CHAPTER 6
DISCUSSION
Accuracy of Data
Using Kinsey's figures of the penile means and standard deviations, the researcher found that 31% of the sample had a penis that could be considered micropenises in the flaccid length before surgery. Flaccid length is not considered to be important for fertilization or any other medical issue. Self-image and how a man fills his jeans are not considered of vital importance to the medical world. A true micropenis would have to be two standard deviations below the mean (shorter than 4.67") of erect lengths. The researcher found seven (14.3%) out of 49 men in this study would be considered micropenises. So many other numerical estimates have surfaced throughout time that there is no way to know what the true average penis size is and which should be considered small or large.
Inaccurate circumference measurements may have altered the results of the flaccid figures when comparing them to Kinsey's figures. Eight of the twenty-six men (30.8%) who tried to accurately measure their flaccid circumference were below two standard deviations from the mean. One man measured his penis to be 0.5" in circumference and another 1". These would be approximately the size of pencil and the size of a small marker.
The circumference problems are also apparent in erect sizes where nine (29%) out of thirteen men measured themselves as below two standard deviations of the mean. But some men have not taken math classes or may not remember the difference between diameter and circumference.
The high percentage of patients who considered their surgical results as negative could be related to the vagueness of the question. The expectations of what the surgery may entail and the hopeful results were not matched in many cases. Some respondents felt they experienced more pain or a slower recovery than expected while others were hoping for enormous results.
The analysis of the respondents who had counseling or therapy within one year before or after surgery may be inaccurate due to a very small sample size. Only nine men had gone to therapy in the year before and seven in the year after.
Hypothesis Testing
Sexuality
1. There will be no significant difference in sexual satisfaction as measured before and after surgery. This hypothesis was not supported. There was a significant decrease in sexual satisfaction at the .01 level.
2. There will be no change in penile sensitivity as considered by the respondent, before and after surgery. This hypothesis was not supported. There was a significant number of respondents who felt their was a change in penile sensitivity, before and after surgery.
3. There will be no significant change in erections as considered by the respondent, before and after surgery. This hypothesis was not supported. There was a significant number of respondents who felt their erection did change.
4. There will be no significant change in ejaculations as considered by the respondent, before and after surgery. This hypothesis was not supported. There was a significant number of respondents who felt their ejaculations did change.
5. There will be no significant difference between pre -and post surgical frequencies of masturbation. This hypothesis was not supported. There was a significant decrease in the frequency of masturbation.
6. There will be no significant difference between pre- and post -surgical frequencies of heterosexual sexual interactions. This hypothesis was supported. There was no significant change in the frequency of heterosexual sexual relations.
7. There will be no significant difference between pre- and post surgical frequencies of homosexual sexual interactions. This hypothesis was supported. There was no significant change in the frequency of homosexual sexual relations.
Penis size
1. There will be no significant difference in the pre- and post surgical measurements of the patient's penile flaccid length. This hypothesis was not supported. Before their penile enlargements, the mean flaccid length of the respondents in this study was 2.6 inches. The average flaccid length of the respondents after penile enlargement surgery was 3.6 inches. This significant gain in length raised the average of the respondents from far below one standard deviation to just below the mean.
2. There will be no significant difference in the pre- and post surgical measurements of the patient's penile erect length. This hypothesis was supported. Before their penile enlargements, the mean erect length of the respondents in this study was 5.4 inches. The average erect length of the respondents after penile enlargement surgery was 5.7 inches. This is not statistically significant.
3. There will be no significant difference in the pre- and post -surgical measurements of the patient's flaccid penile circumference. This hypothesis was not supported. Prior to their penile enlargements, the mean flaccid circumference of the respondents in this study was 3.1 inches. The average flaccid circumference of the respondents after penile enlargement surgery was 4.1 inches. This significant gain in girth raised the average of the respondents from one standard deviation below the mean to above average.
4. There will be no significant difference in the pre- and post surgical measurements of the patient's erect penile circumference. This hypothesis was not supported. Before their penile enlargements, the mean erect circumference of the respondents in this study was 4.1 inches. The average erect circumference of the respondents after penile enlargement surgery was 4.9 inches. This significant gain in girth raised the average of the respondents from just below one standard deviation to just above average.
5. The majority of the patients' flaccid penile lengths will be within one standard deviation from the mean. The mean will be established from published data of Kinsey and his associates. The mean flaccid penile length, according to Kinsey, was 3.89" with a standard deviation of 0.73". The range would include flaccid penis lengths from 3.16" to 4.62". Only 8.9% before surgery and 37.5% after surgery were within one standard deviation of the mean, therefore this hypothesis was not supported.
6. The majority of the patients' flaccid penile circumferences will be within one standard deviation from the mean. The mean will be established from published data of Kinsey and his associates. The mean flaccid penile circumference, according to Kinsey, was 3.75" with a standard deviation of 0.65". The range would include flaccid penis circumferences from 3.1" to 4.4". Only 19.2% before surgery and 9.4% after surgery were within one standard deviation of the mean, therefore this hypothesis was not supported.
7. The majority of the patients' erect penile lengths will be within one standard deviation from the mean. The mean will be established from published data of Kinsey and his associates. The mean erect penile length, according to Kinsey, was 6.21" with a standard deviation of 0.77". The range would include erect penis lengths from 5.44" to 6.98". Only 22.45% before surgery but 56.25% after surgery were within one standard deviation of the mean, therefore this hypothesis was only partially supported.
8. The majority of the patients' erect penile circumferences will be within one standard deviation from the mean. The mean will be established from published data of Kinsey and his associates. The mean erect penile circumference, according to Kinsey, was 4.85" with a standard deviation of 0.71". The range would include erect penis circumferences from 4.14" to 5.56". Only 41.9% before surgery and 21.9% after surgery were within one standard deviation of the mean, therefore this hypothesis was not supported.
9. There will be no significant difference in perceived flaccid penis size, before and after surgery. This hypothesis was not supported. There was a significant increase in perceived flaccid size.
10. There will be no significant difference in perceived erect penis size, before and after surgery. This hypothesis was not supported. There was a significant increase in perceived erect penis size.
Patient Satisfaction
1. Patient satisfaction will be measured by successfulness ratings. Patient satisfaction could be considered below average in regards to how successful the patients felt the surgery went.
2. Patient satisfaction will be measured by differences in pre and post surgical penile measurements. By these standards the patient satisfaction should be far above average because significant increases were uncovered in three out of four measurements.
3. Patient satisfaction will be measured by the infection rate. Infections and other problems affected 48.15% of the sample population. According to these calculations, the researcher has to assume that satisfaction in this area is low.
4. Patient satisfaction will be measured by the length of recovery time. Over half of the respondents felt that their recovery did not match what their doctor had expected. They felt fully recovered, their life was back to normal, after 2.33 months. Seven respondents still did not feel fully recovered at the time they were filling out the questionnaire. These figures lead to the conclusion that the patient satisfaction was very low regarding recovery.
5. Patient satisfaction will be measured by actual post surgical penis size versus ideal penis size. The actual erect penis length after surgery was 5.7 inches whereas the patient's ideal penis size was on average 7.9 inches. There was a 2.2" difference between the actual and ideal sizes. The researcher has to conclude that patient satisfaction was low.
6. Patient satisfaction will be measured by the quality of doctor's care they feel they received. The doctor's care ratings were divided into initial contact, interview, surgery, and follow-up. Initial contact, interview, and surgery had mean ratings of just barely above average. The follow-up rating dropped below average. The trend led clearly downwards. Patient satisfaction will is considered negative according to the subject's ratings of their doctor. There were, however, a wide range of ratings for all doctors.
The researcher can conclude from these areas of patient satisfaction that although the ultimate goal of penile augmentation surgery was met, the overall patient satisfaction would be considered low.
Psychological Aspects
1. There will be no significant change in the self-worth/self-concept ratings as measured before and after surgery. This hypothesis was confirmed. There was no significant difference between self concept rating as compared before and after surgery.
2. There will be no significant change in the amount of time the patients spent in therapy/counseling before and after surgery. There were not enough patients who had gone to counseling at all to compare the lengths of time spent before and after surgery. This hypothesis remains inconclusive due to too small of a sample size.
No matter how many types of "beautifying" surgical procedures are available, there will always be people who will volunteer in order to feel better about themselves. Self-confidence and beauty come from the inside and no surgery is deep enough to change that.