10 Penis Types You'll Encounter And How To Handle Each

The human body comes in endless variety. Just as vulvas differ wildly in shape, size, and color, penises are no exception. Their traits range widely, and you might be startled by just how many penis types are out there — especially if you've had limited partners or grew up in the United States.

Keep reading to see how many of these penis types you've already crossed paths with.

1. Circumcised Penises

Also called a cut penis, this type has had the foreskin removed, typically for religious or traditional reasons. The motivations behind circumcision vary quite a bit.

It's practiced within Jewish and Islamic communities, and by some Christians, often tied to ideas of cleanliness. In Judaism, a ceremony called a Bris removes an infant boy's foreskin in front of family and friends, performed by a trained mohel. Among Muslims, the age range for the procedure is broader — some families do it when a boy is just seven days old, others wait until age seven or even puberty.

The U.S. has an unusually high circumcision rate, largely due to custom and personal choice. It was long promoted as the more hygienic option, and at one point close to 90% of boys were circumcised. It may also lower the odds of transmitting STIs like HIV [1].

That said, rates have been declining for years. Newborn circumcision in the U.S. dropped by 10% between 1979 and 2010 [2]. By 2008, under 60% of baby boys were circumcised (with some western U.S. regions well below 50%), and newer figures likely show the decline continuing.

Outside the U.S., circumcision is far less common and sometimes viewed as unnecessary or even harsh. A non-Jewish European man, for instance, is likely to be uncircumcised.

So if you're an American woman, you've probably encountered plenty of cut penises. This type has a glans that's wider than the shaft and sits fully exposed, with no foreskin covering it. A ridge, called the corona, often circles the head, and you may notice a shift in skin tone where the foreskin used to be.

There's no foreskin to retract during masturbation or sex, which makes handjobs more straightforward — what you see is what you're working with.

Related: 23 Intense Handjob Tips

2. Uncircumcised Penises

Globally, uncut penises are actually the norm. Instead of surgical removal, these men retain a foreskin that covers the glans. When erect, more of the head typically becomes visible — though not always.

Plenty of women find uncut penises easier to stroke since the foreskin glides (learn how to massage his dick like an expert), and some prefer how it feels during penetration too. Uncircumcised men are sometimes more sensitive, though sensitivity varies regardless of type.

You may need to retract the foreskin before sex or oral, and hygiene matters more with this type. Poor foreskin care can lead to a smegma buildup [3], which can smell and taste unpleasant if neglected. Good hygiene, though, sidesteps this entirely — circumcision isn't a requirement for cleanliness.

3. Micropenises

This penis type rarely gets much attention. As the name suggests, a micropenis is notably small — though "small" depends on which definition you use.

Some definitions describe it as a penis whose length is shorter than its circumference. Others put the cutoff at under 3 inches stretched. Still others define it statistically, as 2.5 standard deviations below the cultural average, which shifts depending on where you are.

Side Note: We recently ran a sex study with 1,387 female participants. Their responses showed that penis size does matter to women, though most don't actually want an extremely large penis.

Whatever definition you use, a micropenis is smaller than most people expect, and it might catch you off guard the first time. But it, or any smaller-than-average penis, doesn't have to be a dealbreaker — penetrative sex and plenty of other activities remain fully on the table.

Read: The Best Positions and Techniques to Guarantee Orgasms with a Small Penis

Learn: How small is too small for women.

4. Large Penises

At the other extreme are large penises. Bigger doesn't automatically mean better, though there are upsides — you'll feel fuller, and there's rarely doubt about penetration happening.

If deep penetration is your thing (learn more about this), a larger penis could be a great match.

There are downsides too. Overstretching can hurt, particularly without lube — here's why you should use lube for better sex.

A larger penis can also cause pain if your partner thrusts too fast or too deep. Slowing down, adding more foreplay, and talking openly with your partner can head off most of these issues.

Wondering why sex hurts? Find out reasons why it might not feel good.

5. Growers and Showers

Say "showers" with a long O. These types also go by "meat" penis or "blood" penis, referring to whether a man's flaccid size hints at his erect size. A shower (meat penis) looks large even when soft, so his size is obvious at rest.

A grower (blood penis), by contrast, looks unremarkable soft but expands noticeably when erect — he grows into his size rather than displaying it upfront. Don't judge too quickly based on a flaccid penis; growers can surprise you.

6. Curved Penises

Plenty of penises curve naturally, left or right. They function completely normally and are just as fun to play with despite the bend. There's a persistent myth linking the curve direction to which hand a guy masturbates with, but there's no science behind it.

7. Narrow Penises

Girth matters just as much as length when it comes to penis size. Many women are perfectly satisfied with average length as long as there's enough thickness to hit the right spots — so a narrower penis might leave you wanting a bit more.

Luckily, there are workarounds. He can add a finger alongside his penis during penetration, or wear a penis sleeve for extra girth. Certain positions, like spooning with thighs pressed together, can also make him feel bigger.

A narrower penis might also make for more comfortable anal sex. More on that here.

8. Short and Wide Penises

The flip side of long and narrow is short and wide — sometimes nicknamed a paint can or a choad. The thickness delivers plenty of sensation right away, but a shorter length might not reach your A-spot or even your G-spot as effectively.

9. Veiny Penises

Some penises show more visible veins than others, giving the shaft a bluish tint or a slightly raised texture. Plenty of people are drawn to this look, and it's common in porn. Realistic sex toys often replicate veiny texture more than other features. Speaking of toys...

10. Strap-On Penises

The first nine types on this list are all biological, but we can't leave out a reader favorite that isn't 'real' at all. A strap-on might become your go-to toy, and plenty of women enjoy playing with "their penis" during masturbation too.

Strap-ons work great between two women, or between a woman and a man when she's pegging him. What's pegging? Wearing your "own" penis can feel genuinely empowering and freeing.

Is There A Perfect Penis?

Honestly, no single penis type is objectively best. One woman might genuinely enjoy them all — she may lean toward shorter but find a longer one works just as well.

More often than not, it's the person attached to the penis that matters far more than its shape or size. Sleeping with someone generous, attentive, or someone you're in love with tends to override any fixation on penis type. If anything, you may find yourself deepening your connection through the intimacy itself (discover how to make love).

Sometimes a guy genuinely has a great penis, and that alone might keep you around longer than you otherwise would have, even if you're mismatched in other ways. Later, you might even feel a little nostalgic about it.

On the other hand, a gorgeous penis attached to someone who doesn't know how to use it — or doesn't care to please you — can leave you unsatisfied. It happens more often than you'd think.

Related: Is 6 inches enough for a woman to be sexually satisfied.

The sheer range of penis types out there might be surprising, but staying open to enjoying sex across all of them serves you well. No single type holds the key to pleasure — the person behind it matters just as much.

November 10, 2020