Paediatric penile length: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
BJU IntJun 14, 2026 (epub)
Fausto Negri, Federico Belladelli, Chiyuan A Zhang et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated geographical variations in stretched penile length among prepubertal boys, analyzing data from 55 studies involving 31,915 boys from 2000 to 2024. The study found a significant decline in penile length over the past two decades, with a decrease of 26.2% in boys aged 5-10 years, from 6.46 cm to 4.77 cm.
Key findings
- Pooled mean stretched penile lengths were 5.43 cm for boys aged 5-10 years.
- Penile length decreased by 26.2% in boys aged 5-10 years from the 2000s to the 2020s.
- Significant geographical variations were observed in boys aged over 2 years (P < 0.001).
- Data included 31,915 boys from 55 studies.
Why it matters
Understanding normal penile length variations is essential for early identification of developmental disorders in boys. This study highlights significant changes over time and across regions, which may inform clinical assessments and guidelines.