I am a doctor – this is why the tip of the penis looks like a mushroom
PENIS come in different sizes and vary from man to man.
But most people will have noticed that the tip of the penis has a certain shape and looks a bit like a mushroom.
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While posting on TikTok, a doctor revealed why he looks like a mushroom.
Dr Karan Rajan explained: “The theory behind why the head of the penis is mushroom-shaped is that it evolved as a tool for removing and withdrawing semen from love rivals.
“The assumption was that with each thrust of the penis, this ridge would help clear the vagina of any competition.
“Instead of replacing it with his own sperm, thereby ensuring his lineage continues and wins the top spot.”
“Mushroom-shaped penis” is currently trending on Google due to a spike in TikTokers using the phrase.
This idea was explored in a 2003 paper led by Professor Gordon Gallup of the State University of New York.
They tested their theory in the lab – with latex penises and model vaginas.
By mixing starch and water, they discovered that the ridge around the top of a man’s penis could extract over 90% of the “sperm” substitute, in a single thrust.
Professor Gallup said: “We theorize that due to competition for paternity, human males have evolved uniquely configured penises that function to displace semen from the vagina left behind by other males.
“Thus, the human penis can allow males to substitute their sperm for the sperm of their competitors.”
He said they found evidence that couples tend to have more energetic sex if the wife has been suspected of cheating or if a couple has been separated.
This could, he says, be due to a subconscious desire to rid his partner of all traces of another man’s sperm.
Professor Gallup’s colleague Rebecca Burch added: “A longer penis would not only have been an advantage in letting semen into a less accessible part of the vagina, but by filling and widening the vagina it would also help and encourage the displacement of sperm left behind by other men as a means of maximizing the likelihood of paternity,” in the study published in the Journal of Evolutionary Psychology.
Is it normal for your penis to curve?
There are lots of things you might be too embarrassed to ask your GP, especially if it has to do with stockings.
Dr. Philippa Kaye said that some penises can have curvature.
Penises come in all shapes and sizes from shorts and you may notice that when your penis is erect it points straight up or down or has a slight curve or bends to the left or the right.
Dr Kaye said this was normal, but if your penis has a greater curvature or if it causes you pain or difficulty when having penetrative sex you should see your GP.
She explained: “There is a condition called peyronie’s disease where there is more curvature and has treatment options such as suction devices and surgery – so get it checked out if you are concerned. “
The theory dates back centuries, when women would have sex with a number of partners, to increase their chances of getting pregnant.
So while that may be why the human penis evolved the way it did, chances are it’s less important to guys these days.
When it comes to member size, Dr. Philippa Kaye said most people underestimate their size.
She explained: “Now, historically, having a big penis has been associated with the idea that it might make you more manly or more masculine or more fertile and that’s just not true.
“Now penis size will obviously vary from person to person, but on average, a flaccid penis is about 9cm long, but that doesn’t mean there’s something wrong if the yours is smaller or larger than that.
“When trained, they tend to be between 13 and 18 cm long.
“Research has also shown that women are more likely to say they are satisfied with their male partner’s penis size than the man in that partnership.”
She said the last thing to remember when talking about male/female penetrative sex is that most women won’t reach orgasm through penetration alone and as such penis size could well don’t matter.
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