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Video

Dr Christian:
I would say that by far, penises are the most popular topic of debate on this site. Loads of you are leaving comments, asking questions—‘am I normal?’ Truth is, working out an average is very very difficult, because there is such huge variation, from really really small to really really big. And in fact, all of it is normal. If you’re worrying, don’t.

Another very common question is when will you be fully developed, when have you done your growing? Well, I would say that’s usually about six years or so after puberty—but your penis size can keep on growing, into your 20s and even into your 30s.

Another really, really common question that I’m getting a lot of is about bendy willies. ‘Is it normal for my penis to bend to one side or the other?’ Well, the answer’s yes and no. If it has always been bent, then yes, that’s absolutely normal and in fact it’s quite unusual to get a perfectly straight penis. If, however, your penis has always been fairly straight and it’s started to bend, then that could be a sign of an underlying condition like Peyronie’s disease or an underlying infection that’s causing scarring.

It seems many of you are worrying about spots on your penis, and let’s try and sort this out for you now. Some people do have small rows of spots around the head or the glans of their penis. These are usually called pearly penile papules, and often completely normal. You can also have small whitish or reddish spots, looking a little bit like tiny whiteheads or even cysts, in the skin of the penis, along the shaft and on the scrotum. These are called Fordyce spots, and also those are completely normal. Teenagers tend to have quite a lot and they can be quite prominent, because they have oily skin secreting things. As you get older, they tend to settle down a bit. Anything else, and any new spots, really ought to be checked out by your GP or your sexual health doctor.

Some of you are worrying about tight foreskins, and actually it’s quite common to have a slightly tight foreskin. But I would say you should really be able to able to pull it back comfortably over the head of your penis, because this’ll mean you’re able to clean it properly. If you can’t, it may need to be gently stretched out, either by you with a little bit of lubricant, or talk to a doctor. Because if it’s very tight, you may need to have a circumcision.

Circumcision is a subject that seems to have got a lot of you worried. Some of you have been, and if you have been, obviously there’s not a lot you can do about it now. But it’s not a problem, many many many men are, and no, it doesn’t affect your sex life in any way. The only thing I would say is that in order to masturbate or have penetrative sex, you may need to use some lubricant.

Read the video transcript

Doctor Responses: Penis

Dr Christian answers your most frequently asked questions about the penis such as: What is the average size? What are the spots around your penis? Is it normal for the penis to bend?

With thanks to the Baker Street Medical Centre

If your child has a painful penis he may be suffering from paraphimosis, to find out more check the condition guide for parents on Embarrassing Bodies: Kids website.

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Comments and Questions

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Please note: Unfortunately Channel 4 cannot respond to individual inquiries. If you have any concerns, you can check out NHS Choices, but ultimately it is always best to check with a health professional.

Hi about 1.1/2 years ago I had chlamydia this was treated with cream and tablets. I have been in a relationship for 8 months and have noticed a small red rash on my penis it is not itchy or painful and it comes and goes. Please can you tell me what it is.





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is there i cure for fordyc spots?





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I'm 18 years old and have many fordyce spots on my penis that are very noticeable. I have had sex twice now with two different partners and wore protection. Both times, to my relief, my fordyce spots weren't noticed, but i am still very apprehensive about oral sex because they are so unsightly to look at. I understand that they are totally harmless and my condition is purely cosmetic but is there a cream or other product that is recommended for keeping them clean or even reducing their size?





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i have a Spots on the penis and it Sore





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I think i have Fordyce's spots is there a way to get rid of them?, i only really see them if my penis is erect or i pull the foreskin back, they are not on the penis but the shaft at the top, Ive had them for a very long time is it normal?





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i have them as well but they are completely harmless.If they are damaging your self confidence there are ways of removing them.

I dont have alot going for me to be honest, im 20, nearly 21, i currently weigh 22 stone but im 6ft4 and i regularly go raving and im on a slimfast diet which has helped me lose a stone in 3 weeks (so far!) My penis is around 1/1 and half inches in length floppy and hardly any girth to it (looks exactly like a small childs penis, not even an inch around, i only know what a childs penis looks like as i have younger brothers!) when im erect its roughly 4 to 6 inches in length but still lacking in girth (approximately an inch/inch and a half around) what can i do? this is just one of my problems. My second problem is i dont have a very deep voice and one of my testicles has never properly dropped, when i was a child i had an operation to un tangle one of my testicles and its never seemed to of dropped. My third and final penis related question is that for the last 4 years i have been getting dry/itchy patches of skin on my testicles that are uncontrollably itchy, so itchy in fact that i itch them red raw and till they bleed which makes the next day horrible as my testys are all scabby and sore, If i fall asleep in my trousers or have been wearing my boxers/trousers for a little longer then i should (when im over a mates and just been dossing about) i find i can literaly peel large dry flakes of skin off my ball bag. what can i do? Is this all to do with being over weight. p.s i also have some very small hard ball shaped like lumps just under the scrotum, they have been bigger (alot bigger!) but there now the size of a Millions sweet. Is there an email address i can send over some pictures as i suffer with anxiety (not diagnosed as cant go to doctors) and cant bring my self to go to the doctors and drop my trousers and explain this essay of problems. Please help x





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Hi, i'm 16. i have an average sized penis. However it's almost as if i have a ring of dead white skin going around my foreskin. it is slightly raised. i can remove it but it always seems to come back. i almost get the impression that it is scar tissue. i just wanted to know what it was and if i need to do something about it? thankyou





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hi i am 15 im a vigin and proud but i have a redish vainey line from the top of my penis to the bottom of my penis and im scared





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thats just a vein my freind.

it smell is that normal





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I have recently found little black spots on my fore skin they look like blackheads. What is this?





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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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More Information

  1. Pearly Penile Papules

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  2. Quick Health Advice: Penis Spots

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  7. Consultation: Second Adult Circumcision

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