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Using data from the Body Image Survey, Lever et al. Others have found that many men seek penile augmentation surgery despite the fact that they have normal penis sizes ( Dotson, 1999 Mondaini et al., 2002 Pope et al., 2000). It is no surprise that researchers have found most men are unsatisfied with their penis size, wishing it were larger ( Lever, Frederick, & Peplau, 2006). Though it is well known that men’s penises come in many shapes and sizes, larger penis size has been equated with a symbol of power, fertility, stamina, masculinity, and social status ( Bogaert & Hershberger, 1999 Bordo, 1999 Connell, 1987, 1995 Drummond & Filiault, 2007 Lehman, 1998 Paley, 2000 Pope, Phillips, & Olivardia, 2000 Stulhofer, 2006). These data highlight the need to better understand the real individual-level consequences of living in a penis-centered society.
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Further, size played a significant role in sexual positioning and psychosocial adjustment. Though most men felt their penis size was average, many fell outside this “norm.” The disproportionate number of viral skin-to-skin STIs (HSV-2 and HPV) suggest size may play a role in condom slippage/breakage. Finally, men with below average penises fared significantly worse than other men on three measures of psychosocial adjustment. Men with below average penises were significantly more likely to identify as “bottoms” (anal receptive) and men with above average penises were significantly more likely to identify as tops (anal insertive). Men with above average penises were more likely to report HPV and HSV-2 (Fisher’s exact p ≤. Size was unrelated to condom use, frequency of sex partners, HIV status, or recent diagnoses of HBV, HCV, gonorrhea/Chlamydia/urinary tract infections, and syphilis. Seven percent of men felt their penis was “below average,” 53.9% “average,” and 35.5% “above average.” Penis size was positively related to satisfaction with size and inversely related to lying about penis size (all p <. Survey data from a diverse sample of 1,065 men who have sex with men were used to explore the association between perceived penis size and a variety of psychosocial outcomes. Yet, there has been little research among men who have sex with men assessing the association between penis size and social-sexual health. Larger penis size has been equated with a symbol of power, stamina, masculinity, and social status.