A new finding by an international team of researchers led by urologists from Stanford University reports that the average length of the male erect penis has increased by 24% between 1992 and 2021according to a survey published by Deutsche Welle.

In their analysis, published in the World Journal of Men’s Health, they reviewed, recorded and compiled the results of 75 studies conducted worldwide over the past decades, in which the size of the male penis was measured in laboratory conditions.

Data from 55,761 men aged 18 and over were included. After adjusting for participants’ geographic region, age, and population, the researchers found that the average length of the adult penis had increased from 12.27 centimeters in 1992 to 15.23 centimeters in 2021.

However, these increases were not evenly distributed around the world. Asian and European men showed the greatest increase in male mole size, while it decreased slightly in North American men, they note.

What is behind this alarming statistic?

The study’s lead researcher, Dr. Michael Eisenberg, a professor of urology at Stanford, expressed concern about the global trend.

“Any global change in growth is worrying because our reproductive system is one of the most important parts of human biology. If we see such a rapid change, it means that something important is happening in our body,” and added: “Various factors could be at play, such as exposure to chemicals, such as pesticides or hygiene products, that interact with our hormone system”.

As they wrote in their paper, Eisenberg and his colleagues also hypothesized the possibility that the tendency for males to start puberty earlier also affects the elongation of the male molecule.

There is another, simpler and more benign explanation: nutrition has improved in much of Europe and Asia in recent decades, allowing their inhabitants to grow taller and taller. Thus, men’s penises may have grown in sync with their body size.

North American men, on the other hand, have “suffered” from overeating. In recent decades, they have become increasingly obese and sedentary, which can reduce erectile firmness and thus the size of the male molecule.

More research is needed

For Eisenberg, the next big step in research is to look at other patient groups (such as children and teenagers) to see if similar changes occur, because it could prove to be an early indicator of a change in human development.

“Also, if there is detailed evidence of lifestyle factors or environmental exposures, we could try to understand why this might be,” he says.