Though people have been having sex and men have had penises since the dawn of man, there are still many popular misconceptions about the body and what one should do with it. Many sex myths and penis misconceptions create undue distress and self-consciousness for men that may interfere with a healthy sex life and self-conception; others can lead to unsafe practices. Since sex is an important component of penis health and overall well-being, men are advised to get the facts straight on their bodies and one of their favorite activities. Dispensing with the following myths is a good place to start.
1) The 8-Inch Myth
Many men feel inadequate in terms of penis length because they have the idea that the average erect penis should protrude a full 8 inches from the pelvis. This is actually extremely rare. Men can rest assured that the average length ranges from 5.5-6.3 inches.
2) Size Matter a Lot
It’s true that a long penis can easily stimulate sensitive areas within the vagina that some (certainly not all) women enjoy, such as the posterior and anterior fornixes, located beyond the cervix. However, a shorter penis can still bring great pleasure by stimulating the G-spot, which is only a few inches within the vagina on the anterior wall. Men with shorter members can also get a deeper feel for both himself and his partner by using from-behind positions and asking partners to squeeze their thighs together.
3) Circumcision is the Norm
Adopting a global perspective undoes this idea. While 35% of newborns in the U.S. were uncircumcised, according to a CDC report in 2009, nearly 70% of males around the world remain intact. And, hey, 35% isn’t a drastic minority.
4) She Should Orgasm Vaginally
Some men think that, if they can’t bring a lady to release with their penis alone through penetration, then they are doing something wrong. According to Elizabeth Lloyd, author of The Case of the Female Orgasm, only about a quarter of women achieve orgasms vaginally. Most women need clitoral stimulation to get there, and there is nothing wrong with that. A man can, however, increase the intensity of her orgasm by hitting her pleasure zones internally (such as the G-spot) while the clitoris is being stimulated.
5) He Should Last an Hour
While some partners prefer long sessions of lovemaking, the amount of time a couple takes should depend on individual preferences and abilities, not some arbitrary idea of how much stamina a man “should” have. Research indicates that three to seven minutes of continual thrusting is all most men can take before releasing. If a couple desires longer sessions, taking breaks to switch up position and slowing down at times may help make that happen.
6) The Penis Can’t Break
It’s true that there are no bones in the penis, so it can’t break like the forearm or other bones in the body. But penile fracturing is a real, though rare, phenomenon. What fractures in this instance is one or both corpora cavernosa – the chambers within the penis that fill up with blood to make it hard. When one or both chambers rupture, the blood rushes out, causing immediate bruising along with a loud popping sound and excruciating pain. Men should be careful when a female partner is on top; careless re-entry can cause penile fracturing.
In order for men to have a healthy sex life, they need to dispense with misconceptions that make them needlessly self-conscious of their bodies and their performance. Sex is personal, and what is right for a pair of partners depends on the partners themselves, not cultural ideas of how things should be in bed. Along with educating themselves about body and sex myths, men can take an extra step toward boosting confidence by using a penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil). Just as a skin care product designed for the face promotes smooth, healthy and soft skin, so does one designed for the penis. Shea butter and vitamin E are fantastic natural moisturizers to seek out in a crème.
