An Anxiety Disorder: Small Penis Syndrome
If you read the recent essay on pornography and how it affects men and women you will remember that it was stated that many men engage in the solitude of watching pornography because they are extremely anxious about sexual performance. In the essay it was reported that penis size is an issue that plagues many men. A new study published in the British Journal of Urology International found that 85% of women are satisfied with the size and proportion of their partner's penis. Yet, 45% of men are convinced that they have a small penis. The article also reports that actual small penis size is a relatively rare phenomenon.
The doctors who did the research cautioned that male complaints about the size of their penis are to be taken seriously. These men experience a lot of shame, embarrassment and anxiety. It is recommended that they be sent to psychotherapy.
Unfortunately,
there are those people who are ready to take advantage of these
unealistic male fears by selling penis extenders or advertising that
plastic surgery can cure the problem. When considered that the so
called "problem" is in the minds of these men it obvious that surgery
will do nothing to allay the fears. The real fears suffered by
these men have to do with feeling inadequate as men. These feelings of
inadequacy need to be explored in the therapy office and not in that of
the plastic surgeon. Just to repeat, this is a serious issue that
causes a lot of suffering for a large number of men. Perhaps it is akin
to the women who are convinced that they are not thin enough no matter
how much weight they lose or to those women who insist on breast
enlargement even though they are nicely proportioned. Your comments are always welcome
In addition to his contributions to Mental Help Net, Dr. Schwartz maintains a private psychotherapy practice in the Boulder, Colorado area. His areas of specialty include relationship problems, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. He is open to inquiries from prospective clients, and may be contacted via email at aschwartz@allanschwartz.com.
