A Guy’s Guide to the Many (Many) Dick Myths of 2026

4 min readFrom biohacker Bryan Johnson to looksmaxxer Clavicular, every influencer claims to have the secret to looking bigger, getting harder, and lasting longer. “Penis-maxxing can run the gamut,” says Rena Malik, MD, a urologist, sexual health expert, and Men's Health advisor. “It's a huge market.” (Pun probably intended.) Do any of their tactics work though? The jury is out, but the doctor is in: “I want people to think about the long-term health of their penis, not just right now,” Dr. Malik says, which is why she wrote a whole book about it (The Hard Truth, out now). Here, she right-sizes the manhood myths that have recently sprung up online.Erection supplements will solve all your problems (with zero side effects)!The (small) part that’s true: Sometimes (note: not “often”), the ingredients in these supplements do work for some men (note: not “all”—or “many”). That could be because of L-arginine and L-citrulline, ingredients that increase nitric oxide and allow more blood to flow to the penis, says Dr. Malik. Or it could also be the placebo effect.The (big) part that’s not: The supplement industry is largely unregulated and many products have little to no scientific backing. Some supplements even contain contraband PDE5 inhibitors, like tadalafil and sildenafil, or animal testosterone. Which means they might work, but they can also interact with other meds or come with side effects, Dr. Malik says. Plus, the time you waste trying different OTC options can lead to (gulp) shrinkage as erectile tissue becomes fibrotic. So, if you think you have ED, skip the supplements and see your doc, like, now.Jelqing will make you a size king.The (small) part that’s true: The theory behind jelqing, which is giving yourself an extra intense hand job, is that doing so creates micro-tears. In muscle-building, at least, the healing of micro-tears can result in strength and size overall. But…The (big) part that’s not: …your penis isn’t a muscle. Which means that jelqing could cause serious irreversible damage to the blood vessels in your penis and to your penis itself. The so called “technique” has no science behind it and can even cause permanent ED, Dr. Malik says. You’re better off working out your pelvic floor.If you don’t use your dick, it will stop working.The (small) part that’s true: Some research does link ejaculation to certain health improvements (less stress, deeper sleep, even immune function).The (big) part that’s not: A lot of guys think they need to have sex or masturbate whenever they get hard to keep their erectile tissue healthy. “You need to keep getting erections to keep your tissue healthy, and your body does that as long as you're healthy,” says Dr. Malik. If you regularly notice that you’re not hard when you wake up in the middle of the night, or you don’t have morning wood, see your doc. It may be a sign of fibrosis of the erectile tissue, which can lead to penis shrinkage.Penis pumps will give you a pornstar-sized hog.The (small) part’s that true: In specialized cases, a penis pump or medical-grade vacuum erection device (VED) can help some men. Both devices create negative pressure to draw blood into the penis, which can result in an erection. For guys about to get a penile implant, a penis pump can help them “get a little bit of a larger implant,” says Dr. Malik. For men who have had a radical prostatectomy (that’s a surgery for prostate cancer that can lead to a loss of penile length), they can maintain their penile length with VED.The (big) part that’s not: There's little to no data that penis pumps work to enhance length or girth for the average guy, Dr. Malik says. In fact, the European Association of Urology reviewed all the science on penile enhancement with VEDs and found scarce evidence that these devices provide any aesthetic benefit. What does: Manscaping. An overgrown bush can hide a large part of your penis, so grooming your pubic hair is easy (and way cheaper).TRT is a sexual health gamechanger.The (small) part that’s true: Testosterone levels do start to dip after age 40. And T factors into a strong libido, erectile function, and sexual satisfaction. For men who develop testosterone deficiency and experience symptoms (low desire, ED, etc.), TRT can help.The (big) part that’s not:Testosterone levels fluctuate all the time—"the variability even within individuals ranges from 18 to 50 percent,” says Dr. Malik. So, if you haven’t been into sex, or can’t get it up once in a while, your T may not be the issue. First focus on eating healthier, reducing stress, and sleeping better. If the issues stick around, then see a doctor.Bigger is way, way better.The (small) part that’s true: Honestly, there isn’t one. Your penis is fine.The (big) part that’s not: Being bigger won’t necessarily make you better in bed. That’s because 85 percent of women need clitoral stimulation to orgasm, Dr. Malik says, which typically doesn’t happen through vaginal penetration alone. Because the clitoris is not located at the back of the vaginal canal (that’s the cervix, and hitting it can be painful for some women), a longer penis doesn’t mean more pleasure. A skilled tongue, faster fingers, and/or the right tools (read: a vibrator) will though.Lindsay Geller is the Lifestyle Director at Women’s Health, where she oversees the Life, Sex & Love, and Relationships sections on WomensHealthMag.com and the Mind section of Women's Health magazine. When she's not writing or editing articles about the latest dating trends and pop culture phenomenons, she's usually watching reality TV or playing with her dog, Lucille (Go Fetch That) Ball.