Penis growth hormone: does it work, and is it a good idea?
Reviewed by Yael Cooperman, MD, Ro,
Written by Gina Allegretti, MD
last updated: Jun 30, 2022
2 min read
Here's what we'll cover
Here's what we'll cover
Even if you’re satisfied with your penis size, the media and pop culture make it hard to avoid comparing yourself to others and wondering if there’s a way to boost what you’ve got. Ads for penis enlargement tools and pills are everywhere. You may have even come across ads mentioning a penis growth hormone. But does it actually work? The research doesn’t back it up.
What is penis growth hormone?
Penis growth hormone is a synthetic version of a chemical called growth hormone (human growth hormone, or hGH). It stands to reason that something called growth hormone should make things larger. And it’s true in general—this hormone is responsible for much of our growth during childhood, and it maintains bone and muscle mass in adults. People who don’t have enough natural hGH in their bodies are at risk for growth problems.
Because it stimulates growth, some people take synthetic hGH supplements to try to build muscle, increase stamina, and even increase penis size. But there isn’t much evidence that hGH works as a penis growth hormone.
hGH injections are useful for children and adolescents with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) or micropenis, a penis length that’s significantly below average (Levy, 1996; Laron, 1983). But if your growth hormone levels are normal, there’s no evidence that supplementation will increase penis size.
Do penis enlargement pills work?
Penis enlargement pills, or male enhancement pills, can easily be found online. Different brands contain different ingredients, such as growth hormone, herbs like horny goat weed and Ginkgo Biloba, and other vitamins and nutrients (Corazza, 2014).
But just because they’re widely available, that doesn’t mean they work. Supplements like penis enlargement pills are not regulated by organizations like the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) and often don’t go through rigorous clinical trials like other medications. There’s no solid scientific evidence that these pills will enlarge your penis.
Side effects and risks of male enhancement pills
Since supplements are not well regulated, they’re prone to inconsistencies. For example, some may contain unlisted ingredients. Others don’t properly list the quantities of each ingredient. This increases the risk of side effects, especially if you take other medications. Some side effects reported include (Nishijima, 2019; Corazza, 2014):
Abdominal pain
Nausea
Diarrhea
Rashes
Headaches
Hallucinations
How to make your penis bigger
Even though many people are concerned about their penile length, there’s often no need to be. A large 2015 study found that the average length of an erect penis was between 5.1–5.2 cm—a far cry from what the manufacturers of penis enlargement gadgets would have you believe (Veale, 2015). Chances are, you’re within the normal range.
Plus, your penis grows the most during puberty and young adulthood, especially between 12 and 16 (Tomova, 2010). Once these changes have occurred, there’s not much you can do to increase your penis size.
There’s not much data about penile traction devices (penile extenders), devices worn for hours a day to stretch the penis. Some studies found that they may give you a small increase in penis length, but it can take up to three months to see results (Nikoobakht, 2011).
Penis enlargement surgery will increase the length of your penis. However, any surgical procedure is invasive and comes with a risk of side effects (Campbell, 2017).
Though many people want to increase their penis size, penis growth hormone likely isn’t the answer. If you’re unhappy with the size of your penis, it’s a good idea to discuss your concerns with a healthcare provider who can advise you on the right next steps for you.
DISCLAIMER
If you have any medical questions or concerns, please talk to your healthcare provider. The articles on Health Guide are underpinned by peer-reviewed research and information drawn from medical societies and governmental agencies. However, they are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Aghamir, M. K., Hosseini, R., & Alizadeh, F. (2006). A vacuum device for penile elongation: fact or fiction? BJU International, 97 (4), 777–778. doi: 10.1111/j.1464-410X.2006.05992.x. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16536772
Ahmed, M., Kumari, S., Manali, P., et al. (2016). Safety and quality concerns regarding over-the-counter sexual enhancement products sold in the USA market pose a major health risk. Journal of Addiction Research & Therapy , 7 (5), 299. doi:10.4172/2155-6105.1000299. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5713482/
American Urological Association (AUA). (n.d.). The foundation's recommendation on penile augmentation. Retrieved Jun. 7, 2022 from https://www.itstimetotalkaboutoab.org/urology-a-z/p/penile-augmentation
Casavantes, L., Lemperle, G., & Morales, P. (2016). Penile girth enhancement with polymethylmethacrylate-based soft tissue fillers. The Journal of Sexual Medicine , 13 (9), 1414–1422. doi:10.1016/j.jsxm.2016.06.008. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27461963/
Campbell, J. & Gillis, J. (2017). A review of penile elongation surgery. Translational Andrology and Urology, 6 (1), 69–78. doi:10.21037/tau.2016.11.19. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5313298/
Chiang, J., Yafi, F. A., Dorsey, P. J., Jr., et al. (2017). The dangers of sexual enhancement supplements and counterfeit drugs to "treat" erectile dysfunction. Translational Andrology and Urology , 6 (1), 12–19. doi:10.21037/tau.2016.10.04. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5313300/
Corazza, O., Martinotti, G., Santacroce, R., et al. (2014). Sexual enhancement products for sale online: raising awareness of the psychoactive effects of yohimbine, maca, horny goat weed, and Ginkgo biloba. BioMed Research International, 2014 , 841798. doi:10.1155/2014/841798. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4082836/
El Amrawy, F., ElAgouri, G., Elnoweam, O., et al. (2016). Adulterated and counterfeit male enhancement nutraceuticals and dietary supplements pose a real threat to the management of erectile dysfunction: a global perspective. Journal of Dietary Supplements , 13 (6), 660–693. doi:10.3109/19390211.2016.1144231. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26913542/
Kayes, O., Shabbir, M., Ralph, D., et al. (2012). Therapeutic strategies for patients with micropenis or penile dysmorphic disorder. Nature Reviews. Urology , 9(9), 499–507. doi:10.1038/nrurol.2012.150. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22890302/
Laron, Z., Mimouni, F., & Pertzelan, A. (1983). Effect of human growth hormone therapy on penile and testicular size in boys with isolated growth hormone deficiency: first year of treatment. Israel Journal of Medical Sciences , 19 (4), 338–344. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6406387/
Levy, J. B. & Husmann, D. A. (1996). Micropenis secondary to growth hormone deficiency: does treatment with growth hormone alone result in adequate penile growth?. The Journal of Urology, 156 (1), 214–216. doi:10.1016/s0022-5347(01)66003-8. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8648808/
Marra, G., Drury, A., Tran, L., et al. (2020). Systematic review of surgical and nonsurgical interventions in normal men complaining of small penis size. Sexual Medicine Reviews , 8 (1), 158–180. doi:10.1016/j.sxmr.2019.01.004. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31027932/
Nikoobakht, M., Shahnazari, A., Rezaeidanesh, M., et al. (2011). Effect of penile-extender device in increasing penile size in men with shortened penis: preliminary results. The Journal of Sexual Medicine , 8 (11), 3188–3192. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2009.01662.x. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20102448/
Nishijima, C., Kobayashi, E., Sato, Y., et al. (2019). Are there adverse events after the use of sexual enhancement nutrition supplements? A nationwide online survey from Japan. Nutrients , 11 (11), 2814. doi:10.3390/nu11112814. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6893827/
Nugteren, H. M., Balkema, G. T., Pascal, A. L., et al. (2010). Penile enlargement: from medication to surgery. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy , 36 (2), 118–123. doi:10.1080/00926230903554453. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20169492
Tomova, A., Deepinder, F., Robeva, R., et al. (2010). Growth and development of male external genitalia: a cross-sectional study of 6200 males aged 0 to 19 years. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine , 164 (12), 1152–1157. doi:10.1001/archpediatrics.2010.223. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21135345/
Uckert, S., Scheller, F., Stief, C. G., et al. (2010). Potential mechanism of action of human growth hormone on isolated human penile erectile tissue. Urology , 75 (4), 968–973. doi:10.1016/j.urology.2009.05.046. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19628271/
Veale, D., Miles, S., Bramley, S., et al. (2015). Am I normal? A systematic review and construction of nomograms for flaccid and erect penis length and circumference in up to 15,521 men. BJU International , 115 (6), 978–986. doi:10.1111/bju.13010. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25487360/
How we reviewed this article
Current version
About the medical reviewer
