Does Jelqing Work? What the Evidence Says
Updated: 1 day ago
Debunking the myth that jelqing increases penis size or improves male pelvic health.
The short answer: No. There's no good scientific evidence that jelqing increases penis length or girth, and the repeated pulling can bruise tissue, irritate nerves and, in reported cases, lead to erectile problems. If your goal is firmer erections or a healthier pelvic floor, lifestyle changes and pelvic floor muscle training have real research behind them.
What is jelqing?
Jelqing is a manual penis enlargement technique that involves applying rhythmic, repetitive pressure to the shaft of the penis with the intention of increasing its size.
Despite its popularity and many online testimonials, there is no good evidence that jelqing works, and the risk of injury significantly outweighs any potential benefit.
Does jelqing work? What the research says
The goal of jelqing is usually to increase the length and girth of the penis by manually stretching its soft tissue.
When researchers reviewed the non-surgical methods of penile lengthening, they found no scientific evidence that penile exercises like jelqing increase size (Oderda & Gontero, 2011).
There's also a physical reason to doubt it. An erection isn't a stretch of the penis. It happens when the smooth muscle inside the penis relaxes and the arteries dilate and fill with blood. Pulling on the shaft doesn't recreate that process, so it can't make an erection longer or thicker.
The same review found that the only non-surgical option with some supporting evidence was a medical traction device, with average gains of about 0.5 to 2.3 cm in flaccid length in the studies reviewed. If size is a genuine concern, that's a conversation to have with a urologist.
Long story short, there's no good evidence that jelqing works.
Is jelqing safe? Risks and injuries
The potential benefits of jelqing are negligible. The risks, however, range in severity:
Bruising or soreness
Nerve irritation or injury. Nerves tolerate only small amounts of stretch. Repeated forceful pulling can irritate them, causing numbness, tingling or pain in the penis or pelvis.
Erectile dysfunction (see below).
Peyronie's disease. Repeated minor trauma to the penis is thought to contribute to Peyronie's disease, in which fibrous scar tissue, or plaques, forms in the tunica albuginea, the sheath around the erectile chambers (corpora cavernosa). It can cause a bend, pain or problems with erections.
Whether you can heal from a jelqing injury depends on its extent. If you notice pain, bruising, a new bend or lump, or changes in your erections, see a urologist or sexual medicine specialist to determine your prognosis and treatment.
Can jelqing cause erectile dysfunction?
It can. Urologists have reported young men with veno-occlusive erectile dysfunction, where blood drains out of the penis too quickly to keep an erection firm, after jelqing (Huynh, Hsieh & Hsu, 2014). Nerve irritation and scar tissue from repeated pulling can also affect erections.
Jelqing vs. Kegels: what actually helps the pelvic floor
Your pelvic floor muscles wrap around the base of the penis and help keep blood in it during an erection. Unlike jelqing, training these muscles has research behind it. In a randomized trial of 55 men with erectile dysfunction, pelvic floor exercises taught by a physiotherapist, combined with lifestyle changes, helped 40% regain normal erections and improved erections in another 35.5% after six months (Dorey et al., 2005).
Kegels don't change penis size, though, and more isn't always better. Many men with pelvic pain, chronic prostatitis or pain with ejaculation have pelvic floor muscles that are too tight, not too weak. For them, Kegels can make symptoms worse, and the work is learning to relax and coordinate those muscles instead. A pelvic floor physical therapist can tell you which you need.
Safer ways to improve erections
The safe alternatives to jelqing depend on what you wanted from it in the first place. If you want firmer erections, start with your overall health. Erections depend heavily on heart health and blood flow, and eating well, exercising and quitting smoking are all linked to better erectile function.
If erection quality is what you're really after, read how I approach pelvic floor therapy for erectile dysfunction in Denver.
Erections also have a psychological component. Managing stress, sleeping well, keeping a healthy work-life balance and setting healthy boundaries all contribute to consistent erections and a satisfying sex life.
It also helps to talk with your partner, if you have one, about expectations. In a survey of more than 52,000 adults, 85% of women were satisfied with their partner's penis size, while only 55% of men were satisfied with their own (Lever, Frederick & Peplau, 2006). Longer isn't always better, either: for some partners, a longer penis means deeper pressure that's uncomfortable or painful.
We often find men turn to jelqing because of body image concerns, so it's worth talking with a medical professional or mental health counselor before trying it.
Your value and worth as a human being, and as a romantic partner, have nothing to do with penis size.
When to see a urologist or pelvic floor physical therapist
See a urologist or sexual medicine specialist first if you have pain, bruising, a new bend or lump, or a sudden change in your erections after jelqing.
See a pelvic floor physical therapist for erectile difficulties, pelvic or penile pain, pain with ejaculation or leaking, or for help with pain and muscle tension once an injury has been checked.
In Denver? Dr. Caroline Gamwell works one-on-one with men on these concerns. Learn more about male pelvic floor physical therapy or book a free phone consultation.
Outside Colorado? Find a pelvic health physical therapist near you with the APTA Pelvic Health PT Locator.
Frequently asked questions
Is jelqing permanent?
There's no good evidence that jelqing produces lasting size changes. What can be lasting is an injury, such as nerve damage, scar tissue or erectile problems.
Does jelqing increase girth?
No study has shown that jelqing increases girth. Swelling right after jelqing is temporary and isn't growth.
Is jelqing safe?
Not reliably. Reported risks include bruising, nerve irritation, Peyronie's disease and erectile dysfunction, with no proven benefit to weigh against them.
Do Kegels make your penis bigger?
No. Pelvic floor exercises don't change penis size, but they can improve erection firmness for some men. If you have pelvic pain, get assessed first, since Kegels can make a tight pelvic floor worse.
The short version
Jelqing is the act of manually stretching the penis with repetitive pulling on the shaft.
There's no good evidence that jelqing lengthens the penis or improves blood flow.
The risks outweigh any potential benefit: it can cause tissue and nerve damage and has been linked to erectile dysfunction.
Safer options include a healthy lifestyle (nutrition, hydration, exercise, sleep and stress management), quitting smoking and, for some men, pelvic floor muscle training guided by a pelvic floor physical therapist.
References
Oderda M, Gontero P. Non-invasive methods of penile lengthening: fact or fiction? BJU International. 2011;107(8):1278.
Dorey G, et al. Pelvic floor exercises for erectile dysfunction. BJU International. 2005;96(4):595-597.
Huynh CC, Hsieh CH, Hsu GL. Veno-occlusive erectile dysfunction in young patients resulting from the 'Jelqing maneuver': results of penile venous stripping surgery. Abstract, Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand Annual Scientific Meeting, BJU International, 2014.
Lever J, Frederick DA, Peplau LA. Does size matter? Men's and women's views on penis size across the lifespan. Psychology of Men & Masculinity. 2006;7(3):129-143.
Dr. Caroline Gamwell, PT, DPT, PRPC, is a Doctor of Physical Therapy specializing in pelvic health and orthopedics. She earned her doctorate at Northwestern University in Chicago, IL, with a focus on chronic pain rehabilitation. She holds the Pelvic Rehabilitation Practitioner Certification (PRPC) from Herman & Wallace and the APTA's Certificate of Achievement in Pelvic Health (CAPP), as well as a post-graduate certification in treating pregnant and postpartum athletes. She owns Worth It PT, a boutique pelvic health practice in Denver, CO. Her strongest passions lie with helping others conquer their chronic pain and achieve their intimacy goals.
