — the corpus cavernosum on top, the corpus cavernosum on the bottom, and the corpus spongiosum. The corpus cavernosum tubes are blood-filled balloons that cause the penis to be erect. Going through the corpus spongiosum on the bottom is the urethra — this is the transit from the bladder that allows urine and semen to get out of the tip of the penis. So we don't want to do anything that messes with that or compresses it, causing things to not be able to get out. The area between this inner conduit and the outer skin is potential space to add girth, almost like the space on the back of your hand. It extends virtually, a lot — safely," he explained.


    Dr. Zimmerman also explains how you can make the tip bigger here. You can read more about the penis enhancement options that Dr. Zimmerman offers here. 

    Now let's discuss a controversial topic that often arises when it comes to penises: circumcision and sensation. Dr. Zimmerman said that people who are circumcised do not feel less than those who are not. "Think about if you've ever had a broken arm or broken leg. When you first take the cast off, it seems — because you had nothing to cause sensation — super sensitive. It's kind of the same thing. If you have a foreskin, it protects the glans of the penis, that distal tip. It gets less stimulation, but as the penis elongates during erection, it gets more attention. So it may feel more sensitive, but the actual nerves are performing the same," he explained.

    Tzahiv / Getty Images/iStockphoto

    "The female analogy to this is the clitoral hood. When things are at rest and the clitoris isn't as exposed, there's less sensation. But, during arousal, the hood draws back because the clitoris gets engorged, and it gets more attention and more sensation."

    However, when it comes to circumcision, does Dr. Zimmerman believe it to be crucial to penile health? "As a family practitioner, I've delivered hundreds, thousands of babies — and had the opportunity to circumcise or not circumcise those babies. The pendulum has shifted in terms of our understanding. Is it necessary? Probably not."

    There is evidence suggesting that there may be health benefits to circumcision. According to the CDC, data from three clinical trials found that a person with a penis can reduce their risk of becoming infected with HIV from an HIV-positive person with a vagina by 53%–60%. Clinical trials have also shown that circumcised people compared to uncircumcised people are 42% less likely to acquire syphilis infections, 48% less likely to acquire genital ulcer disease, 28%–34% less likely to contract genital herpes, and 32%–35% likely like to contract high-risk strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) associated with cancer.

    "Circumcision may also decrease the chances of a person with a vagina getting cervical cancer because the penis can be a conduit to carry germs and viruses up the vaginal canal. But as long as someone is able to withdraw the foreskin, keep the tethers from forming, and keep the area clean so there aren't low-grade fungal or bacterial infections, circumcision probably isn't necessary," Dr. Zimmerman explained.

    Now that we've established the importance of cleaning your penis, what is the best way to care for it? Dr. Zimmerman said, "Cleaning the penis is good, but a certain amount of natural oils need to be on the skin so that things don't dry out. If you have a foreskin, you need to pull it back and cleanse the collection of oils out so it doesn't ferment or become a place for bacteria, viruses, or fungus to grow."

    You can use any soap or body wash to clean your penis. "If you rinse well — and it's not a body wash that has lots of fragrances, additives, or things that would cause you to have an allergic reaction — I think you're probably fine."

    Another thing Dr. Zimmerman told BuzzFeed that you may be surprised to learn is crooked or curved penises can be more enjoyable during intercourse! "Peyronie's syndrome is very common and some say more enjoyable during sex. As long as it's functional, doesn't cause pain, and you're able to urinate and have good relations without pain, it's not an issue."

    @dickdocontiktok

    Dr.Zimmerman answering the question, “What causes a curve and how can it be fixed?” #maleehancement #lgbtq #happenis #Girth #length #lasvegas dictok

    ♬ original sound - Dr. Edward Zimmerman
    "A penis curves in a certain direction when one of the two internal tubes has a little stricture in it. As long as the penis doesn't curve past about 30 degrees, they may actually be more enjoyable to their partner.** **If it goes past 30 degrees, it can make relations uncomfortable for one partner or the other," he explained.

    And yes, unfortunately, a penis can "break." Because a penis has no bones, it is considered a fracture, and it usually happens when the penis is erect and bent suddenly or forcefully.

    Let's end with a little info on Viagra. "Viagra was originally invented to treat pulmonary hypertension, and a side effect of it is an erection! But you want to use it with caution and always speak to your doctor before using it. "Too much of it can put you at risk for something called priapism, which is where you get an erection that can't go down — and it could lead to a surgical emergency. The recommendation is to not be erect for more than four hours at a time in one day."

    Peter Dazeley / Getty Images

    "Unfortunately, our giant pharma companies have strangled the price on Viagra — the price is ridiculous for the happiness that it brings," he said. And, Zimmerman isn't joking about the price — name-brand Viagra costs over $2,000 for a one-month supply.

    A special thanks to Dr. Zimmerman for sharing his knowledge! Not only does he offer solutions for people with penises, but he also has a variety of treatment options for people with vaginas. To see what services he offers, be sure to visit his website. And, you can follow him on TikTok and Instagram for more education about sexual organs!

    Kathy Hoang / BuzzFeed