WARNING: This site features very frank discussion and occasionally explicit images of medical conditions.
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Embarrassing Bodies, 2:05am Tuesday 7th February 2012 on Channel 4. Catch up for free on 4oD »

Video

Anthony Quinlan: sausage

Kent Riley: The widgie

Girl 1: Trouser snake

Boy 1: Schlong

Hollie Jay-Bowes: Little Ricky

Boy 2: Purple Headed Warrior

Dr Dawn: Penises come in all shapes and sizes. Take these hockey players; no face the same, no penis the same. Each penis is unique. It’s during puberty, usually between the ages of 11 and 18, when your penis and testicles will begin to develop. Although the penis doesn’t actually stop growing until the ages of 18 to 21. And it’s normal for boys to develop at different ages and rates. Whether you’re going through puberty, are about to go through puberty or have been through puberty, I guarantee, nearly all guys have had the same willy worries.

******

Kent Riley: I think what lads worry about the most would be size and most definitely shape.

Hollie Jay-Bowes: Every guy i’ve ever come across has always wanted to measure his penis – what is that about?

Boy 3: Something else that bothers boys my age is maybe if it’s bent or something.

Boy 2: When you grow up you always worry about it like a lot more than you should do and then when you get to like you know our age you think well it’s not really that important at all – it’s what you do with it, isn’t it?

Boy 4: Yep

*******

One of the main differences in appearance is between a circumcised penis and a non-circumcised one.

Circumcision is a procedure that surgically removes either fully or partially the flap of skin that covers the head of the penis called the foreskin.

About 20 percent of men in the world have been circumcised.Mainly for religious, cultural or medical reasons.

Not only can penises look very different from each other, but of course the same penis will look very different when it’s erect compared to when it’s flaccid.

An erection is when the penis enlarges and stiffens in response to sexual excitement.

A message is sent from the brain to release blood into the penis, making it lengthen and become firm.

Some guys have quite a large flaccid penis that when erect only grows very slightly.

Others will have a fairly small flaccid penis that increases in size quite a bit .

With the onset of sexual arousal, boys get erections more often.

And won’t always have control of them.

*******

Anthony Quinlan: It can be awkward sometimes having a penis as well. It can get in the way a bit and obviously growing up it can be slightly embarrassing when you get erections in class and stuff.

Kent Riley: No you never really ever get control of them, i mean i was on set the other day in white boxers, and you know, it started, err you know, doing it’s thing.

*******

On average a teenager has four erections every night and a wet dream, every three weeks.

A ‘wet dream’, is when you ejaculate in your sleep.

It’s totally natural – in fact over 80 percent of guys have had one in their lives.

*******

Boy 5: I think some teenagers worry about having wet dreams and others just think that it’s a natural part of the process of growing up and others, some of them look forward to having one because it shows that they’re finally becoming a man.

Anthony Quinlan: I think i masturbated too much to have wet dreams personally.

*******

More important than the size is the health of your penis.

So clean your genitals at least once a day and don’t forget under the foreskin.

Avoid applying aftershaves, talc or deodorants directly on the genital area as they can irritate.

Always wear a condom and remember unprotected sex will put you at risk of catching a sexually transmitted infection and some nasty consequences.

Read the video transcript

Am I Normal: Penis

Dr Dawn Harper discusses what is and isn’t normal when it comes to penis size and shape. It’s frequently the number 1 concern for guys when they are growing up, but with the help of a mens hockey team, Dr Dawn answers the most common concerns on everything from wet dreams, to troublesome erections and gets the opinions of the cast of Hollyoaks.

If you’d prefer to watch this video on your mobile, then download our specially produced version for your mobile phone from the Channel 4 Mobile site.

Just text Normal to 84444

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If you think your child may be going through early puberty, check our guide especially for parents on Embarrassing Bodies: Kids website.

With thanks to:
Hollyoaks
University of Birmingham Hockey Club
Llanelli Youth Theatre
Tetbury Hospital

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Comments and Questions

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im 16 and my penis is 5.7 inches with 3.5 inchs girth is this normal





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my penis is circumcised one. now i am 20 years old. but i am pretty new to sex. please tell me what is the best circumcised or non circumcised ? all of my friends have non circumcised.





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My penis is small. Help?





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dear doctor i am 37 year old and since i have got a thin and small penis (5 inch long and 3 and a 1/2 inch girth), curved a little bit, am i normal. can i lead a successful married life, please help me.





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Hey im 25 nd my penis is really small and iv been to a uorologist and they sed that they cant do anything fir me csn sum body please help me





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Hi i am 14 nearly15 and my penis is only about 3inches while off an arection is this really normal at my age and can i do anything to grow it an inch or two





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My Penis is 8 inches long when errect and 6 inches around the base. I am still a virgin and as is my partner and I am afraid that i might hurt her for when we have sex for the first time as she is much shoter than me. To give an idea I'm 6ft 3" and she is 5ft 4" and even she is worried that i might hurt her. Even though she is a virgin she has had other boyfriends and she says that i have the biggest penis of her previous boyfriends and she is worried i am to big for her even though she really wants to lose it with me. So will I hurt her when we have sex for the first time.





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I'm 17 and pretty new to sex , and las night while having sex with my girlfriend, I found that I had issues with keeping an erection therefore I couldn't put it inside her .should I be worried? X





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I am Eugene I am 12 I have pubic hair all around the Testis skin area plus on my butt and when I urine i feel burning and pain in my testes





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Im 17 bout 18 and penis size is 6 is that normal?





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I feel the same way but my penis is only 1" and I get picked on at school but I just go through the day and fogey about it I am also 15





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It looks like no one else has asked this question, so please fill in the rest of your details below.





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