Michael Phillips and Matt Barr, the owners of the world’s smallest and world’s largest penises, respectively, may have very different issues, but there are similarities in the challenges they face
While size absolutely shouldn’t matter, two men with vastly different experiences have shed light on how their unusual members significantly impact their lives.
For Michael Phillips, having the ‘World’s smallest penis’, which measures just 0.38 inches, has caused no end of woes, from dating anxieties to simply using the bathroom. The 38-year-old, who now hopes to get himself into the Guinness World Records for his miniature size, was diagnosed with having a micropenis last year, a condition which affects just 0.6 per cent of men worldwide.
On the other side of the spectrum, Matt Barr, the owner of the world’s biggest penis, has previously opened up about the perils of possessing a 14.5-inch (37cm) member, which has previously resulted in an agonising injury. For reference, the average penis size in the UK ranges from 3.5 to 5.8 inches, putting both men way outside of what is considered ordinary.
Here, the Mirror takes a look at the cursed lives of Michael and Matt, who may have far more in common than strangers might assume…
READ MORE: Man with world’s smallest penis shares brutal reality of sex and problems using the toilet
Dating woes
Sadly, dating has been a minefield for Michael, who was met with howls of laughter when he first showed his penis to a woman, and his unfortunate experiences between the sheets ultimately prompted the North Carolina resident to seek medical attention.
Speaking with The Sun, in 2024, Michael shared: “I went to the doctor about four or five months ago with concerns over my penis size. I was informed there is a condition called a micropenis. I was referred to a urologist. I was always aware it had been small, but wasn’t aware there was a condition for it.
“The main reason I went to the doctor was because my penis is actually too small to have sex at all. I have had a couple experiences of having sex and wasn’t able to get it in and everything. From there, I just stopped trying to date and lost interest in it.”
For Matt, finding that special someone also hasn’t been easy. The London-based AI specialist once opened up to This Morning hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard about how tricky it can be to broach the topic with a new partner. He explained: “It’s difficult, because it’s not something you really spring on people as a surprise, because it just does scare people away generally. But obviously [you don’t want to be] creepy and bring it up too early. How do you start that conversation?”
And once in the bedroom, Matt faces yet more hurdles with many women assuming intercourse would be “impossible” once they get a glimpse. Speaking previously with What’s The Jam, Matt revealed, “Lots of women get very scared when they see the size of it. They assume it’s going to be impossible to make things work or be too painful to enjoy. In reality, it may be challenging, but it’s also very rewarding.
“I also think communication is the most important thing in all relationships. Some of the private photo requests I get are very flattering. But I’m still struggling with the self-esteem aspect as a chubby 40-something. There’s always pressure to live up to a certain expectation.”
However, there are a few health and safety concerns to consider before Matt gets intimate, and he’s previously left a partner concussed after things got steamy. Matt, whose girth measures an eyewatering 8.5 inches, divulged, “We both laugh about it now, but I took it out at one point with a girl and then ended up giving her a concussion, just by swinging it. At the time, it was very horrific.”
Surgical considerations
While surgical intervention is possible, Michael was warned surgeons would likely only be able to add an inch and a half at best, in a procedure that would involve either liposuction or ligaments being cut He reflected: “I’m thinking about it, but if that’s all that I would be able to gain then I would still be within the spectrum of a micropenis, so I’m not sure if it would be worth it. I’m still processing it all and have appointments to decide what my next move is.”
Matt has also looked into medical intervention, but again, treatment would be far from simple. The pricey surgery would set Matt back approximately £15,000, and, as explained in a Channel 4 documentary, his penis would need to be erect throughout the procedure, allowing surgeons to cut away whatever was deemed necessary. Back in 2024, Matt also told Metro that a reduction may also leave him with “poor erectile health”, plus scarring.
Public perceptions
Both Matt and Michael have sadly had to put up with feeling ashamed of their own bodies, with both men taking measures to address such stigmas. As a younger man, Michael felt unable to tell anyone about his difficulties, which he kept secret from loved ones throughout his teenage years and twenties.
Michael told This Morning viewers: “I kept it to myself, when I was in my teens and twenties, I was always single, even though I had friends. They wondered why I wasn’t dating, and I didn’t want to go through that. I kept it secret; I didn’t get picked on because nobody knew. ” Nowadays, Michael no longer views his predicament as a “secret” and is keen to raise awareness to help others dealing with similar situations.
Wanting to improve public understanding in a world where micropenises are discussed as a “joke” rather than a “real medical condition”, Michael explained, “There really isn’t very much representation for small sizes in media and almost zero mention of micro penis being portrayed as being a real medical condition and not a slang joke term,” he said.
For Matt, who was once asked to leave a yoga class after the instructor wrongly believed him to be aroused, even simply being out and about in public can be a challenge, with onlookers regularly getting the wrong end of the stick.
Remembering one mortifying holiday disaster, Matt said, “I had an incident not too long ago where I was wearing what I thought were relatively baggy shorts. They ended up showing far too much once they got wet. Another time, I was at a vacation resort, wearing dark board shorts with compression shorts underneath, that I thought covered up everything. After I’d swum, it clung to the outline too much, so one of the managers asked me to leave.
“It’s meant I won’t go on a standard package holiday or in an all-inclusive resort hotel pool, but it’s helped me to look further afield and find quieter locations. It’s not really such a big deal, though. Just another thing I’m unable to do.”
Bathroom struggles
While intimacy may be the first thing that springs to mind with these sorts of issues, everyday tasks such as simply using the toilet can be a problem for men like Michael, who isn’t able to stand and urinate at a urinal. According to Michael, “You have to see it every time you go to the bathroom. With this condition, going to the bathroom is even more challenging. I can’t stand to pee, I have to sit down. It makes it difficult when you’re out in public. I had tickets to an NFL game, but you go to a restroom, and it is just urinals lined up that I can’t use.”
Elaborating on this struggle during his This Morning appearance, Michael said: “I can’t go out and have a one-night stand, but it also affects my ability to use a restroom, my confidence. Even sitting down can be tricky with the cleanup and everything. I’ve tried everything possible.”
For Matt, even something as ordinary as taking a shower can be hazardous, and last year, he ended up with a broken arm after his mammoth phallus blocked his view, preventing him from spotting excess shower gel in his bathtub. This unfortunately led to him tumbling out of the tub headfirst, cracking his shoulder on the hard floor.
Matt previously recalled: “It was a very embarrassing accident. One of the issues with being so large, especially in hot water showers, is that it’s not exactly easy to see my feet. Especially when I move too fast, it can definitely mess with my balance, too. As I was rushing to get ready for work, I didn’t see the excess shower gel in the tub because my penis was the only thing in my eye line.
“I slipped on it, causing me to fall out of the tub completely headfirst and crack my shoulder on the hard floor. I got two fractures as a result.”
Do you have a story to share? Email me at julia.banim@reachplc.com
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