Study Reveals Penis Size Apparently Affects Women's Sexual Satisfaction

Illustration of male genitalia (Photo: Freepik/romeo22)

JAKARTA - The classic question "Does penis size matter?", turns out to have a more scientific answer recently. A study from King's College London found that penis size, especially the length of penetration, can affect women's sexual satisfaction.

Researchers recruited 12 heterosexual couples and gave the men various silicone rings that could be attached to the base of the penis during an erection to artificially reduce the depth of penetration.

The silicone ring is designed to either not change penetration at all or reduce it by 1, 1.5, up to 2 inches. Female partners were asked to rate each sex without knowing which ring was used, ranging from overall satisfaction to satisfaction from penetration and emotional connection with their partner.

The results showed that a reduction in average penetration depth of one inch decreased overall sexual satisfaction by 18 percent.

"We initially thought that penetration depth wouldn't matter too much for most women. But it turns out, reducing penetration depth by one inch has a significant impact on the perceived level of satisfaction," said David Veale, lead author of the study, quoted from The Independent website.

He also added that the longer the penis is erect, the less the ring affects sexual satisfaction. Even so, some women actually feel that penetration is more enjoyable on some occasions.

The study also provides important insights for men who experience penile shrinkage due to certain health conditions.

"We need to find effective interventions so that these men don't seek non-evidence-based solutions, such as pills or lotions," said Veale.

However, the author emphasizes that these findings do not mean that increasing the length of the penis in normal men will increase women's sexual satisfaction, because it requires different research.

With this study, the classic question about penis size gets a more concrete answer. For some women, the size and depth of penetration can indeed affect the sexual experience, although the results still vary between individuals.