Penis Color, Texture, Size, Ejaculation and Circumcision
At some point in time, most males wonder: "Is my penis normal?" or "Is semen supposed to look like that?" Chances are, the answer is yes! Penises come in a variety of shapes, colors, and sizes that are all normal and healthy.
Most penises are roughly the same color as the rest of the person's skin. That said, many men have penises that are darker, having a brownish or reddish appearance. It is also possible for a penis to be lighter than the skin on the rest of the body.
Some men have dark spots on their penis. For many men, this is a normal part of their skin. However, your primary care doctor or dermatologist should check any new spots or blemishes that appear and don’t go away quickly.
Although it isn’t too common to bruise your penis, it certainly can happen. Bruising that goes away relatively quickly generally is not dangerous. However, dark purple, or blue bruising that spreads, especially following a painful injury, warrants medical attention as there can be long term damage to erection.
Generally speaking, if your penis has been a certain color "for as long as you can remember" then it's probably fine. Keep in mind, getting aroused can also cause the penis to look darker for a brief period of time. However, if there is a new change in color accompanied by pain – especially with redness and swelling – you should see your doctor.
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Most penises are not perfectly smooth. It is common for the veins on a penis to be visible and even pop out a bit, especially when aroused. Many penises also have hair follicles on the shaft, which feel like tiny bumps. As long as the bumps are small and not unusually red or irritated, they are probably benign hair follicles or natural bumps that are just part of your skin,like Pearly Penile Papules or Fordyce Spots.
Pearly Penile Pauples are tiny, smooth "pearly" bumps on the head of their penis They generally appear in young adulthood and are very common; about 25% of the male population has them. They are completely harmless and cannot be sexually transmitted.
Fordyce spots are small light red or skin-colored bumps on the shaft or scrotum. These bumps occur in at least 50% of the male population. They are completely natural and are not cause for concern at all. They are harmless and cannot be sexually transmitted to a partner either. However, larger and irritated bumps can signal a sexually transmitted disease (STD) like penile warts, so contact your doctor if you are concerned.
It is also possible to get a rash on your penis that is not caused by an STD. Harsh soaps, fragranced laundry detergents, and even too much friction from sex or masturbation can cause skin irritation.
If the irritation does not go away in a few days, you should see a doctor – especially if you are sexually active. You could have an STD or jock itch, a fungal infection resulting from too much moisture. Jock itch is easily treated and often occurs in uncircumcised men.
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Yes, penis size does vary – as does scrotum size. In the United States, the average erect penis size is 5 to 7 inches long, with a circumference of about 4 inches and diameter (or width across) of up to 2 inches.
Most flaccid penises range between 1 to 4 inches. This means some men gain a lot of length when they get an erection, while others gain an inch or two. When cold or swimming in cold water, a penis can actually pull up inside the body, but will lengthen when warmer. All of this is normal!
Some penises naturally hang to one side or the other. Some penises also have a slight bend to them, even when erect. This is perfectly normal and nothing to worry about, especially if the bend has been present since infancy.
However, if your penis changes from straight to bent, it is possible that you have Peyronie's Disease, which is build-up of a harmless plaque. Treatment is available.
Fun fact: Studies have shown that 85% of women are happy with the size of their partners, while only 45% of men are happy with their own size. This shows that most men who are self-conscious about their penis size shouldn’t be! The main takeaway from all of this is that there is a huge range of normal and healthy penis sizes, so don’t make judgments about the sizes of others’ or of your own!
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Some men have circumcised penises while others have intact foreskin. Both are accepted and common in U.S. culture. A man with an intact foreskin simply has a thin layer of skin that covers the head of his penis. When aroused, the foreskin usually retracts, exposing the head of the penis.
The important thing to remember about foreskin is to keep it clean as sweat, oils, and dead skin cells can build up under it. This buildup can form a white or yellowish pasty substance called smegma.
Smegma is perfectly normal and nothing to worry about. Just wash it away when you take a shower to avoid getting a yeast infection. For more information, including common concerns, visit our circumcision and foreskin health article.
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When a man gets aroused and comes, he releases ejaculate or semen. The amount of semen a man usually ejaculates is less than a teaspoon, but this can vary.
Ejaculate is usually a whitish color, although some men do have yellowish semen. If there is pain upon ejaculation or you are unable to ejaculate, see a doctor. Ejaculate that has blood or a greenish tint should also be checked out.
Semen also comes in a variety of consistencies and textures. At times, it may be thicker and clumpier than usual. Generally, this isn't anything to worry about. These variations are influenced by the last time the person ejaculated, how aroused they were, and even what he ate earlier in the day.
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The important thing to remember about penises and ejaculation is that everyone is different. Healthy penises do not all look the same, so try not to worry or compare yourself to others.
Remember, you can always talk to your doctor if you are concerned that there might be a problem.
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Jen Hawkins and Ryan Phelps, public health education interns
Steven Johnson, PA
Below are links PAMF accessed when researching this topic. PAMF does not sponsor or endorse any of these sites, nor does PAMF guarantee the accuracy of the information contained on them.
FAQs About Sexuality: Penis Size, the Kinsey Institute.
Common Causes of Yellow Semen, WiseGeek.org.
What are Fordyce Spots?, SexInfo Online.
About Circumcision, KidsHealth.org.
Pearly Penile Papules, SexInfo Online.
Penile Trauma, Urology Care Foundation.
Reviewed By: Nancy Brown, Ph.D.
Last Reviewed:October 2014