Doctor warns against penis-lengthening exercise that could cause erectile issue

08 February 2024 , 13:50

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Some things really impact your ability to get erect (Image: Getty Images)

Body-conscious men would do anything for a longer penis, but a doctor has warned that the pursuit of a larger length could cause serious issues.

Thanks to the porn industry, and general comparison, many men may feel as though what they have to offer is not good enough, which can lead to some trying out dangerous trends.

One of these so-called trends is 'jelqing', which sees men repeatedly stretch their penis while semi-erect, and it's taken over the likes of Reddit and TikTok.

This process is done over a lengthy period of time and it's thought that each stretch makes a tear in the penile tissue, allowing scar tissue to fill in the space, thus eventually making it look bigger than before.

Some claim to have seen the desired result from doing this notion, but medical experts have warned that it's likely to do more damage than good in the long run.

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Two urologists have revealed that they too have seen a rise in the number of patients asking about jelqing, but they definitely haven't been advising them to give it a go as it can prove dangerous.

Speaking to MailOnline, Dr Jamin Brahmbhatt, a certified urologist at Orlando Health, said: "Those repeated, traumatic movements can translate into scarring, but can then translate into Peyronie's Disease, where you form a plaque, that can be associated with erectile dysfunction and pain as well."

That scarring can start to curve the penis, causing erections and penetration to become difficult - and in some cases impossible, meaning that in pursuit of a larger penis, you may inadvertently completely ruin your sex life.

"It's a complete waste of guys' time," he continues. "It can be very painful, and sometimes the scarring can take three to six months or even a year to build up for you to notice the change. So you may think you haven't seen any negative side effects, but it may just take some time."

Dr Premal Patel a urology fellow at the University of Miami agrees and encourages any men with concerns to speak to a medical professional, as there is no scientific basis for jelqing and it could be very dangerous - so it's not even worth wondering about.

Dr Danae Maragouthakis, from Yoxly, an Oxford-based sexual health start-up told Metro.co.uk: "People think these tears will fill up with scar tissue and make their penis bigger, but that's just not true. Handling it so aggressively can cause injury and won't make it bigger, there's nothing scientific to back this up."

Danielle Kate Wroe