Quiz: Is My Penis Normal?

Relax -- it's not common. But it’s possible. The penis has no bones. It has chambers that fill up with blood when you're erect. If you push too hard and bend it too far, the chambers can tear. It can happen if you slip out during sex and thrust against your partner's body. Along with pain, you might hear a popping sound. Afterward you may be swollen and bruised. Surgery is usually the best treatment.

Some boys are born with erections. Ultrasounds show that babies can have them in the womb. A baby’s erections aren't sexual. Stimulation can cause them -- they're common during diaper changes.

If you have an erection that lasts over 4 hours, hurts, and doesn't result from being turned on, you could have a rare condition called priapism. It is a medical emergency, so head to the emergency room. 

Some erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs can cause it. But priapism can also result from injuries, medications, diseases, drug use, and even spider bites.  A cold shower or ice packs can help. Light exercise like climbing stairs can help draw blood away from your penis into the rest of your body. It's important to see a doctor quickly, though. Untreated, priapism can cause scarring and erection problems that don’t go away.  

Things that look like goose bumps along the shaft of your penis or scrotum are common. They're usually pimples or ingrown hairs. Lots of guys have harmless rings of little bumps around the head of the penis called pearly penile papules.

That said, if you notice new bumps, ones beneath the surface of your skin or scrotum, or something that hurts, oozes, or bleeds, then go see your doctor.

A lot of guys think they're smaller than they actually are. Part of it is your angle -- when you're looking down, you look stubbier than you would to someone else.

Some guys with average penises get obsessed with the idea that they’re small. They have a psychological condition called penile dysmorphic disorder. While much less serious, it's similar to people with anorexia who think they look fat no matter how thin they really are.

The size of your penis has no connection to the size of your feet, hands, fingers, nose, or any other part of your body. If you're overweight, though, part of your penis' length can be hidden by fat at the base of your belly. So, if you want a simple, doctor-recommended way to make your penis look bigger, lose some weight.

George Clooney joked that he’d had his scrotum “unwrinkled,” a jab at the extent of Hollywood vanity. But soon enough, at least one spa reportedly started to offer the procedure, using lasers to remove hair, wrinkles, and discoloration. Needless to say, no medical organizations support such “scrotum rejuvenation.”  

It's natural to wake up with "morning wood." Men usually have three to five erections each night, often while they dream. We don't know why they happen, but they might help keep your penis healthy.

If you're having sexual problems, your doctor might check for nighttime erections. If you have them, your issues are probably related to stress, anxiety, or circumstances. If you don't, you might have a medical problem.

But not much. Surgery adds less than an inch in length, on average. It can also make you thicker. But it's expensive, unproven, and risky. Worst side effects? In addition to pain, some guys wind up smaller -- scar tissue can tighten up, shrinking your penis. Two out of three guys who get surgery aren't happy with the results.

While sex seems to have lots of health benefits for guys -- for pain, your heart, and your prostate -- masturbation doesn't. What's the difference between having sex and doing the job yourself? Experts aren't sure, but your body seems to know, and it behaves differently. When you have sex, your semen has more -- and healthier -- sperm than when you masturbate.  

To keep sperm healthy, your body closely controls the temperature in your testes. When they're cold, they draw back to keep warm. To stay cool on hot summer days, you may notice them hanging low.

Your penis may pull back during exercise or when you're anxious. Why? Your body is redirecting blood flow where you need it most -- getting ready for fight or flight.

Are you masturbating too much? Probably not. Guys get hung up on the number. How many times is normal? But there is no such figure. Some guys masturbate a lot and some don't. It’s a problem if you masturbate so much that it interferes with school, work, or relationships. Otherwise, it really doesn't matter.

Penises usually look a little uneven. They may naturally hang to the left or right. Usually, the right testicle is a little bigger and the left testicle hangs a little lower. You may also have a slight tilt to the left or right when you’re erect. But if your penis has a dramatic bend when erect -- especially if it hurts -- check with your doctor. Peyronie’s disease is one cause, and treatment can help.

Erectile dysfunction gets more common as you grow older. By age 70, 70% of guys have it. But just because it gets more common doesn’t mean you'll get it or that it's normal. Instead, it’s usually a sign of other health conditions that you can get treated for, like high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, or obesity. Talk to your doctor.

For guys on antidepressants, delayed ejaculation is a common and annoying side effect. But for the same reason, a low dose can be great for guys who tend to orgasm too soon. New options include sprays that contain medications and other ingredients that dull sensation a little, making you last longer.