Find a therapist near you

City or Zip Code:

Powered by: Psychology Today

Advertisement

Teen Health Teen Sexuality

Penis Questions

If you're a parent of teenagers, you know how important it is to talk with them about their changing bodies. You probably also know how hard this can be. The following article addresses some of the most common questions that boys have about their changing penises during puberty. Reading up on the basics may just help you when the big talk comes time.

How big should my penis be?
The size of your penis is simply determined by genetic traits, which you inherited from your parents. There is nothing you can do to increase or decrease the size of your penis-it will develop into its adult size as you change from a boy to a man through the process called puberty. Most boys start the changes of puberty between 10 and 14 years of age, though a few will start earlier or later than these ages.

First, the testicles (balls) begin to enlarge and then hair starts to grow around them. The penis then starts to enlarge, first in length and then later in thickness. Though there is much normal variation, the final penis size is reached four to six years after the testicles first started to enlarge.

This process of normal penis growth can be disturbing for many young men. Since the testicles enlarge before the penis, many young teens don't notice any development at all in the beginning, and worry that they're not changing and that their penis is too small. Also, if you are overweight, fat tissue can hide the penis somewhat and give an impression that the penis is smaller than it really is. Some boys in your class may have started puberty well ahead of you and it may seem like they have an adult-sized penis-that can be very upsetting! But remember, it is difficult to know how large a penis will be in its erect state, simply by looking at it when it's not erect (or when flaccid).

Adult penis size varies considerably from person to person. And we live in a society that encourages us to think that a man with a larger penis has a better sex life than one with a smaller penis. This is constantly noted in sexual jokes and in the media. Well, the truth is that normal penises vary tremendously in size, and sex can be good for all sizes! You will need to wait a year or two after your overall height has stopped changing to see what final size your penis will be. If at any time during your growing, you are worried that your penis is abnormal, just go to your doctor and ask him or her directly about this. In almost every case, you will be told that it is fine.

Page 1 of 3 Next Page >>