Researchers at the University of California–Los Angeles and University of New Mexico have found that women prefer a penis that is larger than average — but only slightly larger.
“Since context matters, men should be thinking ‘fit’ rather than ‘fat’ with respect to their penis size,” researcher Nicole Prause told The Daily Beast. “In other words, women may prefer different sizes for different reasons at different times, so chances are very good any guy is someone’s ideal for the relationship type they are seeking.”
The study, published September 2 in PLOS One, found that women tend to pick a slightly larger-than-average penis for one night stands, while their preference is about average when considering a long-term partner.
Previous studies that examined women’s preferences regarding penis size have mostly relied on abstract ratings or used two-dimensional images of flaccid penises. To obtain a more accurate rating of women’s preferences, the researchers used a 3D printer to create 33 plastic penis models.
The models were cylindrical, representing the shaft, and topped with a dome, representing the penis head. They ranged in length from 4.0 inches to 8.5 inches, and ranged in circumference from 2.5 inches to 7.0 inches. The models were blue to minimize racial associations.
Seventy-five mostly white or Asian California women, who ranged in age from 18 to 65, used the models to answer 15 questions about their penis size preferences.
The researchers found that 25 percent of women reported having ended a relationship due, in part, to their partner’s penis size. Having a penis that was too small, rather than too large, was more often cited as the problem.
“Women preferred a larger penis size (especially a larger circumference) for one-time partners as compared to long-term partners. While this preference for a larger phallus is above the average penis size, it is only very slightly above the average,” the researchers wrote.
The average American erect penis length is about 6 inches long, with a 5 inch circumference. On average, the women in the study preferred a penis that was 6.4 inches long and had a 5 inch circumference in one-time partners. They preferred a penis that was 6.3 inches long and had a 4.8 inch circumference in long-term partners.
“Since women’s preferences for both relationship types were slightly larger than the average male, the preferred size for the one-time partner was farther from the average. Novelty itself contributes to pleasure, so seeking a more novel-sized penis may be consistent with a goal to pursue pleasure primarily in one-time partners,” the researchers wrote. “Given that women typically experience more pleasurable and orgasmic sex in longer-term relationships, they might prefer a larger penis for short-term sex partly so the increased physical sensation compensates for the reduced psychological connection.”
The researchers also found that the women in the study could often accurately recall the size of a penis model, but tended to slightly underestimated penis length.
“Women may misremember specific partners penis attributes as smaller than they really are. This may exacerbate men’s anxieties about their penis size,” the researchers said.
But the study leaves a number of questions unanswered. The researchers did not investigate individual differences among the women, such as vaginal depth. In addition, 15 women in the study indicated “no answer” for their penis size preferences. Fifteen women also reported never having intercourse, which could have skewed the results.
