The average erect penis size is only 5.16 inches (13.11 cm), much smaller than the 6 inches (15.24 cm) most picture in their minds.
The disconnect between reality and porn and unrealistic expectations have caused many guys to become dissatisfied with their penis size.
Men are looking for solutions such as penis stretching, implants, special herbs, and remedies, or even using their body’s natural testosterone production or injections to increase their penis size.
This is what testosterone does to the male body and reproductive system, and if it can be used for penis growth.
Table of Contents
What is Testosterone?
Testosterone is a hormone that helps maintain the health and function of many body parts, including the reproductive system. It also plays a vital role in supporting muscle and bone density.
In men, it’s produced mainly by the testes and adrenal glands.
Women also produce testosterone, just in lower amounts than men. In women, it’s made by the ovaries and adrenal glands.
The amount of testosterone you have depends on how many hormone-producing cells are in your body.
What Testosterone Does to Your Body
Testosterone works by binding to specific receptors located inside cells. These receptors then send signals to other body parts, telling them how to respond.
For example, when testosterone binds to its receptor, it tells muscles to grow stronger and bones denser. It also causes fat cells to shrink and blood vessels to expand.
In addition to its effects on sex drive, muscle mass, and bone strength, testosterone has other benefits for men. These include:
- Improved sleep quality
- Increased energy
- Better moods
- Better erections
- Improved sperm production and sperm count
- Increased blood flow to muscles
- Increased athletic performance, such as endurance, speed, and strength
Notice how increased penis size is not on the list, but that does not mean your testosterone levels are not important for your sex life.
Low Testosterone (Hypogonadism)
If you’ve had symptoms like fatigue, depression, erectile dysfunction (ED), decreased libido, or poor concentration, your testosterone level might be too high or too low.
Your doctor will measure your testosterone level using a simple test. The average testosterone level for men ranges from 300 ng/dL to 1,000 ng/dL.
If your testosterone is too low, your doctor may prescribe testosterone therapy, also known as testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), where testosterone injections are given under the skin.
The dose of testosterone prescribed varies depending on your age, medical condition, and current medications.
There are several ways that you could try to raise your testosterone naturally through diet. Still, the most effective method would be speaking to your doctor and seeing your options based on your health report. Some of these methods include:
- Improved physical health and exercise for a low body fat percentage
- Taking fish oil supplements. Fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acids, which help improve circulation and promote healthy cell growth. They might play a role in boosting testosterone production.
- Eating foods rich in selenium. Selenium is another mineral that helps regulate hormones. This mineral is found in some seafood, meat, poultry, eggs, whole grains, and beans.
- Taking herbs. Herbs like saw palmetto, ginseng, Aphro-D, and horny goat weed all contain compounds suggested to boost testosterone levels.
But before you run to steroids or supplements without speaking to a medical professional, stop and consider that too much testosterone is just as bad as too little.
Higher than normal testosterone levels can lead to prostate cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, and even infertility, and some research suggests that it might also contribute to aggressive behavior.
Why Testosterone Is Important for Male Sexuality
In childhood, testosterone is necessary for male sexual development. Without enough testosterone, boys won’t develop secondary sex characteristics such as facial hair, deepening voices, and increased muscle.
Boys who don’t get enough testosterone during puberty may experience delayed physical changes and problems with their sexual development.
In adulthood, testosterone affects men’s ability to achieve and maintain an erection. When there isn’t enough testosterone circulating through the body, men may experience erectile dysfunction (ED).
Men with low testosterone often feel tired and depressed and may not be as interested in sex as they used to be.
Testosterone and Female Sexual Health
In case you’re wondering what testosterone does to your female partner, know that it’s true that women naturally have testosterone, although in smaller quantities than men do.
Like men, women also produce testosterone throughout life. However, because women only produce small amounts of this hormone, it doesn’t impact female sexuality nearly as much as it does in males.
Estrogen stimulates the conversion of testosterone into estradiol. Estradiol is responsible for many positive aspects of female sexuality, including lubrication, arousal, and orgasm.
What Does Testosterone Do to Your Penis?
Testosterone plays a crucial role in helping your body grow and mature when you’re young. The pituitary gland stimulates the production of human growth hormone, testosterone, and other vital hormones during puberty.
If you are a prepubertal boy or a teenage boy in puberty, testosterone will impact your penis size. One study published in the National Liberty of Medicine found that topical testosterone caused 60% in penile length and 52.9% in girth in prepubertal boys (boys who have not started puberty yet). However, topical testosterone had little effect on adult men.
Testosterone therapy is an effective treatment for boys with a micropenis but less effective in adult males who have completed puberty because, by the time you’re done with puberty, around age 19, your penis length is not likely to change much.
In summary, in the years before and during puberty, your testosterone levels significantly impact the potential growth of your penis.
After puberty, the ability to change your penis size using testosterone decreases.
However, testosterone does impact sexual desire and erectile function, which we explain below.
Does Testosterone Increase Penis Size?
Testosterone doesn’t cause your penis to get larger if you’re talking about size.
But if you’re referring to sexual function, testosterone can help improve erections.
Testosterone helps keep blood flowing to your penis so it stays hard longer. However, the effects of testosterone on erections aren’t immediate, and they usually occur long after taking testosterone supplements if you suffer from low testosterone levels.
The hormone also significantly affects libido, sperm health, and sexual performance.
Although no scientific evidence proves that taking testosterone pills increases penis size, improved testosterone levels could lead to better outcomes in the bedroom in other ways, such as,
- Giving you better and longer erections
- Maintaining your stamina and sex drive
- Improving the health of your sperm
You will only likely see these benefits if you suffer from low testosterone.
If your levels are normal or slightly high, taking testosterone supplements won’t do much for you.
In fact, too much testosterone might do you more harm than good.
Conclusion
No, anabolic steroids, testosterone supplements, or injections will not help you grow your penis or alter penis size after puberty.
Think again if you want to increase your penis size by taking steroids or other testosterone supplements because too much testosterone can negatively impact your health.
Normal and healthy testosterone levels will help your sexual function, sex drive, and ability to get and keep an erection.
A better erection may give you the sense that your penis has gotten bigger, which could make you more satisfied with your body overall.
If you’re curious about your testosterone levels, speak to your doctor. The test is simple and fast and will give you a better understanding of your physical and sexual health than an article on the internet.
If your levels are lower than average, hormone therapy and testosterone injections could improve your sex life, overall health, and confidence level in the bedroom.
