Jelqing is a technique of manual stimulation, which is alleged to increase the length and thickness of penises. The origins of jelqing are uncertain, but it’s claimed that it is a millennia-old technique from Muslim cultures, passed down from father to son. Today, this method is spread in online discussion groups such as Reddit.

“I’m seeing it mostly in young white dudes now, both in the office and in the questions I get asked online and from people in my personal life,” Justin Dubin, M.D., told me.

Dubin is a Florida urologist who specializes in men’s sexual health issues.

“Guys, in general, are reluctant to seek help on sexual health issues and are afraid of being outed if they do. I’ve done research that showed that anonymity and privacy were the main factors for men to seek help on sexual health issues. This is one main reason why men are more likely to seek online advice on these issues rather than going to a credible medical professional. Online, it’s a judgment-free space.”

Searches for jelqing reveal thousands of posts and comments referencing the technique, praising it, explaining it, teaching different methods, and often, asking whether it’s dangerous. Instructional videos for jelqing on YouTube (not linked, because these videos are often not safe for work (NSFW.) have millions upon millions of views. It’s not difficult to understand why this topic would be so attractive to men.

“Research finds that about 85 percent of women are satisfied with the size of their partner’s penis, but only 55 percent of men are satisfied with their own penis,” described Dubin. So,........

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