You and your penis: Seven things you never knew

Think you know all there is to know about your penis? From the average size to what causes your willy to shrink, here are seven facts that may cause you to look at your manhood in a whole new way...

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1. Size matters
The average flaccid penis measures 3-4 inches from tip to base (though when men were asked to measure themselves, this figure increased to 7-8 inches). While penises may look different when soft, most erections average out to the same length: around 6 inches.

2. What a whopper
The largest penis recorded is 9.5 inches (24.13 cm) in length when flaccid and 13.5 inches (34.29 cm) when erect, and is owned by American Jonah Falcon. Last year, a man in Mexico came to fame when he released a video of himself showing off his 19-inch penis - though he's yet to take the official title.

3. You can break your penis
While there's no bone in a "boner", it's possible to break your manhood. Violently twisting your erection can cause the tubes inside to burst, resulting in very painful swelling. Thankfully, reported cases of penile fracture are rare, with one-third of cases occuring during sex where a partner is on top. The injury typically happens when a man's penis slips out of his partner and is violently bent.

4. Vibrators work on the penis too
Who says vibrators are just for women? In fact, vibration is so effective on the penis that men with spinal cord injuries can ejaculate with the help of a medical vibrator. For this kind of treatment, the vibrator is held against the underside of the head of the penis. You don't need a medical grade vibrator to achieve the same effect - you can buy your own magic wand from Lovehoney.com.

5. Double trouble
Some men are born with two penises. The incredibly rare condition, known as diphallus, is thought to affect around 100 men worldwide. While it's medically possible to have two fully-formed amd functioning penises, men with the condition may have one penile shaft with two heads at the end, a single penile shaft that splits into two, or one full-size penis accompanied by a small "accessory penis".

6. Flexible friend
It's said that one man in 400 is flexible enough to give himself oral pleasure. If you can't even touch your toes, investing in an oral stimulator might be a better option.

7. Your manhood can shrink
Penises can shrink for several reasons. Smoking can shorten a penis by as much as a centimeter due to calcified blood vessels that reduce erectile circulation. Penile tissue can also lose elasticicity if a man doesn't get regular erections, meaning his penis could shrink by a centimeter or more. Some men use a penis pump to help enlarge their manhood.