A meta-analysis of Chinese men's penile size in a global context

Background: Penile size is a topic of significant interest among men and healthcare professionals. However, data on adult male penile dimensions in China are scarce, hindering clinical counseling and research. This study aimed to establish normative data for Chinese penile size and compare it with a global reference population. Methods: We conducted a meta-analysis of published studies on penile size, focusing on Chinese and international data. Studies from East and Southeast Asia were excluded to minimize regional confounding factors. The analysis included 23 Chinese studies encompassing 34,060 men aged 16-57 years, and 19 international studies encompassing 15,216 men aged 16-91 years. Penile length and circumference were assessed in both flaccid and erect states. Results: This study established the first nomogram and percentile distribution chart for adult male penile size in China. The mean flaccid length was 7.42 cm (standard deviation [SD] +/- 0.95 cm), and the mean flaccid circumference was 8.54 cm (SD +/- 0.62 cm). The mean erect length was 12.42 cm (SD +/- 1.63 cm), and the mean erect circumference was 10.75 cm (SD +/- 1.34 cm). Compared with the global reference population (flaccid length: 9.09 cm +/- 1.51 cm, flaccid circumference: 9.12 cm +/- 0.93 cm; p < 0.05 for both), Chinese men exhibited statistically significant shorter flaccid lengths and circumferences. No significant differences were observed in erect length or circumference between Chinese men and the global reference population (p > 0.05 for both). Notably, the growth coefficient during erection (defined as the percentage increase from flaccid length to erect length) was significantly higher in Chinese men (67.39%) compared with the global average (43.45%; p < 0.05), supporting the hypothesis of a proportionally greater increase in shorter penises. Conclusions: This study provides novel and comprehensive data on penile size in Chinese men. Compared with a global reference population, Chinese men exhibited shorter flaccid penises but a higher proportional increase upon erection. These findings may be of value for clinical counseling and future research on penile size variations. The newly developed nomogram and percentile chart can serve as a valuable tool for both patients and healthcare professionals.