'Concerning' growth in average penis size could be down to pollution, scientists warn

Penises are getting longer - and we should be concerned about it, scientists say.

The average global penile length has increased by 24 per cent over the past 29 years, a new meta-analysis from Stanford University has concluded.

Researchers compiled data from 75 studies, conducted between 1942 and 2021, that reported on the penile length of 55,761 men.

They found that the average erect length increased from 4.8 inches (12.1cm) to 6 inches (15.24 cm) over the past three decades.

The headline might elicit a giggle from a sex-shy reader but this “rapid” growth is potentially worrying, warned researcher Dr Michael Eisenberg.

“The increase happened over a relatively short period of time. Any overall change in development is concerning, because our reproductive system is one of the most important pieces of human biology.”

“If we're seeing this fast of a change, it means that something powerful is happening to our bodies,” he adds.

The researchers expected to see a decline in the average male penis length over time. They were ‘surprised’ by the results, which could be caused by a number of factors.

Chief among such possible causes is the prevalence of harmful chemicals in pesticides and hygiene products.

“These endocrine-disrupting chemicals - there are many - exist in our environment and our diet,” he said.

“As we change our body's constitution that also affects our hormonal milieu. Chemical exposure has also been posited as a cause for boys and girls going into puberty earlier, which can affect genital development.”

The study was fairly comprehensive. Nonetheless, other experts have suggested a trend in the opposite direction.

Research suggests that chemicals are having a profound impact on our reproductive systems.

Sperm counts among men