When it comes to the debate around penis size, it’s well established that it’s not what you’ve got, but what you do with it.
But now a new question has been raised regarding size: does a bigger penis get as hard as a smaller penis?
In a newly resurfaced clip which originally hit two million views on TikTok, OnlyFans model Rebecca Goodwin makes a surprising claim on the Two Night Stand podcast.
She said: ‘The bigger the penis is, the less blood flow you get around the penis, making it softer. A big penis is actually a lot less firm than a smaller penis.’
But sexual health doctor Danae Maragouthakis responded to Rebecca’s theory on Instagram.
Speaking in a reel, Danae said: ‘The idea that bigger penises might feel softer because they don’t receive as much blood is somewhat misleading and not entirely true.
‘Although a larger penis requires a greater volume of blood to become fully erect when compared to a smaller penis, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll be softer.’
Metro enlisted the expertise of GP Dr Lawrence Cunningham at Help & Advice for more details.
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Dr Lawrence says that the idea a larger penis would be softer is not supported by medical evidence.
‘The penis becomes erect as blood fills two chambers, and this process is not directly hindered by size,’ Dr Lawrence explains. ‘Whether large or small, a penis can achieve full rigidity assuming there is normal vascular function.
‘The ability to become firm is more about the efficiency of blood flow and the health of vascular tissues rather than sheer size.’
Yes, some penises don’t get as hard as others, but the doctor points out that the factors which determine this include age, psychological stress and depression or underlying medical conditions like erectile dysfunction.
When it comes to blood flow being affected specifically, Dr Lawrence says that issues like high blood pressure and diabetes can impede this.
‘I always recommend that individuals experiencing concerns consult a GP. Often, addressing lifestyle factors or treating underlying conditions can improve erectile quality,’ he adds.
‘Medications, lifestyle changes, or even surgical options are available to improve blood flow and erectile function.’
Dr Lawrence also believes it’s vital you don’t believe everything you hear or listen to on social media. ‘This misinformation can be quite damaging and I see it regularly. I have patients who are unnecessarily worried due to misconceptions spread through social media and podcasts.’
Four common misconceptions about the penis:
Sometimes the sex ed at school just doesn’t cover all bases, so we’ve debunked four penis myths that you might have believed.
The penis is a muscle
This is false. Sexual health doctor Danae Maragouthakis, told Metro: ‘The penis is not a muscle. It’s actually made predominantly of spongey tissue and blood vessels.’
Penis length correlates with hand size
People jokingly checking if their partner has big hands or big feet because “you know what that means”, but that’s actually a fruitless exercise.
Danae explains: ‘There’s no reliable way to link somebody’s hand or foot size to their penis size — there’s no scientific evidence behind it to prove it.’
All circumcised penises are less sensitive
‘There are some studies that say yes, there are men who experience reduced sensation,’ Danae explains. ‘But there have been other studies done where men don’t report reduced sensation or functionality.’
Lengthening exercises can make your penis longer
‘Taking a flaccid penis and gripping the head and pulling it in different directions can create micro tears and create more damage to the penis,’ says Danae.
‘People think these tears will fill up with scar tissue and make their penis bigger, but that’s just not true.’
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