Men Needed for Unique King’s Health Partners Research Study

03 July 2012 - Men across the UK - who are over the age of 18 - are being encouraged to take part in some unique research.

King's research on Embarrassing Bodies

King’s College Hospital and King’s College London - part of King’s Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre - are together recruiting men to explore their attitudes and behaviours towards their penis size, shape and appearance.

Recruitment is taking place over the coming months and the first stage of the study is an online questionnaire. Once completed, participants then have the option of moving forward to the secondary part of the research. This involves men attending a clinic at King's College Hospital and having their penis measured - both erect and non-erect.

Gordon Muir, Consultant Urologist at King's College Hospital who is leading the second stage of the research, said: “Some men seek solutions such as pills, potions, talking therapy, traction devices or surgery to try to increase the size of their penis. There is very little evidence for the benefit of any of these treatments and surgery may be harmful.”

For those who are not satisfied with their penis, the study hopes to find the best way of helping men so they are satisfied.

Dr David Veale, Honorary Senior Lecturer at King’s College London’s Institute of Psychiatry and Consultant Psychiatrist in Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Men are often worried by the size of their penis. They may regard the size of their penis as a sign of their virility and ability to please their partner. As a consequence they may feel very ashamed and avoid developing relationships.

“This is the first time that a study of this nature has been carried out in the UK. We hope that it will provide a better psychological understanding of men who are worried about their size, so that a suitable psychological treatment can be developed.”

If you are over the age of 18 - whether you have or don’t have concerns about your penis size - and would like to take part in the study please either email andrea.troglia@kcl.ac.uk or call 0203 228 3577. For more information about the research and incentives, please see www.malesize.co.uk.

This research study was featured on Embarrassing Bodies on Channel 4 on Tuesday 3 July.

For further information please contact:
Anna Sykes
Communications Manager
annasykes@nhs.net
Extension: +44 (0)20 3299 3850
Fax: +44 (0)20 3299 3207
Notes to editors

1. King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s largest and busiest teaching hospitals, with nearly 7,000 staff providing around 1,000, 000 patient contacts a year. King’s has a unique profile, with a full range of local hospital services for people in the London boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark as well as specialist services to patients from further afield. The Trust is recognized internationally for its work in liver disease and transplantation, neurosciences, cardiac, haemato-oncology, stroke and major trauma. King’s also plays a key role in the training and education of medical, nursing and dental students with its academic partner, King’s College London. For more information, visit http://www.kch.nhs.uk

2. King’s College Hospital and Guy’s and St Thomas’ are both part of King’s Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC), a pioneering collaboration between King’s College London, and Guy’s and St Thomas’, King’s College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts.

King’s Health Partners is one of only five AHSCs in the UK and brings together an unrivalled range and depth of clinical and research expertise, spanning both physical and mental health. Our combined strengths will drive improvements in care for patients, allowing them to benefit from breakthroughs in medical science and receive leading edge treatment at the earliest possible opportunity.

For more information, visit http://www.kingshealthpartners.org