Is penis size important? Does it influence the sexual act? This is a frequent concern among men. According to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the size of the penis is important, although with certain limits. Or what is the same: a large penis is not necessarily better than a small or average size penis.
Male genitalia have evolved very rapidly, as we can find them in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. In addition, the male penis is much longer and thicker than that of any other primate.
Thus, the study shows that women, when judging the attractiveness of men, also take into account the height and size of the penis. However, women continue to give greater importance to the physique and have a preference for a certain male body type (tall man with large shoulders and hips).
To carry out the study, the scientists designed images of men with different bodies. Men’s bodies varied both in height and in the proportion of shoulders and length of the penis . They then showed the photos to 105 heterosexual women and they rated them based on their sexual attractiveness.
Too big?
The study has concluded that extremely large penises are less successful than average-size ones. In addition, women give greater importance to physique, with tall men with a more masculine body type (larger shoulders and hips) being more successful.
Likewise, Brian Mautz, director of the study, has stated that the most attractive penis should measure between 12 and 14 centimeters in its flaccid state. Size that is within the average of the male population. This also indicates that women prefer other features, such as taller stature or large shoulders, over a larger penis.
However, although the research is an important finding, the researchers believe that more work must be done to understand the evolution of the size of the human penis. Therefore, the next step should focus on including women from different cultures and countries in the study.
Mautz, BS, Wong, BBM, Peters, RA, & Jennions, MD (2013). Penis size interacts with body shape and height to influence male attractiveness. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 110 (17), 6925-6930. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1219361110
