title: 18-year experience in the management of men with a complaint of a small penis.
abstract: In many cultures, the erect penis has been a symbol of masculine qualities. Because of this symbolism, a penis that is less than average size can cause insecurity or embarrassment. This series reports the authors' 18-year experience in the management of 60 men with a complaint of a small penis. For 44 of these 60 men, counseling was sufficient; the other 16 had surgery, and of these, 9 were satisfied with the result. Despite limitations, the authors conclude that those men who already achieve a penis length of no less than 7.5 cm (2.95 in) in erection, have only limited benefit from penis-enhancing surgery. This particular patient category should therefore be dissuaded from surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. h.nugteren@alumni.maastrichtuniversity.nl
authors.forename: Helena M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Nugteren
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Balkema
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Pascal
authors.forename: W C M Weijmar
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Schultz
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Nijman
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: van Driel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image; D003376:Counseling; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010409:Penile Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D010410:Penile Erection; D010413:Penis / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D012649:Self Concept; D055815:Young Adult