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Belladelli F, Del Giudice F, Glover F, Mulloy E, Muncey W, Basran S, Fallara G, Pozzi E, Montorsi F, Salonia A, Eisenberg ML. Worldwide Temporal Trends in Penile Length: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. World J Mens Health 2023; 41:848-860. [PMID: 36792094 PMCID: PMC10523114 DOI: 10.5534/wjmh.220203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Normative male genital measurements are clinically useful and temporal changes would have important implications. The aim of the present study is to characterize the trend of worldwide penile length over time. MATERIALS AND METHODS A systematic review and meta-analysis using papers from PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library from inception to April 2022 was performed. PRISMA guidelines were used for abstracting data and assessing data quality and validity. Pooled means and standard deviations for flaccid, stretched, and erect length were obtained. Subgroup analyses were performed by looking at differences in the region of origin, population type, and the decade of publication. Metaregression analyses were to adjusted for potential confounders. RESULTS Seventy-five studies published between 1942 and 2021 were evaluated including data from 55,761 men. The pooled mean length estimates were flaccid length: 8.70 cm (95% CI, 8.16-9.23), stretched length: 12.93 cm (95% CI, 12.48-13.39), and erect length: 13.93 cm (95% CI, 13.20-14.65). All measurements showed variation by geographic region. Erect length increased significantly over time (QM=4.49, df=2, p=0.04) in several regions of the world and across all age groups, while no trends were identified in other penile size measurements. After adjusting for geographic region, subject age, and subject population; erect penile length increased 24% over the past 29 years. CONCLUSIONS The average erect penis length has increased over the past three decades across the world. Given the significant implications, attention to potential causes should be investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Belladelli
- Division of Experimental Oncology/Unit of Urology, URI, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
- Department of Urology, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Francesco Del Giudice
- Department of Urology, University Sapienza, Rome, Italy
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Frank Glover
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Evan Mulloy
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Wade Muncey
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Satvir Basran
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Giuseppe Fallara
- Division of Experimental Oncology/Unit of Urology, URI, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
- Department of Urology, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Edoardo Pozzi
- Division of Experimental Oncology/Unit of Urology, URI, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
- Department of Urology, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Montorsi
- Division of Experimental Oncology/Unit of Urology, URI, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
- Department of Urology, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Salonia
- Division of Experimental Oncology/Unit of Urology, URI, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
- Department of Urology, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Michael L Eisenberg
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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