There are a variety of ways to develop a larger penis, ranging from high-cost surgery to everyday exercise routines and from herbal supplements to the vacuum pump. But many techniques and products offered today are incredibly expensive, produce unsatisfactory results or can even cause permanent damage and deformation. At the same time, other methods present a much cheaper and safer way to go. Before deciding on which product to use, it is important to consider what is involved.

Jelq, which can be somewhat time-consuming, is the most common method of natural penis enhancement in America. Believed to have originated in the Middle East, this exercise involves forcing blood into all parts of the penis, gradually expanding the tissue to increase both length and girth. It is often preceded by using warm water to increase blood flow to the penis. When the penis is partially erect, it is necessary to grip the base of the penis, fully encircling it to stop blood from escaping. Then the penis is milked, pushing blood toward the tip. A typical workout involves about 100-200 movements. After a long time, it is possible to increase penis size this way.

The jelq exercises should be stopped right away if the penis becomes erect or if any pain is felt. Doing the exercise during an erection is extremely dangerous, and should not be done under any circumstances as it can cause damage to the blood vessels. Other negative side effects of improper jelqing are the decreased ability to attain an erection and a loss of sensitivity in the lower part of the penis over time.

Using the right herbal supplements can be a safe and effective way of advancing the growth of spongy penis tissue, thereby increasing its overall size. When the penis is erect, a fair amount of pressure is exerted upon the cells, veins and tissue. The longer a penis is up, the more likely it is to adapt to the pressure. Herbal supplements promote growth during the process of adaptation, thus effectively causing the penis to become larger.

One of the more risky techniques, however, is also one of the oldest. It involves hanging weights or applying stretching devices to obtain a greater length. These ancient practice have been used on more than just the penis; hanging weights from earlobes and lips is common in certain African tribes. Women in the Southeast Asian Padaung tribe attain longer-seeming necks by wearing heavy brass coils that, over time, push down the collarbone so that it appears to be part of the neck. When it comes to the penis, weight hanging delivers the necessary force so that the cells divide and multiply, and tissue mass increases.

Weights are usually hung for about 20-30 minutes and while this gives the penis a rigorous work out and will eventually increase its length, there are some very dangerous side effects involved. After stretching the penis it is possible to experience bruising, intense pain, dislocation of tendons and even gangrene. On top of this, weight hanging stops circulation in the pubic area, leading to possible infection and amputation.

Certain stretching devices available might be safe if used properly, but come with a high price tag. It should also be remembered that this method of lengthening can actually cause the penis to become thinner over time.

Lengthening surgery works well for the limp penis, but does little for the size of an erection. It involves cutting suspensory ligaments that attach the penis to the pubic bone. This makes the part of the shaft that usually stays inside the body hang out instead. In the past, there was a higher risk of this causing the penis to slip around during sex. This could even cause a downward pointing erection. Today the surgery is much better, but the patient still risks a greatly decreased angle of erection. Also, the patient becomes more susceptible to injury.

Surgery to widen the penis has been more successful. While the older fat transfer techniques often ended with fat being reabsorbed into the body, the newer method, called Dermal Graft Augmentation, has solved this problem. However, it poses risks of its own. The process involves taking strips of tissue from the buttocks that are then inserted into the sides of the penis. Success, however, is dependent upon the survival of all the tissue. If complications occur, the penis can come out lopsided and curved.

As with any surgery, it is extremely expensive and there are always risks of serious problems arising. Unless there is a diagnosed condition that requires surgery, one should talk to his doctor and receive counseling before consulting a size enhancement surgeon.

The penis pump is generally only a short-term method of erection enlargement, and can be accompanied by dangerous side effects. Designed for men with severe circulatory disorders, the airtight mechanism creates a vacuum around the penis that props it into an erection, pulling in blood. That same blood can stay there for up to an hour, forcing the tissues to stretch and elongating the organ. But the increase is temporary and the penis goes almost all the way back to its original size within a few hours.

Because the blood is trapped inside the penis for so long, this enhancement technique can harm circulation. While use of the pump over a long period of time will increase penis size, it can also cause impotence, cell and tissue damage, and de-sensitivity resulting from nerve damage. While the pump might be okay on a few occasions, it is inconvenient and its use should not be continued for any extended period of time.