Does it look normal?

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‘ MANY men worry about their “appearance” — usually length,’ says Lorraine Grover, of the Sexual Advice Association. ‘The average size when erect is five to six inches; if it’s one inch when flaccid but five when erect, there’s no need to worry. It’s also common for it to look “veiny”.’

Some men get small, ‘ bobbly’ skin-coloured lumps around the end. ‘These are normal, benign and are not caused by a sexually transmitted infection or bad hygiene,’ says Professor Raj Persad, a urologist in Bristol. They also don’t require treatment.

But a spot on the tip could be a symptom of a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or, much more rarely, cancer, says psychosexual nurse Lorraine Grover (other signs include a sore that doesn’t heal in four weeks, bleeding, thickening or a change of skin colour).

Some men — particularly in middle-age — develop a curved penis known as Peyronie’s disease. It’s not clear what causes it, says urological surgeon Suks Minhas. ‘It’s most likely some kind of trauma, perhaps during sex.’

Some men are born with a bend called congenital curvature. If the bend is more than 30 degrees, surgery may be an option.