Actually, penis size does matter in bed, study says

By Stephanie Pappas, LiveScience 

Contrary to the reassuring catchphrase "size doesn't matter," penis size may matter in bed — but only for some women, and for certain types of orgasms.

A new study finds that women who have frequent vaginal orgasms are more likely than other women to say they climax more easily with men with larger penises. Women who tend to prefer penile-vaginal intercourse over other types of sex also say the same, researchers reported online Sept. 24 in The Journal of Sexual Medicine.

"Male anxiety about penis size may not reflect internalized, culturally arbitrary masculine stereotypes, but an accurate appreciation that size matters to many women — just as men feel legitimate anxiety when they enter the mating market about their intelligence, personality traits, sense of humor, social status, height, wealth, and other traits known to be favored by women across cultures," study researcher Stuart Brody, a psychologist at the University of the West of Scotland, told LiveScience.

But other researchers were less convinced.

"There's such variability in preference," said Barry Komisaruk, who researches female sexual response at Rutgers University. Women who orgasm through vaginal stimulation may indeed prefer longer penises, Komisaruk told LiveScience, but not everyone prefers to orgasm that way. [ 10 Odd Facts About the Female Body ]

"There are so many different factors," said Komisaruk, who was not involved in Brody's study. "Once it gets to the kind of specifics that they're talking about, I get wary."

Both penis size and female orgasm are hot-button topics. There is still scientific debate about whether vaginal and clitoral orgasms are different phenomena. Different nerves carry signals from the vagina and from the clitoris, Komisaruk said, and stimulation of each activates different brain regions. But some researchers argue that vaginal stimulation is simply activating a different, internal, section of the clitoris. Women report different sensations from vaginal and clitoral orgasms, Komisaruk said, but which one women prefer largely comes down to personal preference.

In some cases, female orgasm is even more complex. For example, Beverly Whipple, professor emerita at Rutgers University and one of the discoverers of the G spot, a sensitive area felt through the front wall of the vagina, has found that women with complete spinal cord injuries can sometimes experience orgasm, even though the nerves that carry sensation up the spinal cord from the pelvis have been severed. It's likely that the sensory vagus nerve, which runs in the abdomen but bypasses the spinal cord, is recruited to carry signals to the brain in these cases, Whipple told LiveScience.

Other research has found that abdominal exercises induce orgasm in some women, resulting in pleasurable spasms at the gym.

Brody holds a different view, pointing to studies finding that the ability to orgasm with vaginal stimulation alone is correlated with better psychological functioning, better relationship quality and greater sexual satisfaction.

"Earlier research with a large representative sample also found that women who are made aware in their youth that the vagina is a source of women's orgasm are more likely to develop the capacity for vaginal orgasm. Therefore, those who deny these findings (and insist on maintaining the politically correct party line) are not doing women a favor, but might be injuring women's health and sexual potential," Brody wrote in an email to LiveScience.

In the new study, Brody and his colleagues asked 323 women, mostly Scottish university students, to recall past sexual encounters. They were asked about their recent sexual behaviors as well as how important penile-vaginal intercourse and other sex acts were to them. They were also asked whether penis length influenced their ability to orgasm with vaginal stimulation.

Defining "average" as the length of a 20-pound banknote or U.S. dollar bill, which are 5.8 inches (14.9 cm) and 6.1 inches (15.5 cm) long, respectively, the researchers asked women if they were more likely to orgasm vaginally with a longer-than-average or shorter-than-average penis. [ Macho Man: 10 Wild Facts About His Body ]

They found that 160 of the women experienced vaginal-only orgasms and had enough sexual partners to compare size experiences. Of these, 33.8 percent preferred longer-than-average penises, 60 percent said size made no difference and 6.3 percent said longer was less pleasurable than shorter.

Supporting the hypothesis that size matters, Brody and his colleagues found the women who reported the highest number of vaginal orgasms in the past month were most likely to say that longer was better.

"This might be due at least in part to greater ability of a longer penis to stimulate the entire length of the vagina, and the cervix," Brody said.

The data supports Brody's claim, Whipple said, but the sample is limited to Scottish university students and should be replicated with a broader group. Nevertheless, she warned against worrying about the findings in bed. 

"To me, all of this is just so goal-oriented, and it's difficult for me to see researchers setting up another goal [vaginal orgasm] for women to experience," Whipple said.

Whipple argued that sexuality is healthier when focused on the pleasure of acts from cuddling to kissing to other sexual sensations rather than the goal of reaching orgasm.

"I recommend for women to learn about themselves, learn about their body, find what they find pleasurable and enjoy that, as long as it's not exploiting another person," she said.

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Why do we never acknowledge that vaginas come in all different shapes and sizes? Anywho, this study for the most part is crap. I actually read some of those very heavy feminists websites. You know how they are with speaking the truth and being in control and embracing their sexuality and so on and so forth. A penis thing came up as always the topic was "Why are big D's such a big deal" the I'd say a good 80% of the women posting on the site said things along the lines of "nope, don't want cervix bruised" "I'm scared of that" "It was painful" only a small minority of girls admitted to loving the giant wangs. For others the comments were along the lines of "he had a big peen, but he was terrible. He was more in love with his peen than me" "He came in and thought all he had to do was thrust he was terrible""I found that the guys with the big dicks were the biggest dicks"

So yeah the general replies were along those lines regarding big peens. Mostly from your stereotypical promiscuous NY girls.

What I don't get is this "60 percent said size made no difference" Ok so the MAJORITY of women said that the size made no difference but yet it was followed up with "Supporting the hypothesis that size matters"

I really wish news outlets would stop posting half assed studies using brain dead 20 something college students and on top of that such a small number to draw conclusions from.

    Reply#28 - Mon Oct 8, 2012 11:59 PM EDT
    Jay BelowDeleted

    As a 55 year sexually actie single hetero female with a fair amount of experience, here is my personal 2 cents....

    Women DO have different size "parts" and it does change during our life.

    The vajayjay IS VERY flexible and can accomadate pretty much ANY size with some " training" if youve seen any modern porn the " thing" these days is to have any many peens inside a female at once as possible,,two at once IN either orifice seems to be the BIG THING. Those women COULD take an elephant.

    NORMAl non-porn females would be ripped to shreds inside if they were forced to endure that.

    From personal experience I can tell you there IS such a thing as being "TOO big" > IT HURTS as is NOT any fun at all ! I dumped a real good man because I couldnt deal with "it"

    Most men who ARE BIG are LOUSY lovers because they bought into the stereotype that all they have to do is BE BIG. No skill,,no nothing.

    My last lover was pretty small compared to the rest of the men I been with over the years,Ok lenght but not even average size girth and little head ridge,balls in his groin ,not out once he got hard.

    BUT he ALSO happened to be one of the MOST SKILLED lovers I have evfr had. WHY? Because he KNEW his size alone was NOT going to cut it. He had amazing stamina too and THAT madde a HUGE difference in MY pleasure.

    He wasnt into oral sex much and he didnt need to be. With excellent foreplay, that magic stamina, our variety of positions during the ( literally HOURS long intercourse sessions) he got me off far better than any othee man ever has.

    For MY part in how the pleasure thing worked,,I DID ALL sorts of vajayjay exercises and learned to CLAMP DOWN HARD on him,,giving HIM the BEST ride HES EVER HAD

    .If any female wants to increase HER pleasure,,I HIGHLY recommend you get your hands on an abdominal exerciser that Susan Summers used to sell.." the Torso Track". With that amazing device,,you WILL tighten up your pelvic muscles without any effort other than using the machine.Itsa easy and IT WORKS.

    Small ISNT BAD abnd it CAN be GREAT IF you take the time to figure out what needd to happen to get to the big O.

    There ARE different types of O but who cares? they ALL feel GREAT. The particular man I have mentioned was the ONLY one who ever made me O with penetration ONLY. It WAS awesome and a full body O. Our last session I had three and that has NEVER happened before in my life EVER.

    So GET over it,,size ISNT as important as skill. Saddly,,he IS a rather big jerk and Im not seeing him anymore. DANG I miss his "little head"

      #28.2 - Sun Oct 21, 2012 12:46 AM EDT
      Reply

      I think it would be very educational to have a dick for a day. So many things I would like to understand first hand. And I think woman acknowledge that the vag comes in various sizes, they just aren't as hung<hehe>up on it as men are. I have heard that child birth can do a number on it, but not to every vag as they are made to stretch.

        Reply#29 - Tue Oct 9, 2012 12:13 AM EDT

        Well actually kirstina one could easily argue that porn has given women unrealistic expectations for men. Porn has probably influenced women a whole lot more than it has men. Men realize what we see is fake, photoshopped,etc. I don't know how many topics I've seen of various actors going full frontal that had an average sized flaccid dick and it was generally bombarded with "zomg small" comments all from girls.

          #29.1 - Tue Oct 9, 2012 12:33 PM EDT

          Believe me; it wouldn't make a difference. Being transexual; I had a penis for many years; I tried to live like a "man". Since transitioning; I DO find a certain joy in my life I never knew possible, but I am just as clueless about the thought process of men as genetic born women are.

          I will admit tho'... when I was male... I was clueless to what women wanted..

          So.... maybe I'm just clueless?

            #29.2 - Thu Oct 11, 2012 3:28 PM EDT

            Transcali- I think thats part of it. The mystery! If we all knew exactly what to do it wouldnt be as exciting! If you can make another smile then you're not clueless.

              #29.3 - Thu Oct 11, 2012 3:34 PM EDT
              Reply

              Men are the only people I've ever heard say size doesn't matter.

              • 2 votes
              Reply#30 - Tue Oct 9, 2012 4:27 AM EDT
              Jay BelowDeleted
              Reply
              Jay BelowDeleted

              ;-)

                Reply#32 - Tue Oct 9, 2012 9:22 AM EDT

                Next up: The sky is BLUE!

                • 3 votes
                Reply#33 - Tue Oct 9, 2012 11:53 AM EDT

                News flash, Steph! The Kama Sutra covered all of this more than 2000 years ago. In that ancient text, men are described as having 3 basic types of units, small, medium and large (something like a mouse-dick, a hare-dick, and a donkey-dick). Women were also described as having various sized receptacles (I seem to recall the "big" one was related to an elephant). According to the Kama Sutra, the problem occurs when say, a mouse-sized dick is paired with the vacuous elephant-sized hole, or conversely, the donkey-dick with the small hole (ie: if you are paired with the wrong mate nobody is ever happy). Best to find a partner that "fits". This ain't breaking news, it was covered two millenia ago. ~

                • 1 vote
                Reply#34 - Tue Oct 9, 2012 12:05 PM EDT

                Wow the commenting on this website is so screwed up lol

                • 1 vote
                Reply#35 - Tue Oct 9, 2012 12:32 PM EDT

                I also think a lot of that reaction ( womans, not yours ) is the sheep mentality. When one lame-o says omg ( wow ,thats the first time I ever used omg! I put it off for soooo long!) then all the rest of the sheep go along with it. Unfortunately lots of young woman go along with the crowd instead of standing apart. Shame really. Porn is fine but it shouldnt have such an impact on peoples sex life.

                  #35.1 - Tue Oct 9, 2012 12:43 PM EDT
                  Reply

                  It pisses me off. Hey NBC, are you a news site? For Chrissake, the world is blowing up. Stop linking this kind of crap on your mainpage, or perhaps you should hire a real writer (somebody with the ability to proof-read, not just run spell-check), who actually has read more than Glamour mags; to write articles about how men actually prefer small boobs, or bigger hips, or un-gouged females (yeh, I am cheap). The baloney this emasculating twerp Stephanie Pappas inflicts on us weekly is no excuse for news (go to a celebrity gossip site, please, or somebody sack the editor).

                  And Kristina, are you free next Friday? :)

                    Reply#36 - Tue Oct 9, 2012 2:10 PM EDT

                    Ha! Funny. I dont mind the low brow articles now and then. It gives my blood pressure a break. Besides if we get too fired up with all the serious issues we might be too wound up for sex. Then again.....

                    • 1 vote
                    #36.1 - Tue Oct 9, 2012 2:17 PM EDT

                    Yah, yah, news flash, women all want the big one. Thanks again for the insight, Steph (I'm not bitter, haha).

                    Kristina, I'm glad you at least have a sense of humor. Good-day, darlin.

                      #36.2 - Tue Oct 9, 2012 2:58 PM EDT

                      No worries!

                      Just remember "..... its the motion in the ocean!" (I assume most people over 30 yrs have heard that quote at least once. He he)

                        #36.3 - Tue Oct 9, 2012 3:08 PM EDT

                        Without giving away tooooo much, I have dated a fair number of women in my time. All were long term relationships (multiple years). In my experience, some women practically had multiples before you even pulled it out. Frankly, this was because they were exceptionally horny. Other women you could work all night, with the best moves from American Giggolo or the Kama Sutra, and still no dice. Maybe Stephanie's next article should be about how 50% of women seem to have significant problems with orgasm (and I don't think I'm exaggerating), rather then laying their Freudian trip on men all the time.

                        • 1 vote
                        #36.4 - Tue Oct 9, 2012 4:18 PM EDT

                        The orgasm itself is as different as the size of the goods, male and female. The best way to learn about it is trial and error. The more connected you are to your lover the more fulfilling the sex the better your chance to climax. emotional attraction is almost as important as physical, I think any way.

                          #36.5 - Tue Oct 9, 2012 5:23 PM EDT

                          @Omegaman22:

                          Fella,do everybody a favour: Go on a Xanax diet,meditate about 8 hours a day for awhile, but first get somebody to take you to an ER immediately because you're acting like you have rabies.

                            #36.6 - Wed Oct 10, 2012 3:38 AM EDT

                            Get back on your vibrating chunk of plastic, strawberry. I remember when NBC was a real news service.

                              #36.7 - Thu Oct 11, 2012 1:54 AM EDT

                              So yesterday it was a mainpage story about how women really dig guys with rosy cheeks, like the lovely bastard Prince William. Really? Are generalizations pulled from some "writers" butt now an excuse for news? Yes, silly me, for critizing those who have no understanding of NBCs fabled past. Best to turn the mainpage into a gossip rag. I don't think pharmaceuticals would make some of this crap any more digestable. Most of these "what women dig" stories are pure, nauseous BS, and should never make it at NBC. Just my humble opinion of course (excuse me while I barf).

                                #36.8 - Thu Oct 11, 2012 2:49 AM EDT
                                Reply

                                The only reason anyone is arguing that women who experience vaginal orgasm are better-adjusted people, is because they want to give men an excuse to be lazy in bed.

                                If you are not going to bother to find out how to please your partner, stay home with Vaselina Palma and her five sisters on the weekends.

                                And frankly, unless the woman in question's clitoris is oddly configured (most of the tissue extends back into the woman's body--only a small part of it is visible or findable in the outer genitalia), I would hazard a guess that most women *don't* experience orgasm, *period*, without clitoral stimulation. They *think* they are experiencing it, because they haven't had a real one. Peeing the bed is not an orgasm. Lots of pleasure, in and of itself, is not an orgasm. You'd know if you'd had one. I had NO clue what I was in for before I had my first one. It's like childbirth or military basic training--if you've never experienced it, you do NOT know.

                                And these crappy researchers trying to cater to men are doing nothing for women or women's sexuality. The sad part is that if men would put in the effort, they'd have a lot more fun in the end. It's *fun* to get your partner off. It's *not* fun when she stays awake for hours afterward, bugging you when you are trying to sleep, because you got all the way there and she didn't.

                                  Reply#37 - Wed Oct 10, 2012 4:37 PM EDT

                                  Where did it say anything about some women being better adjusted people? Why are so many women insistent on the notion that women can only have clitioral orgasms? Why? Every woman is different! Accept that fact.

                                    #37.1 - Thu Oct 11, 2012 10:21 AM EDT
                                    Reply

                                    i can't believe we actually award monetary grants to people to actually do this kind of study. this is totally ridiculous and a waste of money, give me a break. how about sending that money to me so i can pay my bills?

                                      Reply#38 - Thu Oct 11, 2012 1:37 AM EDT

                                      Thank-you, CJRP. I was despairing I may be the only man left who thinks this crap is demeaning ... oh btw, this just in, Stephanie Pappas labels 88% of men inadequate. (Maybe she should shoulder a weapon and go to Afghanistan, show us how its done, honey). For shame, is right.

                                        Reply#39 - Thu Oct 11, 2012 9:47 AM EDT

                                        Sure, it "matters" but there is no right size for everyone.

                                        As a man you may be too big for some and too small for others.

                                          Reply#40 - Fri Oct 12, 2012 4:58 PM EDT

                                          No wonder there are so many angry small tooled white men around many of whom are Republicans.

                                          Then there are the child molesters.

                                            Reply#41 - Fri Oct 12, 2012 7:05 PM EDT

                                            Taoist sexual practices include the how to have seven (up to 10 depending upon describer) levels of orgasm. Tantric and alchemical practices detail some of the same and more. With instruction on Orgasmic Meditation (OM) and Tantric sex easily available and books and videos demonstrating and instructing the one hour orgasm practices, remaining as ignorant and tied to 100 year old theory developed long before the nutritional and anatomical science got serious, as these researchers appear to be, is difficult. The two substantially different orgasms, spinal nerve orgasm and vagus nerve orgasms are not even mentioned or differentiated in science.The fact of many different orgasms can be seen in the fMRI images of the brain taken during various sexual interactions. The problem is that these things are easily taught in hands on classes and much more difficult from books and even videos. A couple of months ago in a beginning 2 hour session I taught a couple more about anatomy and the energies of sexual response than they had learned in 15 years of active sex lives and both on second marriages. One book suggests that about half the people can learn the 1 hour orgasm in 6-12 months of practice,from the book. If one partner can already do that, the other can often learn in hours. It is no more difficult than learning to bake a cake from scratch (not a mix). And it takes practice. There is no failure possilbe in this, just lots of fun and successful practice. Make it play. Have fun. Most of people's problems in this are due to shame and fear. "Size" has little to do with it. Love and acceptance combined with skill and knowledge has 99% to do with it.

                                              Reply#42 - Sat Oct 13, 2012 3:01 PM EDT

                                              This is one topic , i do not care to speak on, I am a woman. I know all woman are different as men are, but to me what I am seeing he men posting , and what findings say , to me is not me at all.

                                              I disagree that all fat women are small and small women are big, ( being Nice) that is not true, and neither do all women prefer bigger , some women prefer smaller, but what makes the difference is not the size, What put's the icing on the cake is the woman that falls in love with the man first before having sex, Some women will go with anyone, but some women, even though, they lost in love and a man they loved, will not, TO BE IN LOVE WITH THE MAN AND LOVED BACK , IS THE KEY TO A GOOD WOMAN'S HEART, IT'S TILL DEATH YOU DO PART, SHE'S IN LOVE WITH YOU, AND NO MAN CAN TAKE YOUR PLACE. >>NO MAN<<<

                                              i WOULD HAVE TO SAY HER SEXUAL ENJOYMENT WITH THAT MAN SHE LOVES , SMALLER , WOULD PUT A WOMAN THAT PREFERS A BIGGER MAN TO SHAME.

                                              THE SHOE FITS ,SMALLER AND PERFECT, LIKE CINDERELLA! SHE'S IN LOVE WITH THAT MAN FOR LIFE, IF HE DOES NOT MESS UP. DON'T BREAK THE GOD WOMAN'S HEART.

                                                Reply#43 - Sat Oct 13, 2012 9:51 PM EDT

                                                amen sister!!!!

                                                  #43.1 - Sat Oct 20, 2012 2:46 PM EDT
                                                  Reply

                                                  sorry about the spelling, good woman's heart, and more.

                                                    Reply#44 - Sat Oct 13, 2012 9:54 PM EDT

                                                    ROFL flapping in the breeze, ha ha hahahaha, having a visual of this!

                                                      Reply#45 - Sun Oct 14, 2012 6:08 AM EDT

                                                      I feel really bad for those cynical men who believe ALL women care for is the wallet size. It is a gross misconception and over-generalization. I wish them finding true love to put this myth to rest.

                                                      • 1 vote
                                                      Reply#46 - Sun Oct 14, 2012 6:14 AM EDT

                                                      Of course women must say, "size doesn't matter.", if they want a guy with a big dick AND a Job!

                                                      • 1 vote
                                                      Reply#47 - Sun Oct 14, 2012 9:36 AM EDT

                                                      Duh! How much money was spent on this survey?

                                                        Reply#48 - Sun Oct 14, 2012 9:43 PM EDT

                                                        Wow, just in time for the "Should Prostitution Be Legal" thread.. This will work out great then for us

                                                        guys offering our services to woman....charge $20 an inch :) Of course additonal good looks like with the call

                                                        girls will be a bit $$$ as well..

                                                        • 1 vote
                                                        Reply#49 - Tue Oct 16, 2012 9:35 PM EDT

                                                        Liberal penis notably smaller, they are not the alpha males...

                                                        • 1 vote
                                                        Reply#50 - Sat Oct 20, 2012 12:37 PM EDT

                                                        hmm i've never met one woman that had an orgasm just from some guy pounding away in the vagina. the clitoris has to have stimulation for an orgasm. i equate it to rubbing balls... how long would it take a man to have an orgasm if that was all the stimulation he had. i'm sure some women like a big penis and it doesn't have anything to do with them being big or losse (you morons) just like some men like huge breasts ot a big butt. i prefer quality myself. and i've actually found that guys with huge penises are lazy lovers. they seem to think that that is all that is required to be a good lover and it's so not true. i also find they aren't too bright. they just don't have much blood in their brains because so much of it is required to fill up that big hose. good sex starts and ends in your brain. a big dick is just a big dick. women are a lot more complex when it comes to sex than men are and MOST women could care less about penis size. we care about a great man that cares for us and that can communicate with us and takes his time because he KNOWS women. that is what is very sexy and then when you get to having sex, you are already there. and on the flip side, if you are a selfish jerk that has no concept of what women want and nedd and don't care, you can have a big enough penis to make us happy in ANY way.

                                                        • 1 vote
                                                        Reply#51 - Sat Oct 20, 2012 2:37 PM EDT

                                                        I'm guessing that my taxes paid for this study.

                                                          Reply#52 - Sun Oct 21, 2012 12:25 AM EDT

                                                          Of course it matters.

                                                          That's why men have created such terrible words for sexually educated women who KNOW the difference it makes.

                                                          Men with small Disco sticks don't want the ladies to comparison shop.

                                                          • 1 vote
                                                          Reply#53 - Sun Oct 21, 2012 10:27 PM EDT
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