Associations between Self-Reported Anatomical Characteristics of the Penis, Age 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 decrease the quality and stability of romantic relationships. We investigated the associations between self-reported anatomical characteristics of the penis and sexual dysfunctions in an urban sample of Chinese men. We recruited 1085 Chinese urban men aged 18 to 50 (M = 31.37, SD = 5.52) to fill out an online questionnaire regarding anatomical characteristics of the penis as well as early ejaculation and erectile problems via two Chinese online survey platforms. 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 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 increasing penile length was associated with fewer erectile problems. Less foreskin covering the glans 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 increased up to a certain age (31) and then decreased with further increases in age. In conclusion, the relationship between the anatomical characteristics of the penis and sexual function was complex. Also, the results suggest that there is a curvilinear non-monotonic relationship between age and sexual dysfunction.