Is Penis Enlargement A Scam?

Mayo Clinic: Learn about the options to enlarge your penis

Many men think they have a small penis, and increasing the size of their penis will make them a better lover or make them more attractive. But chances are your penis is within the normal size range — and even if it is smaller than average, it may not matter as much as you thought. Consider other options before you resort to time-consuming, expensive or dangerous techniques that will be minimally effective at best. The most effective solution may be as easy as open communication with your partner, talking with a professional counselor or enhancing yourself in other ways.

Be wary of these common and ineffective penis enlargement techniques, some of which can result in serious damage:

* Manual squeezing exercises (jelqing). These exercises, which use a hand-over-hand motion to push blood from the base to the head of a semierect penis, are supposed to be performed on a regular basis. Although this technique may be safer than other methods, it can lead to scar formation, pain and disfigurement. There are no scientific studies that indicate this technique is effective at increasing penis size.

* Stretching with weights. This technique, which involves wearing weights on the flaccid penis, may cause permanent penile damage. There's no scientific evidence that this technique increases penis size.

* Vacuum pumps. Because pumps draw blood into the penis and make it swell, they're useful in the treatment of impotence (erectile dysfunction). This may create an illusion of a larger penis, but results are seldom permanent. Repeated use can damage elastic tissue in the penis, leading to less-firm erections.

* Pills and lotions. These usually contain vitamins, minerals, herbs or hormones such as testosterone that claim to enlarge the penis. None of these products has been shown to be effective.