A sex expert has offered her insights on what truly counts in the bedroom, following a study indicating that women find men with larger penises more appealing.
Genetics can sometimes leave us less than thrilled about certain aspects of our bodies. Whether you’re a short king, a natural redhead, or someone with blue eyes wishing for green, there are aspects we might wish to change. While some features are adjustable, others, like the size of a man’s genitalia, are more challenging to alter.
No man particularly wants to be on the smaller side of the spectrum regarding penis size. This preference was recently supported by research from the University of Western Australia, which discovered that women tend to ‘favor’ men with larger penises.
The research concluded: “Being taller, having a more V-shaped body, and having a larger penis increased perceptions that a male was more attractive and had greater fighting ability.”
For men concerned about their size, Annabelle Knight, a sex and relationships expert at Lovehoney, argues that there’s more to intimacy than size. In her discussion on the findings, she emphasized her perspective.
“This study is fascinating, but it’s important to separate initial visual attraction from sexual satisfaction,” Annabelle explained.
“Research like this looks at snap judgements made in controlled environments — not what actually makes sex fulfilling, intimate or memorable in real life. While penis size may influence first impressions, it’s a very poor predictor of sexual compatibility, pleasure or long-term desirability.”
Annabelle highlighted what she believes truly matters in intimate settings: “In practice, confidence, communication and attentiveness consistently matter far more than anatomy alone.”
“Size can matter in the same way height or broad shoulders might, as a cultural or evolutionary signal, but that doesn’t mean bigger equals better sex. Most people don’t experience attraction or pleasure in isolation from emotional connection, arousal, trust and technique.”
She further noted that issues in intimacy are seldom about size, but rather about psychological hurdles.
Annabelle emphasized: “One of the biggest barriers for people with smaller penises isn’t physical, rather it’s psychological. Anxiety and self-consciousness can disconnect someone from the moment, which affects arousal and enjoyment for everyone involved.”
“Reframing sex as a shared experience rather than a performance helps remove that pressure.”
“When men stop seeing their penis as the sole ‘tool’ of pleasure and start seeing themselves as the source of it, sex becomes more relaxed, playful and connected, and that’s where satisfaction really lives.”