The History of Penis Enlargement: From Prehistoric Times to Today

The quest for penis enlargement has fascinated men since the “dawn of time.” 

From prehistoric practices to modern-day medical procedures, the desire to enhance size, particularly penile length, as well as penile girth, has evolved throughout history in cultures worldwide. 

While some early methods were crude and downright dangerous when looking back, advances in urology and science have led to very safe, effective and innovative methods to attain results in girth enhancement and more.

Ancient Techniques and Early Practices 

Throughout history, men have experimented with various forms of penile enlargement. A cave painting made 8,000 years ago in Turkey shows a primitive human figure with a penis almost the same length as his legs! This was created to demonstrate fertility, and not the “after” shot of a penis lengthening procedure, but it shows that men have been obsessed with length and girth for a long time!

In Africa and parts of Asia, tribes often used weights or bindings to attempt lengthening of the penis. For example, the Sadhu tribe in India,  the Sudanese in Africa, the Cholomec tribe in Peru and possibly the Manu’a Islanders of American Samoa, have all traditionally employed various methods of hanging weights directly from the penis to extend its length. 

The Sadhu In India

Holy Men from the Sadhu tribe in India have historically practiced penile stretching by attaching stones to their penises with grass or lianas. Interestingly, the practice of lifting weights with the penis doesn’t have a specific name and is typically referred to as a kriya, or yogic exercise as demonstrated by the holy man in the photo below.

Jelqing in Sudan and Beyond

Among the most widely recognized early attempts at penis lengthening was practiced by the Sudanese in Africa. This penis stretching technique is called jelqing. Jelqing involves repetitively massaging the semi-erect penis from base to tip, stopping before ejaculation to prevent climax to gradually increase penis size. It is thought to have been practiced to enhance penile length and girth before marriage. 

Though not extensively studied scientifically, jelqing was however documented in a British study by a physician named Dr. Brian Richards in the 1970s. According to this study, after following a consistent jelqing routine for three months, 87 percent of the 30 participating men noted an increase in length, averaging a gain of about one inch in both length and girth. 

While some claim jelqing leads to a larger penis, medical experts such as world-renowned urologist Dr. Perito and others warn that it can cause damage such as pain, scarring, and erectile dysfunction, and there is limited scientific evidence to support its effectiveness. Some continue to practice this method today. 

The Ancient Greek  Kynodesmē

The ancient Greeks attempted to lengthen their foreskin by wrapping part of it in a leather strip called a “kynodesme.” The Kynodesmē, which means “dog tie,” was a practice where athletes, actors, poets, singers, and other public performers wrapped a leather thong or string around the foreskin to pull the penis upwards. 

In addition to the penis stretching benefit, it was done to prevent the glans penis from being exposed in public, which was seen as unfashionable, and to restrict the penis’ movement during physical activities. 

The kynodesmē was easily removable and adjustable. It was either attached to a waistband to expose the scrotum or tied around the base of the penis and scrotum to give it an upward curl which provided it with functionality and helped men follow the norms of modesty practiced in Greek culture.

Other Penis Enlargement Techniques Throughout History

Ancient tribes in Africa and Asia also reportedly used manual stretching exercises to lengthen the penis.

There are records suggesting that ancient Egyptians, possibly even pharaohs, might have used weights to elongate their members.

The Kama Sutra

Penile and foreskin stretching practices are also mentioned in ancient Sanskrit texts the Kama Sutra (around 4th-6th century AD) and Sushruta Samhita (around 3rd-4th century AD). 

The Kama Sutra details a technique for enlarging the lingam, (the Sanskrit word for ‘penis’), which involves first rubbing it with insect bristles, followed by oils over ten nights, and concluding with another application of insect bristles. During this regimen, a man should recline on a cot with his lingam suspended through a hole.

Another method mentioned involves massaging the penis with substances like the plant Physalis flexuosa and boiled oil. These methods are thought to provoke an immune-mediated reaction, resulting in swelling and increased penile size.

In ancient Japan, some men placed small objects under the skin to enhance penis girth and appearance. Such practices were risky but reflected the cultural importance of male virility.

The Use of Herbs

Many cultures used herbal concoctions in an attempt to enhance penis size. Ancient Egyptian papyri and traditional Chinese medical texts both mention herbal-based ointments being applied to the phallus to increase virility and penis size.

It’s important to note that while all these methods target enlargement, they may have actually caused more damage than benefit. In fact, the direct use of weights hanging from the penis has been shown to decrease girth and cause tissue damage.

These ancient methods, while not without their dangers, show the long-standing fascination with making the penis longer, thicker and wider.

Medieval and Renaissance Experiments

During the Middle Ages, men began to use more dangerous techniques in their pursuit of penile enlargement. Crude mechanical devices, including stretchers and clamps, were sometimes employed in Europe, often resulting in injury or deformity. Herbal remedies were also common, though few offered proven results. 

In the Middle Ages, the French physician Bernard of Gordon wrote about various concoctions purported to enhance penis size. Among these were remedies such as chopped earthworms combined with jojoba oil, which were applied to the penis and left overnight, or a mixture of ground leeches with jujube oil. Additionally, he suggested that washing the penis multiple times daily with warm sheep’s milk or a mixture of hot water and oil could yield similar enlargement effects.

Across the globe, in India and the Middle East, medieval texts mention oils and herbal mixtures that were believed to stimulate growth. However, many of these methods lacked scientific validity, leaving men with little more than hope.

When the Portuguese explorers landed in what is now Brazil in the 16th century, they found the Kayapo people incorporating a variety of cultural practices aimed at modifying the body, including attempts at penile enlargement. The Kayapo also employed herbal concoctions made from local plants and practiced manual stretching in the attempt to achieve greater length. The adult men also wore penis sheaths (palm leaf cones covering the glans). These practices were steeped in cultural beliefs regarding sexual prowess and fertility.

The Age of Enlightenment and Industrial Revolution

The Enlightenment and Industrial Revolution introduced more scientific approaches to penis enlargement, but not without some questionable techniques. 

Vacuum pumps and mechanical stretching devices gained popularity. These innovations promised penis girth enlargement and length, but most lacked safety testing and were ineffective at best, dangerous at worst. It was an era filled with charlatans selling false hope to desperate men. Despite this, the groundwork for modern medical approaches to penile enlargement began to form.

The 20th Century: A Mixture of Science and Pseudoscience

As medical science advanced in the 20th century, new penile enlargement methods emerged. 

In 1959, Freddie W. Sell was granted a patent for a device known as the Erector, which was a vacuum pump specifically designed to stretch the penis. This device utilized a manual plunger mechanism to create a vacuum that would pull blood into the penis. Since that time, a range of both vacuum and non-vacuum traction devices have been developed with the goal of increasing penile length.

What Works Today—and What Doesn’t

Surgical techniques like implants and fillers began to gain attention in the 2000’s. PMMA injections, for instance, promised girth enhancement but came with severe risks like uneven results and complications from foreign materials. Similarly, the Penuma implant offered a silicone-based solution for penile girth, but patients often faced infection, scarring, and deformities, making it a risky option for penis enlargement.

Today’s modern medical advancements provide more reliable and safer methods of penis girth enlargement. However, not all procedures are created equal. Surgical implants and fillers like PMMA still come with high risks, often leading to complications that outweigh the potential benefits. While they may provide some enhancement in size, the long-term outcomes can be unpredictable and damaging.

History is Being Made TODAY

On the other hand, techniques like UroFill® offer a non-surgical option for penis girth enlargement. Using hyaluronic acid fillers, UroFill® allows men to achieve girth enhancement without the same level of risk associated with more invasive procedures. The results are natural and can be adjusted over time, making it a safer and more practical choice for those seeking a thicker, wider penis.

Conclusion

 

The history of penis enlargement is a long and complex one, filled with both bizarre and dangerous methods as well as genuine, safe and modernadvancements. While techniques like PMMA and Penuma may offer size increases, their risks often make them unsuitable for most men. Safer, more effective methods like UroFill® now provide a path for penis girth enlargement that prioritizes health and confidence. See for yourself!