Penis Weights Might Be More Burden Than Boon

Some men will do whatever it takes to get stronger and more chiseled, and maybe even taller. So it follows that they may also try to enlarge their penis with penis weights.

Certain stereotypes equate a bigger penis with a more masculine, confident man who's better in bed. But the popularity of big penises precedes our times. In fact, it goes back to the Stone Age, when a big penis symbolized fertility and sensuality.

Today, we know a couple of details our Stone Age ancestors didn't. One, penis size doesn't affect anyone's chances of getting a partner pregnant. Two, penis size does not reflect on someone's sex life or prowess.

Still, modern notions of masculinity have encouraged many men to conflate their penis size with their self-worth. It's no surprise then that some guys want to increase their penis girth and length. But most of them already have an average-sized erect penis, which is about 5.16 inches.

Penis enlargement devices, such as weights, can be attractive to men for a number of reasons. They may actually have a smaller penis or—more likely—think they do. Also, some men may lose penile length due to Peyronie's disease or a prostatectomy.

From injections to silicone implants to penis weights, are any of these drastic male enhancement measures safe? Do they even work?

What are penis weights?

As the name suggests, penis weights are devices that hang from the penis. The weights come in many different sizes and shapes and attach to a penis differently. For example, silicone sleeves—picture a condom with a silicone tip at the end—are worn on the penis and a weight is attached to a clip that hangs from the silicone tip.

"They come in various styles, including weighted cock rings or weighted balls/plates that hang from your shaft," said Joshua Gonzalez, M.D., a urologist in Los Angeles and a sexual health advisor at Astroglide, a lubricant manufacturer.

Some products simply include a strap and ask you to use your own weight at home to stretch the penis. Generally, they are considered to be a type of penis enlarger or extender.

What are the purported benefits of penis weights?

Penis weights are meant to lengthen your penis by slowly stretching the connective tissue in your penile shaft. They are supposed to create microtears in the tissue that then repair themselves, much like the biceps and pectoral muscles.

"The most commonly purported benefit is a longer-looking penis," Gonzalez said.

According to YouTube creator Baseem, who tried a penis-extender weight, it can only be used when standing at home. When you're outside and clothed, it's visible and hits your legs.

The makers of these devices assume that since men can enhance muscles through weightlifting and training, the penis, too, can be enlarged with the use of weights. However, the penis is not a muscle. It's an organ, so exercise won't increase its size.

A 2015 study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine asked men to wear a penile extender device for four to six hours per day for six months. The device didn't have a weight attached to it, but it was intended to achieve the same results with the same science—tearing and repairing the tissue—by using a traction device to elongate the penis. The authors concluded that patients experienced modest benefits in length and satisfaction.

Recent studies have suggested these enhancers' efficacy is doubtful. In 2020, a systematic review in Sexual Medicine Reviews focused on different methods used to enlarge the penis.

"Treatment of small penis in normal men is supported by scant, low-quality evidence. Structured counseling should be always performed, with extenders eventually used by those still seeking enhancement," the review's authors concluded.

"There is zero clinical evidence that this works," said urologist Boback Berookhim, M.D., the director of male fertility and microsurgery at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

What are the potential downsides of penis weights?

According to various YouTube reviewers, hanging weights on your penis can be quite uncomfortable. Some people said this method adds centimeters, and even inches, to your penis if used consistently and properly. Still, the clinical evidence to support claims that penis weights work is thin, at best.

Now, to ask the obvious question: Is it safe?

"I've seen several men hurt themselves, sometimes permanently, from using penile weights," Gonzalez said. "The risks of these devices include skin abrasions, nerve damage, bruising, swelling, blood clots, loss of sensation, erectile dysfunction, scarring that can lead to penile curvature and/or other deformities, and penile fracture."

Most men aren't going to hurt themselves using penis weights, but most doctors will tell you not to use them.

"Sometimes, these injuries cannot be fixed," Gonzalez added. "If someone is looking to lengthen their penis, I would suggest a penile traction device first. One that has been shown to be safe and effective is the RestoreX traction device. At least then I can feel confident that they are using a method that has been well studied."

Even then, the device, developed in cooperation with Mayo Clinic, is intended to restore length lost to Peyronie's disease or urological surgeries, or to prevent such a loss from happening. It's not for someone who decides he needs a longer penis.