Does Penis Stretching Actually Increase Length or Girth?

You have good reason to be skeptical

"Penis stretching" is a term that suggests you can increase the length and girth of your penis in the same way you build muscles in your arms or chest. Manufacturers of "penis exercise" devices use the term to imply that you can make your penis larger by using their products. Some even market their products as "fitness accessories."

There is currently no scientific evidence that supports the use of these devices. In some cases, they may even cause irreversible damage to the penis. A 2020 review in Sexual Medicine Review concluded that any claims of a benefit are supported by "scant, low-quality evidence."

This article takes an unbiased look at penis stretching techniques, including those that may increase penis size and those that can't. It also puts the topic of penis size into perspective and explains why enlargement is not needed for most people with a penis.

five tips for accepting penis size

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What is Penis Stretching?

Penis stretching is an unproven practice that involves exercises or devices that are thought to increase the length and/or circumference (girth) of the penis. These include vacuum pumps and traction devices that exert pressure on a flaccid (soft) penis.

Penis stretching is typically pursued by people who think that their penis is too small. Research has shown that many males underestimate the size of their penis even though they fall well within the average range (5.6 inches for an erect penis).

Penis stretching devices and techniques may be tempting because they can be done in the privacy of your home without the risks associated with penis enlargement surgery.

Some stretching exercises can be of benefit to certain groups. These include people with Peyronie's disease (in which the penis develops an abnormal curve), erectile dysfunction (the inability to achieve or sustain an erection), or micropenis (a penis under 3 inches in length).

Is the Penis a Muscle?

The penis is not a muscle. It has the appearance of a muscle because it gets hard during an erection but it is made mostly comprised of spongy tissues. As such, a penis can't be built or bulked up in the way that a true muscle can.

Penis Stretching Exercises

There are two exercises that are said to increase penis size: penile stretching (used to add length) and jelging (used to add girth). Proponents claim that these exercises create "micro-tears" in the tissues of the penis. Over time, the body will "fill in" the gaps with scar tissue, thereby increasing the penis size.

Penile Stretching

Penile stretching exercises are done while the penis is flaccid. They generally involve gripping the head of the penis and pulling the penis in different directions.

As the penis is stretched, pressure may be applied in the opposite direction at the base of the penis. The position is then held for several seconds and repeated.

Jelqing

Jelqing is an ancient Arabic technique said to increase girth. It is done by grasping the base of the penis and then slowly moving your hand up the shaft with consistent, moderate pressure. This is recommended for up to 20 minutes a day.

A 2017 study published in Translational Andrology and Urology concluded that there was no evidence to support the use of jelqing or penile stretching exercises. On the contrary, doing so was more likely to cause injury due to the aggressive handling of the penis.

Do Penis Stretching Devices Work?

Penile traction devices are also based on the micro-tear theory. The device looks like a complicated knee brace with a ring that fits snugly around the base of the penis and another situated near the head. Between the two are adjustable rods that you can extend or retract.

Over time, the space between the rings is extended to "grow" the penis.

A 2015 study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine reported that penile traction delivered modest increases in penis length (around 1.5 centimeters when erect) after six months of six-hour daily treatments. Participants reported being "moderately satisfied" with the results.

Can Viagra Increase Penis Size?

Viagra (sildenafil) does not increase the size of a penis. It treats erectile dysfunction by increasing blood flow into the spongy interior of the penis. Once the effects of the drug have waned, the penis will soften and return to its normal size.

Penis Pumps

Penis pumps, also called vacuum pumps, are often used to treat erectile dysfunction and improve recovery after radical prostate surgery. They have also gained a reputation in recent years for increasing penis size.

Penis pumps work by suctioning air out of a tube-like device placed over the penis until an erection is achieved. If used for extended time on a regular basis, the formation of micro-tears is thought to increase not only the length of the penis but also the girth.

To date, the evidence of this is weak. According to a 2019 review of studies in Sexual Medicine Review, vacuum pumps were not able to increase penis length but could potentially increase penis girth. However, the gains were eventually lost once the practice was stopped.

How to Stretch Safely

If you decided to pursue penis stretching in any form, there are ways to do it without causing injury to the penis.

Penis Stretching

To perform penile stretching:

  1. Grasp the head of the penis gently but firmly and pull upward. Hold for 10 seconds.
  2. Pull it to the right. Hold for 10 seconds.
  3. Pull it to the left. Hold for 10 seconds.
  4. Repeat up to twice daily.

Do not stretch to where there is pain. If there is pain, you are pulling too hard.

Jelging

Jelging is done as follows:

  1. Lubricate the penis with a gentle moisturizer or lubricant.
  2. Place your index finger and thumb around the base of your penis.
  3. Tighten the fingers into a circle.
  4. Gradually move the circle up toward the head of the penis while pressing down around the base of the penis with your other hand.
  5. Repeat daily for up to 20 minutes.

Stop if you experience any pain or develop an erection.

Penile Traction

Penile traction devices all work differently, but they follow similar principles:

  1. Secure the device to the base of your penis with a circular ring.
  2. Move the other ring so it is situated just under the head of the penis.
  3. Lengthen the adjustable rods on both sides to apply gentle tension.
  4. Secure the rods (typically with a wing bolt) to maintain the tension.

Some studies suggest that the device can be worn for six hours a day, but manufacturers often recommend no more than two to three hours daily (especially when first starting). If there is any pain, stop and remove the device.

Penis Pumps

Penis pumps can also differ by manufacturer, with some using a hand pump and others using a mechanical pump. The principles, however, are more or less the same:

  1. Lubricate the rim of the vacuum tube with some personal lubricant. This can help create a tighter vacuum seal.
  2. Lightly lubricate the penis. This will prevent your skin from "catching" the sides of the tube as the vacuum is created.
  3. Gently pump out the air until you create a firm but otherwise comfortable vacuum.
  4. Keep the tube on for no more than 30 minutes. (If just starting, start with 10 minutes and gradually increase.)
  5. When finished, release the vacuum valve and remove the penis. You can put on a penile ring ("cock ring") if you want to maintain the erection.

If you feel numbness or pain, stop immediately. Never use the device when tired or sleepy as you might fall asleep with it on and cause damage.

Risks of Penis Stretching

Handling the penis aggressively in any way can cause damage. As a general rule, if the procedure hurts, stop.

Here are some possible complications to consider:

  • Penile exercises: A 2017 study in Translational Andrology and Urology reported that jelqing or other penile stretching exercises can cause bruising, pain, and scarring due to the overly aggressive handling of the penis.
  • Penile traction: A 2020 study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine reported that penile traction in people with Peyronie's disease sometimes led to bruising, blood spots (petechiae), skin discoloration, and penile deformity.
  • Penis pumps: A 2019 study in the Asian Journal of Androgeny reported significant complications when penis pumps are used improperly, including blood spots, abnormal swelling of the foreskin, discoloration, scarring, and bleeding from the urethra (the tube through which urine exits the body).

Summary

Penis stretching involves devices or techniques that claim to increase the length or girth of a penis. This includes manual stretching, jelqing, penile traction devices, and vacuum penis pumps. To date, there is little evidence that any of these techniques work. In some cases, there is a greater chance of penile injury or deformity.

8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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By Jerry Kennard
 Jerry Kennard, PhD, is a psychologist and associate fellow of the British Psychological Society.