Women have a preferred penis size in a sexual partner as scientific studies reveal all

Scientists have sat down with women to find out exactly how large their sexual partner's todger would be in an ideal world, with participants admitting they'd like a bigger appendage for a one-night stand than they would for a boyfriend.

Back in 2015, researchers recruited women in California who were at least 18, attracted to men and willing to give a little of their time for $20 to choose their preferred penile proportions from among 33 different models.

They were asked two questions. First: "What would be the ideal size for a husband or serious, long-term boyfriend?"

The second question involved significantly more scene-setting: "Imagine you're single and you're out at a restaurant with some friends. You meet an attractive man who is also single. He seems kind, intelligent, funny, and has a great job.

"You are feeling sexually aroused. He says he's in town for a conference but he has to fly back home tomorrow afternoon. If you could spend only this one night with him, what size would you want him to be?"

Fortunately for those gentlemen who hold some concern over whether they're adequately measuring up as far as their third leg is concerned the results would be quite reassuring.

It also turns out the preferred penis size between the various categories of relationship isn't really that different.

If you were creating a category for 'average' then women would appear to prefer the upper end of that (Getty Stock Photo)

What women want

According to the study, women's ideal penis size in a long term partner is 6.3 inches (16cm) long when erect, and with a circumference of 4.8 inches (12.2cm).

However, for someone they were only hooking up with on a short term basis the preferential pizzle was slightly larger at 6.4 inches (16.3cm) when erect and with a five inch (12.7cm) circumference.

This expectation lines up pretty well with the upper end of the average penis size, as according to Lloyds Pharmacy, the average erect length of a penis around the world ranged from 4.7 inches to 6.3 inches, or 5.45 inches (13.8cm) erect if you want to put a single figure on it.

Women's preferred penis size vs the global average (LADbible)

That's basically what the women who participated in the study had named as their preferred penis size in a long-term partner, so it seems as though the upper end of average is where the real preference lies.

The average erect circumference is 4.7 inches (12cm) - just a little under what the women were asking for.

However, other research into preferred penis size looking at body shape and penis length found that bigger was typically more desired as positive feedback increased with size, though women rated the second largest group as slightly more preferred so perhaps there is such a thing as too much.

Does size mean satisfaction?

The researchers found that 84 percent of women were satisfied with the size of their partner's penis, so it really doesn't matter for the vast majority of those who are concerned.

A study from Australia on the level of satisfaction reported from sexual encounters found that beyond a certain point, there was a diminishing return on the level of satisfaction that comes with more length.

Women who were surveyed said their ideal penis was 6.3 inches in length, but they also largely weren't bothered about their partner's size (Getty Stock Photo)

Another piece of research indicates that for women, girth matters more than length when it comes to satisfying sex, but having an emotional connection with a partner was seen as a far more important factor to a good sexual experience.

There's been even more studies into this, which underline that there's little point having all the gear and no idea, as being good at sex doesn't hinge on how large a penis is involved.

Those researchers found that women were actually more likely to have an orgasm with shallow penetration that only used the tip of the penis, really underlining that bigger doesn't mean better.

"There's actually a lot more important factors, like my emotional connection or how he uses it, instead of length." (Getty Stock Photo)

What do men think?

A lot of men are stressed out about the size of their penis, as according to Ro most guys overestimate what the average is and how they're supposed to be measuring up.

A majority think the average penis size when erect is over six inches, when it's really more like five-and-a-half, though the upper bracket of average does extend to about those dimensions.

Mistaking the upper boundary of what you'd call average for the actual midpoint is a mistake many men make.

For men who really want to make their penis seem larger, it seems the answer is losing some weight, as having a leaner body around that area makes it look larger by comparison.