Jelqing: Techniques, Benefits, Side Effects, and More
Introduction
Jelqing is a technique used to attempt to enlarge the penis by pushing blood to the tip and stretching the tissue inside.
It has gained popularity through social media despite lacking scientific backing.
Small Penis Anxiety: Many men feel insecure about penis size, although most are within average size.
Historical Background
Ancient practices across various cultures tried to lengthen the penis: weights in Africa, Peru, India, leather strips in Greece, and irritants in India.
Jelqing supposedly originated with Sudanese tribes as a pre-marriage ritual.
Techniques
Methods are not scientifically proven; most instructions come from online sources.
Basic steps:
Start with a semi-erect penis.
Use a lubricant like lotion or Vaseline.
Form a circle with the thumb and index finger at the base and move towards the tip with pressure.
Duration: 5 to 20 minutes daily.
Stop if pain or full erection occurs.
Effectiveness
Microtears Theory: Jelqing aims for microtears in tissue to promote growth, similar to weightlifting.
Skeletal muscles differ from smooth muscles in the penis; thus, the theory's effectiveness is debated.
Some potential benefits noted in Peyronie's disease but lack of clinical trials for general lengthening.