The study “A morphometric analysis of the penis before and after prostaglandin injection: Is 'shower' and 'grower' even a thing?” classifies erections with the aim of providing contrasting information on length and growth expectations before opting for surgery.
Penis size remains a concern for men . As Dr. Manuel Alonso Isa, an expert from our Andrology and Reconstructive Surgery Unit, states, "Since ancient times, the penis has been a symbol of virility and strength. Its length and girth have been closely linked to male greatness, which directly impacts a man's self-esteem and confidence."
Race and country of origin have a significant impact on penis size. In Spain, the average erect penis length is 13,85 centimeters, while in other countries in our region, such as Italy, this measurement reaches 15,35 centimeters.
The desire for a larger penis is a reality. More and more men are turning to surgery to "gain" a few centimeters . However, like any other procedure, penis enlargement and thickening surgeries carry risks and, in many cases, fail to meet the patient's expectations.
In this context, Dr. Manuel Alonso Isa has been the precursor of the study « A morphometric analysis of the penis before and after prostaglandin injection: Is 'shower' and 'grower' even a thing?» classifies erections as “shower” or “grower” with the purpose of providing truthful information to patients about the expectations of length and growth before they choose surgery.
Difference between “Growers” and “Showers”
This study, presented this year at the Annual Congress of the European Association of Urology , has revealed the difference between “Growers” and “Showers,” two scientifically defined concepts used to describe different types of penises in an erect state . “Men whose penis increases in size by more than 56% when erect compared to a flaccid state could be considered ‘growers,’ while those who gain an additional 31% or less in length are ‘showers,’” explains Dr. Alonso Isa.
To conduct this study, researchers performed ultrasound scans on 225 men in both flaccid and erect states. The average penis grows by 42% when transitioning from flaccid to erect, so most men fell into a "gray area" between the two categories. Only 24% of the men were classified as "growers," while 25% were classified as "showers."
This study also revealed that the size of the fibrous tissue—known as the tunica albuginea—that surrounds the spongy erectile tissue inside the penis does not predict how much a man's penis might grow. However, it was observed that the tunica albuginea of men who "grower" became thinner than that of men who "showered." According to Dr. Manuel Alonso Isa, "This makes sense since the tissue stretches even more, and it could be that it has more elastic fibers in men who "grower" than in those who "showered," although we need to investigate further to test this hypothesis."
Predicting whether a patient is a "grower" or a "shower" is important for the urologist, since the patient's penis is usually in a flaccid state when examined. If the patient's penis grows significantly during an erection, a different surgical approach may be necessary compared to someone whose penis does not grow much.
“Urologists treat many patients concerned about the size of their penis. I hope the findings of this study will help other doctors reassure their patients that their penis size is within the normal range,” concludes Dr. Alonso Isa.
