%0 Journal Article
%T Personal genital satisfaction is associated with differences in perception of male and female sexual anatomy and function.
%A Choi UE
%A Nicholson RC
%A Grutman AJ
%A Cohen AJ
%J J Sex Med
%V 21
%N 7
%D 2024 Jun 27
%M 38721677
%F 3.937
%R 10.1093/jsxmed/qdae053
%X <B>BACKGROUND: </B>Prior studies primarily of men correlated low personal genital satisfaction (PGS) with decreased sexual activity; however, the association between PGS and genital anatomy perceptions is unknown, and there is a paucity of studies examining women.<BR><B>OBJECTIVE: </B>We assessed the relationship between genital satisfaction, survey respondent sexual activity, and perceptions of anatomy and function.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>A 54-item REDCap survey was distributed to any-gendered volunteers ≥18 years of age through ResearchMatch from January to March 2023. Responses were split into (1) high PGS and (2) low PGS. Analysis was performed using chi-square tests on survey responses and a Mann Whitney U test on median satisfaction level.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>Outcomes were genital anatomy perceptions, sexual activity, and respondents' PGS.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>Of the 649 respondents who started the survey, 560 (86.3%) completed it. Median PGS was 7 of 10, forming subgroups of high (≥7 of 10) satisfaction (n = 317 of 560 [56.6%]) and low (<7 of 10) satisfaction (n = 243 of 560 [43.4%]). The mean age was 45.8 ± 16.8 years, and demographics were notable for 72.1% women (n = 404 of 560), 83.2% White (n = 466 of 560), 47.9% married (n = 268 of 560), and 75.5% bachelor's degree holders (n = 423 of 560). Comparing high- and low-PGS groups, more low-PGS respondents felt normal flaccid penis length to be <2 inches (11.1% vs 5.1%; P = .008). High-PGS respondents more often responded that it is normal for women to have orgasms over half the time (20.8% vs 13.2%; P = .0002) or to identify as being sexually active (81.1% vs 71.6%; P = .008). Women were more likely than men to report larger normal testicle sizes as 60.1 to 90 mL (24.5% vs 10.3%; P < .0001), whereas more men felt that normal testicle size was 7 to 15 mL (26.3% vs 11.4%; P < .0001). Orgasm length perceptions also differed: more women felt female orgasm length was 2.6 to 5 seconds (36.6% vs 16.7%; P < .0001), and more men believed female orgasms to be longer, at 7.6 to 10 seconds (29.5% vs 17.3%; P = .002), 10.1 to 12.5 seconds (11.5% vs 5.2%; P = .0008), and >12.5 seconds (12.2% vs 5.7%; P = .009). Respondents' views on their genitalia differed by gender, with women more likely to feel that their genitals are normal compared with men (89.4% vs 75.0%; P < .0001).<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>PGS may be a useful screening tool given its association with sexual activity.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>Our large-scale survey assesses public perceptions of genital anatomy and function. Limitations include a lack of gender nonbinary perceptions.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>Gender and PGS interact with perceptions of male anatomy and female sexual activity, and the frequency of sexual activity was higher among high-PGS respondents; however, the direction of these interactions remains unclear and requires future causal analysis.