Seventeen-year-old Jonathan, of Irvington, NJ, has been fascinated with his penis size ever since he was nine years old.

“It was like the first time I really remember having an erection. I went to the bathroom and looked at it for a good two or three minutes,” says Jonathan.

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“At the time, I thought it was so big, but when I went to junior high, I felt so much differently about it. Other guys’ penises were twice the size of my own!”

On the opposite end of the spectrum is Ronny, 17, of West Orange, NJ. He’s someone you’d call “above average” in the penis department. He’s a star on his high school’s football team. He gets a lot of attention from his schoolmates, after leading the team to so many victories. But after games, Ronny thinks he gets a little too much attention in the boys’ locker room.

“Everyone’s always looking down at my penis,” he says. “I catch the guys’ faces, like they’re in disbelief that a penis can be this big!

Jonathan’s and Ronny’s stories are common among teen guys, who usually have many opinions and questions about their penises. (And, like Jonathan, most guys are concerned that they’re a little “below average” in the size department.) Many guys wonder: Is my penis a normal size? Is it big enough? Is there any way I can make it larger? The questions go on and on, burning in a guy’s mind every time he steps naked in front of a mirror.

So, once and for all, it’s time to get the facts straight about the most questioned part of a guy’s body. Here we tackle common penis concerns with help from Alwyn Cohall, M.D., associate professor of clinical public health and pediatrics at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, in New York City.

Do I Measure Up?

First, let’s focus on the main thing guys worry about: size. Most of them wonder, Am I big enough? Let’s look at the facts.

There really is no average penis size for teen guys, since they’re still growing and changing throughout puberty. But the adult penis size normally ranges from five to eight inches when erect, with six inches being the average, according to Dr. Cohall.

So, that’s the average. But what’s behind guys’ worries about penis size and whether they’re big enough? Why do so many guys fear having a small penis? Dr. Cohall thinks it has something to do with very old myths about size. He says there’s been a long-standing impression that “well-hung men are the greatest lovers.”

“All too often, though, appearances can be deceiving,” he adds.

Bigger is NOT really better, according to Dr. Cohall. In fact, it’s just a myth. And he quotes a common saying: “It’s not the size of the boat, but the motion of the ocean.”

“Sex is more than just a physical act,” he explains. “It uses all the senses and emotions. Men who are good lovers concentrate on giving their lovers stimulation and pleasure in many different ways.”

Dr. Cohall adds that sometimes guys who have big penises “think that all they have to do is ’show up’ and their partners will be pleasured when, in reality, their partners may even complain that a large penis may be uncomfortable during sex.”

On the other hand, guys with smaller- or average-sized penises may “work harder at being good lovers and ultimately bring greater joy to their partners and to themselves,” says Dr. Cohall.

Goin’ Against Nature

But some guys still buy into the belief that bigger is better. Patrick, 17, of South Orange, NJ, thinks that through pills, penis pumps, or “the pulling method,” he can increase his penis size by three inches.

“I see them all the time—commercials with some Playmate advertising pills to make you bigger,” he says. “Taking one pill for 30 days will supposedly add at least one inch, possibly three. I’m really curious about it. What happens if it works?”

Chris, 19, of Newark, NJ, searched the Web for information on penis enlargement and chatted with all kinds of online “experts.”

“I heard about some way of pulling your penis outward from your testicles, for like 30 minutes every day. You’re supposed to gain nearly an inch after a while,” he says.

But none of these products or methods will increase your penis size, explains Dr. Cohall. Some of them might even be harmful. So, guys, I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but what you’re born with is what you’ll keep.

Stayin’ True

No matter what size you are, it’s important to remember what the doc says: size isn’t everything.

“The grass is always greener on the other side, so don’t get hung up on how ’well-hung’ you are,” says Dr. Cohall.

“On the other hand, if you feel you’re not as well endowed as your peers, it doesn’t mean you are not—or will not be—a good lover. In our society, we’re often judged by our appearances, but appearances, all too often, can be deceiving.”