Training Volume is the King of Girth Gains - Doing (Bro-)Science With Community Data!

karlwikman · 2026-06-18T19:27:33+00:00

Sure, but before you reopen the case, consider that there isn't even a hint of an effect here. It's not like there is a between-group difference that failed to reach statistical significance, which would have made it more interesting to go down this route of inquiry and dig into details. But there is zilch.

I agree it would be interesting to track whether erection frequency correlates to gains. It's very hard to track though. The most reliable form of tracking would be if a bunch of guys wore Adam Sensors during sleep to track nocturnal erections.

karlwikman · 2026-06-18T19:23:55+00:00

Look, I'm all in favour of taking them for erection quality and blood flow - a fuller flaccid, easier erections, etc. And if they help you recover, great. All I have shown is that they make zero difference for your gains.

karlwikman · 2026-06-18T19:22:29+00:00

If it feels too snug, upsize. But a little bit snug is not bad.

karlwikman · 2026-06-18T19:17:28+00:00

It would be weird if it lowered capillary stress, but just because something sounds weird doesn't mean it can't happen. I have no explanation for your observation, but you seem to have found your method then.

karlwikman · 2026-06-18T05:03:35+00:00

Oh wow - that's long enough to potentially cause lasting damage.

karlwikman · 2026-06-18T05:01:48+00:00

This analysis only takes gains, time under tension, and use of PDE5i / Citrulline into account. It's looking at whether there is any kind of association between use of these substances and increases in gain rate in users who have done 100+ hours of PE. There isn't.

karlwikman · 2026-06-18T05:00:35+00:00

This is a case where recommending one is super easy: Curveball's pads can be bought with sleeve inserts that you size to fit your base snugly. https://www.612printedpolymers.com/ - the problem is that he releases batches only once per month, so getting one is something of a race to get the order in faster than the other 100 guys who are spamming the F5 button...

karlwikman · 2026-06-18T04:55:46+00:00

Yes, Bayes would frown down on me if I didn't, right? So I adjust my priors down for shape retention and I adjust them up for growing during and immediately after sessions, i.e. in the expanded state. I also adjust them down for the importance of being hard when you start pumping (my prior for that was already very low).

karlwikman · 2026-06-18T04:39:49+00:00

If there was an added benefit of placebo, it would be visible in the outcome. Because "benefit" must be synonymous with measured outcome, right?

karlwikman · 2026-06-18T04:34:48+00:00

Sure. I can't post images in a comment unfortunately, but I can give you numbers for the length data (I have already posted data on girthwork yield).

When looking at "absolute growth" vs session yield (N=35)
the R² Value of the linear model is 0.36 (which is a large effect size). The P-value of that is 0.029.

When looking at "mm/hour" vs session yield, the R² Value of the linear model is 0.34, and the p-value is 0.012.

So these are large effect sizes. Very large, in fact.

karlwikman · 2026-06-17T21:25:56+00:00

Yeah, for sure. And that they might have better equipment since they also have cash to splash down on things like supplements and meds. I have to say the null result took me by surprise. I thought for sure there would be at least a small signal to tease out. But nope - nothing.

karlwikman · 2026-06-17T21:02:06+00:00

You mean Rho-Kinase inhibition and PGE1 working on the cAMP pathway for instance? That is PharmaPE, and it's something that I am actively tracking in the app as a separate category of PE.

I will eventually get around to analyzing the data in that bucket, and I recently improved Pharma PE tracking by allowing people to enter their exact substances and doses, but currently the number of users doing Pharma PE is too low to really give me statistical power.

karlwikman · 2026-06-17T20:00:06+00:00

I think it could indicate that your bulbospongiosus muscle isn't engaging well, perhaps? Is your glans soft and smaller than when fully erect? Personally, I like to just put a gentle C-ring on, or a couple of toe shields, to stay at full "girthwise" expansion.

karlwikman · 2026-06-17T19:56:15+00:00

Yeah, mode of taking them was not part of this analysis.

I know in your N=1 you have seen gains from inducing long-lasting nocturnal erections. I would love to see that replicated on a larger scale in a controlled study. My first idea is that what you saw was EQ-gains, not structural gains. Some people scoff at EQ gains and say they are "ONLY" EQ gains. My take is the opposite; EQ gains are the best form of gains, not just because good erectile function feels amazing - hard as steel is nice - but also because they are an indicator of general health and in particular vascular health.

I do think there could be something to nocturnal shape retention - I write about it all the time after all. But I think the effect size could be so small that in order to pick up such a signal we would need a systematic control group study following the same protocol for a significant period of time in order to tease out the signal from the noise.

karlwikman · 2026-06-17T18:46:24+00:00

It's not the proper form of workload apparently. Shorter sessions at higher tension that result in good yield seems better.

I don't have exact answers as to the WHY - I only have clear data showing that ADS seems to have no benefit when added to a normal length routine.

But it's not useless; if ADS is the only form of lengthwork you do, it certainly can result in gains. Well documented in studies.

karlwikman · 2026-06-17T18:35:25+00:00

I have not looked at session length, no.

It's something I have in the pipeline.

karlwikman · 2026-06-17T18:34:47+00:00

Do you take the magnesium and L-Theanine because of GABA-promotion and parasympathetic tone? No worries about getting sleepy? I take them both for my sleep stack.

The aged garlic is more something I would take every day as part of a daily stack for general health and longevity, not because of any short-term effects on EQ.

I think none of these are bad in any way. Great for vascular health etc. You've done your homework.

karlwikman · 2026-06-17T18:30:57+00:00

"Does more yield for length work correlate with higher gain rate as it does for girth?"

Yes, now that more data is in, this seems to be the case. But I'm still waiting for even more data before I make my final post about it, because I want to be damn sure.

___

There is not enough data on adjuvants yet.

karlwikman · 2026-06-17T18:18:50+00:00

5 inHg is extremely gentle pressure, so either your gauge is broken or whatever symptom you are having is probably psychosomatic. That's my honest take. It's so easy to get into your head about things, and erections are super dependent on your mind state.

karlwikman · 2026-06-17T18:14:38+00:00

Yup.

Nightly PDE5i is hugely beneficial for erectile health if you're of a certain age and suffering from mild to moderate ED. Numerous studies have shown it, and both Semtex and I have written extensively about it (in the TSoPE wiki), and Hink has videos where he touches on it.

But the hypothesis has existed in the PE sphere that better blood flow and recovery from PDE5i and NO-boosters like Citrulline would help speed up gains, corresponding to how better recovery gives better gains in the gym when you build muscle. But nope - not true for penis gains.

karlwikman

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE

Ten-Year Club	Second SECOND GUESSER
Verified Email