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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
Eithne Dodd Journalist & Cathal Ryan

Pollution may be making penises bigger, study suggests

The average global penis length has grown by almost 25% throughout the last 29 years.

In the new study, researchers from Stanford University looked at 75 separate studies that were published between 1942 and 2021 which reported on the penis length for 55,761 men.

According to the study, the average length of an erect penis has grown in size from 12.1 centimetres to 15.24 centimetres, an increase of 24% in nearly 30 years.

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However, this might not be a good thing as the “rapid” growth may not be a good thing - with the research explaining that any change in reproductive systems over a short period of time is potentially a cause for concern.

Michael Eisenberg, leader of the research said: "The million-dollar question is why this would occur."

While this study has shown that the average length has increased, other studies have shown that both testosterone levels and sperm counts are falling. One 2017 study showed that sperm counts in men in western countries have declined by 59% between 1973 and 2011

However, the length of a penis is not linked with fertility, any changes in a human reproductive system is "something we should pay attention to and try to understand,” Eisenberg added.

Although an increase was noted, researchers expected to see a decline in the average male penis length. They have suggested that two reasons for this may be either puberty occurring earlier or pollution.

According to Eisenberg, harmful chemicals in pesticides and hygiene products exist everywhere in our environment and diet.

"As we change our body's constitution that also affects our hormonal milieu," he explained.

"Chemical exposure has also been posited as a cause for boys and girls going into puberty earlier, which can affect genital development.”

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