Purpose: Voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) has been shown to reduce men’s risk of
HIV infection through heterosexual intercourse by ~60% in clinical trials and 73% in post-trial
follow-up. In 2007, WHO and UNAIDS recommended countries with low circumcision rates and
high HIV prevalence expand VMMC programs as part of their national HIV prevention strategies.
Devices for adult/adolescent male circumcision could accelerate the pace of VMMC scale-up.
Detailed penile measurements of African males are required for device development and supply
size forecasting.
Materials and Methods: Consenting males undergoing VMMC at three health facilities in
Tanzania’s Iringa region underwent measurement of the glans, shaft and foreskin of the penis.
Age, Tanner stage, height and weight were recorded. Measurements were analyzed by age
categories. Correlations between penile parameters and height, weight and body mass index
(BMI) were calculated.
Results: In 253 Tanzanian males ages 10–47 years, the mean (SD) penile length of adults was
11.5 (1.6) cm; shaft circumference was 8.7 (0.9) cm; and glans circumference was 8.8 (0.9) cm.
As expected, given the variability of puberty, measurements of younger males varied
significantly. Glans circumference was highly correlated with height (r=0.80, p<.001) and weight
(r=0.81, p<.001). Stretched foreskin diameter was moderately correlated with height (r=0.68,
p<.001) and weight (r=0.71, p<.001).
Conclusions: This descriptive study provides penile measurements of males seeking VMMC
services in Iringa, Tanzania. It is the first study in a sub-Saharan African population that provides
sufficiently detailed glans and foreskin dimensions to inform VMMC device development and size
forecasting.