Penises are like snowflakes: No two are exactly the same, but they're all special in their own way. That said, depending on how many you've seen, you might wonder about all the kinds of penises out there. Well, turns out there are a lot more than the scope of emojis would suggest.
"I'd love for people to know that you don’t have to compare a person's penis to some ideal penis shape because all of these different types of penises exist," explains Joshua Gonzalez, MD, a board-certified urologist based in Los Angeles and Astroglide’s resident sexual health advisor. "You can make it work and have fun in the bedroom no matter the penis shape or size."
When you think of a penis, an image of a cylinder-like, ehm, member comes to mind. It's straight and probably of average length (about 5 inches when erect for men in the U.S.) with a pronounced head. Then, there's the girth, a.k.a. the circumference or width, which averages out to about 4 to 5 inches when erect. But, there is no such thing as a "typical" penis.
"Nobody’s penis looks exactly the same since they all have different shapes, lengths, and curves," says Wendasha Jenkins-Hall, PhD, a sex educator, researcher, and trainer. "However, when it comes to sex, it's just about finding what works for you and your partner, and communicating what feels best for you both."
So yeah, no matter the kind of downstairs situation you're working with, there's a way to have sex with (and just plain appreciate) alllll of the penises out there. Here's what you need to know about of the breadth of boners out there—plus the ways to have the most pleasurable sex with all of them.
1. Bigger base with narrow head
Description: Here's an image for ya if you need it: Think of a traffic cone. "Colloquially, I’ve heard men refer to their penises as a traffic cone penis, where it’s narrow at the head but then gets wider," says Gonzalez.
Tip: Because the penis gradually gets larger as you get toward the base, penetration might be easy at first; but the deeper they go, the more difficult it can get. "With time and ease, you will be able to stretch some to fit around their penis," Gonzalez explains. "You'll definitely want to use a lot of lubricant to allow for deeper thrusting so it’s not as uncomfortable as the penis goes in and out."
And FYI: Missionary position works best when having sex with this penis shape, since you're able to open your legs as wide as possible, allowing your partner to enter you slowly and fully, Jenkins-Hall says.
2. Narrow head with larger base
Description: On the flip side, there are also penises that are more narrow at the base but gradually get bigger at the head. Picture this: an inverted traffic cone or a mushroom.
Tip: You might have a few issues in the beginning with this type of penis, but once you ease in, things will be okay, Gonzalez says. "Missionary position might be more comfortable for the partner of someone with a mushroom head penis,"
he explains. "You will get the initial stretching of the vaginal or rectal wall, and then the tip of the penis can provide some additional stimulation once inside.”
3. Thick Girth
Description: Some penises are working with a bit more girth than others. Sometimes, they may even be wider than they are long. "I know that girth can be uncomfortable, but there are also people who like girth over length when having sex with people with penises," Jenkins-Hall explains.
Tip: Jenkins-Hall says a little assistance from a bedroom staple can help: "It’s important when you’re having sex with someone who's girthier that you remember the lube. Because there's so much girth, there's also a lot of friction, which means you need to be careful of getting micro tears on the walls of your uterus or anus."
4. Thinner Girth
Description: Instead of having girth, there are also lots of penises that are on the slimmer side, which means they're super skinny.
Tip: It can be difficult to handle a skinny penis, Jenkins-Hall says, but it all boils down to two things: 1. Making sure it’s fully erect; and 2. Getting that right position. Her suggestion? Try the spooning position where both of you lay on your sides and the penis-having partner enters your vagina from behind. "Your butt is in the way a little bit and oftentimes your legs are closed. That can give you the sensation of having some girth because you’re closing your legs around the penis, giving a full feeling," Jenkins-Halls says.
5. Circumcised Penises
Description: This refers to a penis where the skin covering the penis (a.k.a. the foreskin) has been removed, generally in the infancy phase of life. "This is the most common kind of penis in the United States: About 90 percent of men over 20 are circumcised," says Joseph Alukal, MD, an associate professor of urology at Columbia University Medical Center.
Tip: There’s isn’t really a specific position to optimize for better sex because, well, it’s the most common penis type, says Jenkins-Hall. "That said, you can spice it up in the bedroom any way that you normally would using lube, using sex toys, and trying new positions just to keep it interesting," she adds. If anything, it can be fun to put lube on both the outside and the inside of the condom you're using, making things extra sensitive for you both, Jenkins-Hall says. Don't worry, it won't slip off!
6. Uncircumcised Penises
Description: Simply put, the foreskin is left intact. It's generally a cultural (region, religion, tradition, etc.) thing. Uncircumcised men have to work a bit harder to keep it clean down there because bacteria can get trapped in the extra skin.
Tip: As the penis goes from flaccid to erect, it helps to roll back the foreskin to increase stimulation. "But the head area can also be super sensitive, so start gently, and continuously ask [your partner] what feels good," says Holly Richmond, PhD, a sex therapist with practices in New Jersey, Los Angeles, and Portland, Oregon.
7. Growers
Description: You know these guys well: Penises that are larger when hard compared to when they're flaccid, explains Dr. Gonzalez. This one is pretty common.
Tip: When working with a grower, Jenkins-Hall recommends letting it reach its fullest growth before insertion. "When getting ready for sexy time, allow your partner to become fully aroused during foreplay," Jenkins-Hall says. "That way, you know what length and girth you’re working with and can adjust your expectations and determine what positions may work for you."
8. Show-ers
Description: These penises stay more or less the same size whether they're ready to go or flaccid. "No one knows why certain penises function so differently," says Alukal. But it's not uncommon for some to be owners of show-ers.
Tip: Time to make a stop at your local sex toy shop. Why? "You can use a cock ring to make that large penis erect for even longer," Jenkins-Hall explains, meaning extra long penetration time for *you*. Also, for deeper penetration, you can lie on your back with your legs up so they can enter you with their entire length, Jenkins-Hall says.
9. Curved Upward
Description: When erect, their penis bends slightly (or majorly) up toward the ceiling. For all curved penises, it will seem pretty straight when it's just chilling—it's only when they're hard that the curve appears.
Tip: The cowgirl sex position may be your new go-to. "[Try cowgirl] if your partner has a penis that curves upward because it might reach up enough to stimulate your G-spot (which is typically located at the front wall of the vagina)," says Jenkins-Hall.
But Gonzalez recommends being cautious when going for it: "Partner on top can sometimes be more difficult to navigate depending on the degree of curvature as can entering your partner from behind. That doesn’t mean you can’t do those positions; it means the angle may be trickier."
10. Curved Downward
Description: A penis with this type of curvature points toward the floor when erect, and the degree of curvature can vary.
Tip: Similar to upward curving penises, Gonzalez recommends caution when inserting the penis. That being said, curvature can help access all kinds of G-Spots. If engaging in anal sex, a curved downward penis can help access the G-Spot for those with prostates, Gonzalez says.
11. Curved to the Right
Description: Same as the last two, but this one curves to their right (your left).
Tip: When it comes to penises that are curved to either side, it’s all about the angles. "There aren’t any positions that are necessarily ruled out because you have a left- or right-curved penis, but it can make penetration from traditional positions a little bit tricker depending on the degree," Gonzalez says. If someone curves to either side, it might make intercourse easier and more comfortable when laying side by side.
12. Curved to the Left
Description: This one curves to their left (your right).
Tip: "There’s not really much of a difference in terms of the mechanics of having sex with a left or right curvature," Gonzalez says. "It’s more dependent on the degree or severity of the curvature."
Now, if a person develops a curvature over time, that could be a sign of Peyronie's Disease, which is "typically an acquired condition and it’s thought to be related to trauma sustained to the erect penis," Gonzalez says. That event can be sex, an injury or "microtraumas sustained over time," he adds.
Sometimes it’s not always a curve, either. It can be an hourglass deformity, an indentation, narrowing, or even shortening of the penis. Gonzalez recommends a person see a doctor if they notice their penis consistently appears different than it did before or if there is pain.
13. Smaller Length and Girth
Description: To actually be considered medically small, "a penis has to be two standard deviations less than the average—meaning it’s just over three inches long when erect," says Alukal. A small penis can be anything that seems smaller relative to others you've seen.
Tip: To feel more of the penis when you're working with less, try the coital alignment technique (CAT): Have their pelvic bone press directly against your clit during penetration.
14. Larger length and girth
Description: Penises that are seven inches long or more when erect, which is about two standard deviations longer than the average of five, qualify for the eggplant (versus carrot) emoji.
Tip: Chances are, you'll never come across a penis that absolutely cannot fit inside you, says Jenkins-Hall. When it comes to sex, it's all about lube, lube, and more lube, she adds. And no need to jump right in. Spend time on foreplay which will allow you to ease into penetration. And pro tip: Maybe avoid on-top positions if they feel like too much inside you.
15. Smooth Penises
Description: Have you ever seen a dick so smooth, it could have been carved from marble? That's what I'm talking about here.
Tip: A smooth penis can feel better and more natural in your mouth for oral sex. Or if it's your first time with penetration, entry should be smoother and more comfortable, Richmond says. If you feel under-stimulated during penetrative sex with this type of penis, try adding a cock ring or even just a ribbed—or extra ribbed—condom. The indentations make for more sensation.
16. Veiny Penises
Description: Some penises have very accentuated anatomy when they're hard—as in, their veins are not only visible but also physically noticeable during sex. Two things generally affect someone's veiny-ness: genetics and muscle. (Typically, those who work out more have more pronounced dick veins.) Their veins might just be closer to the skin and not necessarily bigger.
Tip: Extra texture, like veins of any kind, can feel really awesome for many vaginas, says Jenkins-Hall. "When a veiny penis enters a vagina, it can feel really good because most nerve endings in your vagina are in that lower third near the entryway," she explains. Try a position where you're on top and controlling the speed at which the penis is moving in and out. Plus, this way you can stimulate your clitoris, too.
17. Pigmented Penises
Description: Basically, this just means the penis penis is a different shade than the skin on the rest of the person's body.
"The pigment of the penis is affected by the same thing that is affected by the pigment of the rest of our skin—it’s genetics and certain degree of melanin," Gonzalez says. "But people can have differently pigmented penises from the rest of their body."
In general, there isn’t really anything different or worrisome about the coloring of the penis, unless there is a noticeable change (it gets lighter, darker, or red in different spots.)
Tip: The color of their cock has zero bearing on its form or function, says Richmond.
18. Freckled Penises
Description: Like darker-hued dicks, a freckled penis is a special type with distinctive freckles or birthmarks.
Tip: Again, skin coloration has nothing to do with what they're actually working with—it's purely aesthetic, notes Richmond. That said, freckles and birthmarks could be other things—like STIs or skin cancer—in disguise. If you're with a new partner, definitely have a talk about safety, and always, always use condoms if you're not sure. For established partners, if you notice spots, marks, or growths that weren't there before, ask them to get checked out. For STIs, yes, but also cancer.
19. Hairy Penises
Description: Whether they hate shaving, didn't expect to be having sex, or just prefer to go all natural (which is normal!), this type of penis has pubes around its base and ball area.
Tip: Pubic hair has a purpose, says Richmond. It traps bacteria and dirt, plus holds and emits scents, called pheromones, that attract you to your partner.
If hair bugs you, don't beat around the bush (heh). In a non-shaming way, ask your partner for a compromise, saying something like, "Hey, maybe we can trim this a little so I don't chafe or it's more comfortable for me?" That said, it's their body, and it's really up to them what they do with it.
For oral, gently push pubes down with one hand, because having a little spiral-y strand on your tongue can feel weird.
20. Shaved Penises
Description: Some people prefer to keep their entire genital area hairless or just trimmed into something less bush-like. Even though pubic hair helps keep germs away, there's nothing dangerous about a shaved penis, Richmond says.
Tip: Enjoy the view. "You get a clear look at everything—shaft, balls, anus, perineum, everything—so take your time to explore and experiment with what feels good for them, and by association, you," Richmond says.
And rub on some lubricant: "Lube on smooth skin is even more slippery, which can feel amazing when super hard," Richmond explains.
21. Symptomatic Penis
Description: Basically, if you've got a lumpy-looking penis on your hands, this may be a red flag. "It can be really subtle, but penile cancer sometimes looks like a growth," Gonzalez says. "A lot of times it will look like a bump or a little cauliflower. It usually evolves or starts on the foreskin if the penis isn't circumcised."
Tip: "This one is a bit more serious, but there is a small number of people who have penile cancer," says Gonzalez. Here's the thing: It's way rare for someone with a circumcised penis to get penile cancer. Those who are at a higher risk are those who are uncircumcised, he adds.
In addition to lumps or growths, you'll want to ask your partner if they feel any tenderness around the scrotum area, Jenkins-Hall says. Visually, their penis may also look a little red or discolored. Wait to see if these symptoms persist and if they do, head to the doctor, Jenkins-Hall explains.
"If you see it, you’ll definitely want to recommend that they get checked out by their doctor," Gonzalez says. "For patients, we always advise them to look for change. So, if there is a little spot that wasn’t there a few months ago, it’s always better to have the doctor look at it rather than just ignore it."
