Associations between Self-Reported Anatomical Characteristics of the Penis and Sexual Dysfunction in Men

Abstract

Premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction are common male sexual dysfunctions worldwide, causing substantial distress in men as well as their partners and decreasing the quality and stability of romantic relationships. We investigated the associations between the self-reported anatomical characteristics of penises and sexual dysfunctions in an urban sample of Chinese men. We recruited 1085 Chinese urban men aged from 18 to 50 (M = 31.37; SD = 5.52) to fill out an online questionnaire regarding the anatomical characteristics of their penis, as well as early ejaculation and erectile problems via two Chinese online survey platforms. The participants reported their age, height, weight, penile length, penile circumference, circumcision status, and foreskin characteristics as well as answered the International Index of Erectile Function-5 and Checklist for Early Ejaculation Symptoms. Both an increasing penile length (M = 14.49; SD = 2.22) and girth (M = 15.46; SD = 4.36) were associated with fewer early ejaculation problems, but only an increasing penile length was associated with fewer erectile problems. Less foreskin covering the glans of the penis was associated with fewer early ejaculation and erectile problems. Age was found to have a non-linear relationship with early ejaculation and erectile problems in this cross-sectional study. Specifically, early ejaculation problems decreased until a certain age (31), and then increased with further increases in age. The relationship between the anatomical characteristics of the penis and sexual function is complex. Also, the results suggest that there is a curvilinear non-monotonic relationship between age and sexual dysfunction.