Penis Enlargement Devices: Do They Work?

By Christopher Theberge

The Internet is flooded with websites promoting penis enlargement devices, pills, and techniques. A late night television ad with a Penthouse Pet suggesting that women "really want a bigger man" is shown quite frequently. Penis enlargement products range in price from about $30 to over $1000. But are you really getting what you pay for?

A product called Longitude proposes that men ingest two capsules per day and just wait. After one to three weeks, you are supposed to increase the thickness of your penis. During weeks four through eight, the user should expect to gain thickness in the erect and flaccid state. Week nine, it is promised that you will be both thicker and longer. There is a supposed 30-day money back guarantee if you are unsatisfied with the product. One of the marketing schemes that Longitude uses is the fact that all of its ingredients are natural and completely safe. The ingredients are as follows: Zinc, 300 Yohimbe, Maca, Catuaba, Muira Puama, Oyster Meat, L-Arginine, Oat Straw, Nettle Leaf, Cayenne, Pumpkin Seed, Sarsaparilla, Orchic Substance, Licorice Root, Astragalus, Tribulus, Boron, and Ginseng.

After reviewing all of the literature on Longitude's ingredients, one conclusion could be made: There is no substantial evidence that suggests this product actually works. The majority of studies done on each of the ingredients, excluding zinc, arginine, and ginseng, have been conducted on laboratory animals, particularly rats. In addition, only one or two studies were related to sexual function. It appears that Longitude may work by stimulating erection, not growth. One way to offset this is to claim exactly what the product says it does: increase penis size 1", 2", even 3". Your penis will most likely increase to that size from the flaccid state. This is a clever way to market the product because the company is not lying to the consumer, only misleading them. Considering that the product takes at least 60 days to exert its full effects, the 30-day money back guarantee doesn't even apply here. Plus, the fact that you are going to be monitoring your penis size more may lead you to actually see results that are not even there.

Another product marketed to consumers is the Dr. Joel Kaplan vacuum system. The advertisement suggests that it has been FDA approved for penis enlargement. Don't be fooled. The FDA approval is only for its use as an aid to cure erectile dysfunction (not being able to get an erection). This claim has misled consumers thinking that it is proven to increase penis growth. You may experience short-term growth because you are sucking more blood into the penis. However, this may be a risky thing to do.

As of now, the only guaranteed way to increase the size of your penis is through cosmetic surgery, followed by stretching exercises. The downside to this is the risk of damage to the nerves surrounding the area resulting in loss of erectile function, or even worse, an oddly shaped penis. The surgery is quite costly, and is still considered in the experimental stage.

Good research has not been conducted in the area of penis enlargement techniques. As of now, there are no supplements that one can take to actually increase penis growth per se. Viagra is available for men who lack the ability to achieve and sustain an erection. Most supplements marketed as penis enlargement enhancers use the same principle. The only difference is that they use herbal extracts that have been used in Third World countries for the same thing. The results are not as significant and may pose a threat to health, given the lack of FDA regulation. Aphrodisiacs and stimulants are added to supplements in hopes of increasing libido and producing a harder and firmer erection.

Although some products on the market may show short-term benefits in regards to penis enlargement, there is no quick fix to the problem that many men encounter everyday. Research has shown that the average penis size in the flaccid state is 3.9 inches. Erect state averages between five and seven inches. One of the concerns that men have is that the size of their penis in the flaccid state is too small. Showering with other men in the locker room can lead to embarrassment and the feeling of inadequacy.

One of the main reasons why companies selling these devices are not shut down is because of the sensitivity of the issue. They understand that someone is not going to argue that they were "ripped off." This would lead to media attention, and hence the stigmatism of trying to enhance their penis size. The Federal Trade Commission would be the first place to go if you were to submit a complaint. As of now, no complaints have been filed.

Advertisement of penis enlargement devices will continue to plague the American market. What you must be aware of is the fact that nothing, besides surgery, will permanently increase the size of your penis. Surgery has many dangers associated with it, and the risks far exceed the benefits. Despite what people say, most likely the size of your penis is adequate for your partner. Don't waste your money, or risk injuring yourself for something of this magnitude. Be Healthy!