Penis size matters a lot to some men, sometimes to the point of making themselves sick.
- Men with larger penises tend to have more positive perceptions of their genitals, a new study finds.
- The study also found that men with more negative views of their genitals also reported poorer sexual functioning, including difficulty getting and maintaining erections.
- Finally, the study found a strong link between poor genital self-image and increased levels of depression and anxiety.
Dissatisfaction with penis size frequently causes anxiety and depression, according to a new study published in the journal The Aging Male.
The trial was conducted at the Katip Çelebi University clinic in Izmir, where researchers recruited 75 men between March and June 2022. Participants who had previously undergone penis enlargement operations or suffered from psychiatric disorders before the start of the experiment were excluded from the sample.
The mean age of the cohort was approximately 47 years, with a body mass index (BMI) of approximately 28 kg/m².
Individuals’ mental health was assessed using Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)a 21-item questionnaire that measures the severity of depression, and STAI (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory)which determines anxiety levels.
The researchers also took physical measurements of penis size from all study participants.
Negative penis image causes erectile dysfunction
Following their analyses, the scientists first found that men with larger penises tended to have a more positive perception of their genitals. Conversely, men with smaller penises were more likely to have a negative image of their genitals.
The study also found that men with more negative views of their genitals also reported poorer sexual functioning, including difficulty achieving and maintaining erections.
Finally, the study found a strong link between poor genital self-image and increased levels of depression and anxiety.
“I was wondering about the rate of depression in people with a negative perception of their sexual organ, but the results exceeded my expectations,” said the study’s author.
“There should be more prospective studies on the perception of sexual organs”
Although this survey provides valuable information, several limitations must be considered. For example, the relatively small sample size and the fact that the study only included heterosexual men, both of which limit the generalizability of the results.
“There should be more prospective studies on the perception of sexual organs across all orientations,” scientists finally estimate.
The study is titled “The impact of male genital self-image on depression, anxiety and sexual functions” and was conducted by urologist Adil Emrah Sonbahar.
