# Women: how large should men's penises be? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 1, 2017, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-how-large-should-mens-penises-be/783500 "2017-04-01T14:40:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2017, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-how-large-should-mens-penises-be/783500/1 "2017-04-01T14:40:34Z")
If true penis enlargement existed and it were left up to men, there would doubtless be an “arms” race that would make peacock tails look modest and restrained by comparison. But since women would be the ultimate- um, beneficiaries of such a medical breakthrough, it really ought to be up to them. So what’s your opinion on how such a miracle of science be handled? ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2017, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-how-large-should-mens-penises-be/783500/2 "2017-04-01T14:50:51Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > If true penis enlargement existed and it were left up to men, there would doubtless be an “arms” race that would make peacock tails look modest and restrained by comparison. But since women would be the ultimate- um, beneficiaries of such a medical breakthrough, it really ought to be up to them. So what’s your opinion on how such a miracle of science be handled? The (male) peacock tail is in fact a result of precisely what you are asking, it arose through _female_ preference for the trait. > **[Sexual selection](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_selection)** > > Sexual selection is a mode of natural selection in which members of one biological sex choose mates of the other sex to mate with (intersexual selection), and compete with members of the same sex for access to members of the opposite sex (intrasexual selection). These two forms of selection mean that some individuals have greater reproductive success than others within a population, for example because they are more attractive or prefer more attractive partners to produce offspring. Successfu... It is likely an example of Fisherian runaway. > **[Fisherian runaway](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisherian_runaway)** > > Fisherian runaway or runaway selection is a sexual selection mechanism proposed by the mathematical biologist Ronald Fisher in the early 20th century, to account for the evolution of ostentatious male ornamentation by persistent, directional female choice. An example is the colourful and elaborate peacock plumage compared to the relatively subdued peahen plumage; the costly ornaments, notably the bird's extremely long tail, appear to be incompatible with natural selection. Fisherian runa Extreme ... ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2017, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-how-large-should-mens-penises-be/783500/3 "2017-04-01T15:07:33Z")
6x longer but only 1/10th as thick. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2017, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-how-large-should-mens-penises-be/783500/4 "2017-04-01T15:17:32Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > 6x longer but only 1/10th as thick. Wouldn’t it get bitten off? ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2017, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-how-large-should-mens-penises-be/783500/5 "2017-04-01T15:23:17Z")
Where’s the option for six foot long and prehensile? Oh, sorry, you were asking the ladies. [Barnacles mating](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBtBAYYfrEE) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2017, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-how-large-should-mens-penises-be/783500/6 "2017-04-01T15:49:54Z")
> [@Abraham Lincoln](#): > > Long enough to reach the ground. But neither he, nor I, is female, so… ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2017, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-how-large-should-mens-penises-be/783500/7 "2017-04-01T16:46:05Z")
For US men, maybe whatever the size of a AR-15. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2017, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-how-large-should-mens-penises-be/783500/8 "2017-04-01T17:00:47Z")
So she took one look and said, “Ha! Who do you think you’re gonna satisfy with _that_ little thing?” He just grinned and said, “Me.” There’s a new penis-enlaregement clinic in Bangkok – heh – that is aggressively advertising. Their website is funny. Even though this is a legitimate clinic, I’ll spoiler the URL: [http://www.bigheclinic.com/](http://www.bigheclinic.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2017, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-how-large-should-mens-penises-be/783500/9 "2017-04-01T17:17:25Z")
A man and a woman are getting ready for sex. The man takes off his shoes and socks, and the woman sees that his toes are horribly misshapen. ‘What happened?’ she said. The man replies, ‘When I was little, I had tolio.’ ‘Tolio,’ says the woman, ‘You mean _polio_.’ The man says, ‘Nope, tolio.’ The man takes off his trousers, and his knees are as misshapen as his toes. ‘When I was younger, I had kneesles.’ The woman says, ‘You mean _measles_.’ ‘No,’ replies the man, ‘Kneesles.’ The man removes his underwear. The woman shouts… 'Don’t tell me. _Smallcox!_ ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2017, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-how-large-should-mens-penises-be/783500/10 "2017-04-01T19:20:56Z")
Long enough to reach the ground. No, wait… that’s how long a man’s legs should be. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2017, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-how-large-should-mens-penises-be/783500/11 "2017-04-01T19:31:26Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > … and it were left up to men, there would doubtless be an “arms” race… > > So what’s your opinion on how such a miracle of science be handled? Two funniest things I’ve read in quite some time. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2017, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-how-large-should-mens-penises-be/783500/12 "2017-04-01T19:57:50Z")
On a serious note, to be honest, men would probably be more likely to have penis reduction surgery than enlargement (kind of like women and their breasts) because not a small number of excessively-endowed men have had difficulty with their partners, male or female, because intercourse was uncomfortable, or even downright painful or impossible. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![I.Dunno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9f8e36/32.png) [@I.Dunno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I.Dunno)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2017, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-how-large-should-mens-penises-be/783500/13 "2017-04-01T20:20:41Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > On a serious note, to be honest, men would probably be more likely to have penis reduction surgery than enlargement (kind of like women and their breasts) because not a small number of excessively-endowed men have had difficulty with their partners, male or female, because intercourse was uncomfortable, or even downright painful or impossible. > > :eek: Do you have any names and addresses of these poor women? Uh, I’m asking for a friend. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2017, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-how-large-should-mens-penises-be/783500/14 "2017-04-02T01:55:10Z")
I don’t understand why there’s no option for lumpy… 😕 ---
**Author:** ![DrForrester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8edcca/32.png) [@DrForrester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrForrester)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2017, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-how-large-should-mens-penises-be/783500/15 "2017-04-02T02:09:23Z")
If only there were some consumer product, meant to simulate a penis, that could be designed objectively with the best possible size and shape needed to provide maximum pleasure to the user… […] Nope. Can’t think of one. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2017, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-how-large-should-mens-penises-be/783500/16 "2017-04-02T02:22:18Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > On a serious note, to be honest, men would probably be more likely to have penis reduction surgery than enlargement (kind of like women and their breasts) because not a small number of excessively-endowed men have had difficulty with their partners, male or female, because intercourse was uncomfortable, or even downright painful or impossible. > > :eek: No, men are more likely to CLAIM they need penis reduction surgery.😃 ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2017, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-how-large-should-mens-penises-be/783500/17 "2017-04-02T02:34:41Z")
Don’t know why I thought of this, but true story: When I was 7 and living at Schofield Barracks on Oahu, myself and a friend that were waging war with plastic soldiers and dirt clods decided we both had to pee. As we were going behind a tree, I couldn’t help but glance at his penis. It was mangled, lumpy, and bent at a weird angle. He saw me and looked a little embarrassed, so I asked him what happened. He said that about a year ago he was going in his parents bathroom and the toilet seat on the commode crashed down on his junk. A _marble_ toilet seat. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2017, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-how-large-should-mens-penises-be/783500/18 "2017-04-02T16:49:43Z")
Is it true that if the tip bumps into the woman’s cervix, it’s painful (to the woman?) Seems like the length of Old Rutherford ought to be somewhat less than the depth of Miss Glory. Reduce one or increase the other… (Is it true that, in a state of sexual receptivity, the cervix withdraws upward, lengthening the vagina? Gynecological exam photos – not the most enticing form of pr0n – seem to show the cervix a lot closer to the vaginal opening than the five or six inches of an average guy’s Wakizashi.) ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2017, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-how-large-should-mens-penises-be/783500/19 "2017-04-02T21:23:17Z")
You really have a way with words, **Trinopus**. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2017, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-how-large-should-mens-penises-be/783500/20 "2017-04-02T21:39:54Z")
In all seriousness, I have been told that women like girth much more than length. Length is basically useless except for odd sexual positions because the vagina only has significant nerve endings near the front. Excessive length is also bad, sad even, because it is harder to stay erect much like birthday clown animal balloons two days later. It doesn’t matter how big it is if you are much more FLOP than BOING! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-how-large-should-mens-penises-be/783500.md?page=2)