New study tackles the age-old sex question: does size matter when it comes to female pleasure?

"Does size matter?" is not a new question, but this new study has uncovered buzz-worthy findings

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It's the question we've all been asking for ages: Really, does size matter? Can it result in bad sex? Is it all just a myth? One study did the dirty work by tackling the infamous sex question, and the findings are causing quite a buzz.

According to King’s College London's research in BJU International (opens in new tab), a 15% reduction in penis size led to an 18% reduction of overall sexual pleasure for women. Essentially, the study's participants confirmed that, yes indeed, size is a monumental part of the sexual process. 

For the sake of research, 12 couples participated in the study and were each given a set of silicone rings that vary in size, which reduced how far a man could enter a woman between 0.5 and 2 inches. The larger in size the ring, the smaller the male's depth and overall size. Women were not told about each ring's size so they could judge their pleasure without any preconceived notions.



So...does size matter?

If you take this particular study into account, the answer is yes. But, is it the be-all and end-all of sexual findings? Certainly not. 

Fortunately, we've uncovered a useful pillow sex tip that essentially says the opposite. A sex educator on Tiktok, @sassyrededu2, has indicated that placing a pillow underneath your body during the deed tips your pelvis and allows for deeper penetration, and therefore more satisfying O's—no matter the size of your partner's appendage.

@sassyrededu2 (opens in new tab)

How many of you have used a pillow for your down stairs time? #fypシ #RelationshipGoals #TipsAndTricks #sassyrededu

♬ Звук для твоих переходов - awlesia (opens in new tab)

Plus, women's most intense orgasms aren't actually from penetration. According to a LoveHoney survey, 36% of women receive the most pleasurable O's from masturbation. Dr. Britney Blair, a clinical psychologist and co-founder of the Lover (opens in new tab) app, insists that the secret to having really good sex with a partner is mastering the art of solo sex first.

So is there a certain rule for how things are "supposed" to be? Is there a magical number of inches that'll help you reach your pleasure points? A lot of studies are going to yield many different results. All you need to do is what works well for you, your partner and your sexual health.

Danielle Valente

Danielle is a writer for woman&home and My Imperfect Life, covering all-things news, lifestyle and entertainment. 


The heart of her time at Future has been devoted to My Imperfect Life, where she's been attuned to the cosmos, new TV shows and relationship trends.  


Before her time at Future, Danielle was the editor of Time Out New York Kids and a news editor at Elite Daily. Her work has also appeared in Domino, Chowhound, amNewYork and Newsday, among other outlets. 


When Danielle is not working, you can usually find her reading a book, coffee at hand, or attempting a new recipe. (Recommendations always welcome!)