Penis size: a study reveals the average length at rest and erect in France

It's a question that every boy has asked himself one day: is my penis “normal”? A question that can still be asked in adulthood since size is often associated with virility. “Our consultations regularly confront us with men highlighting the small size of their penis as an obstacle to meeting or satisfying their partner,” indicates the French-speaking Society of Sexual Medicine.

To find out, what could be more logical than bringing together a large panel of adult men and taking out the double decimeter? 15,500 men in France participated in a study published by the specialized journal BJU International. Two pieces of data were analyzed: length and circumference. Resting penis length was achieved by stretching it to the maximum. To know the length of the erect penis, health professionals measured the dorsal side, between the pubopenile junction and the end of the glans.

13.12 cm on average erect

It turns out that the average length of the penis at rest is 9.16 cm, the penis when erect is 13.12 cm. Regarding the circumference, which is an important data, the average is 9.31 cm when resting and 11.66 cm when erect.

During adolescence, the penis usually grows until 17/18 years old. At an age where complexes can be significant, it is therefore useless to “compare” height with your peers. Every human being grows at their own pace. Contrary to popular belief, the penis does not shrink with age. However, it can retract in certain men, who have little or more sexual relations. The penis tissue then loses its elasticity.

What impact on orgasm?

You should know that penis size has no impact on male pleasure or fertility. A man can have a satisfying sex life with a penis that is smaller than average, although a small penis can be a problem for some men.

We speak of micropenis when the penis measures less than 5.2 cm when at rest and less than 8.5 cm when erect, according to the authors of the study.

Contrary to popular belief, often conveyed by pornographic films, the length of the penis has very little influence on pleasure and sexual fulfillment. For sexologist Dr Gilbert Bou Jaoudé, interviewed by Allo Docteurs, “the right size of the penis is the size that allows us to have fulfilling sexual relations” with our partner.