Enhancing male reproductive anatomy doesn’t work, shows research

Men have all got one and most of them worry about how big it is. A brain.

But when it comes to another part of their anatomy, some don’t seem to make good of the first one, writes Toby Porter.

New research by King’s College Hospital in Camberwell has shown that procedures to enhance their reproductive anatomy does not work.

A review of 1,192 cases found low satisfaction rates – a problem which some may have heard about before they tried surgery – and a string of possible harmful side-effects.

A review on the use of surgery and other treatments to enlarge the size of a man’s best friend, by the hospital’s Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience has been published in the Sexual Medicine Review.

The research found little evidence that procedures work. It also found clinics did not agree on when surgery is suitable, if ever. Treatment results were poor, with low satisfaction rates and a high risk of major complications, including deformity, shortening, and erectile dysfunction. Ouch.

In total, 17 studies on enhancements were reviewed, assessing a total of 21 enlargement interventions in 1,192 men, with 773 followed up after nonsurgical or surgical treatment.

Some men reported a size increase but complications were frequent, and none of the techniques were supported by outside surgeons. But counselling was found to be effective, with most men coming to understand their size was normal and unwilling to undergo further treatment.

In other words, talking about it works, lads – an option which may strike fear in many males anyway. The review is for medics treating patients with Body Dysmorphic Disorder or Penile Dysmorphic Disorder – where many patients end up in psychiatric hospital.

The study will help doctors choose counselling – and patients avoid risky ops. Gordon Muir, consultant urologist at King’s College Hospital, who led the research, said: “We have a large research base in the field of enlargement and genital dysmorphia.

Many men who wish to undergo enlargement procedures have an average-sized penis but believe their size to be inadequate. Sadly, some clinics seem to ignore this.

“Most treatments to increase size are not evidence-based, and their efficacy is extremely limited. Many vulnerable men suffer by having needless, ineffective surgical and non-surgical procedures.

Hopefully this study will help to show men who do not have abnormalities that counselling can be the most effective form of treatment.”

Which just goes to show that size doesn’t matter – it’s what you do with it that counts. Your brain, that is.