In unexplained cases of female dyspareunia there are good reasons to consider the size of the penis as a potential cause. In deep dyspareunia one should know the length of the erect penis and in superficial dyspareunia one should know the diameter. To develop the competency of questioning this and have it measured, gynaecologists should be aware of the variety in penile size. However, most gynaecologists have been taught only one size (their own index and middle finger).

So we gathered data on the variety in length and diameter of the erect penis.

Male partners of women attending sexology with vaginismus, deep or superficial dyspareunia were asked to measure at home in full erection the circumference of shaft and glans of the penis and the length. The biggest circumference of either glans or shaft is then converted to ‘the diameter”.

We got data from 131 men.

The smallest diameter was 29,9 mm, the average 47,7 mm and the largest 54,1 mm.

The smallest length was 91 mm, the average 157,9 mm and the largest 250 mm.

There is a wide range of penile sizes. Gynaecologists should be aware of this wide range. In the upper size diameter range the female partner runs an increased risk of superficial dyspareunia. Whereas a penile length in the upper size range will give more risk for deep dyspareunia.

Approaches how to tackle dyspareunia caused by penile size will be explained.