I have seen other guys in the shower after sports, and it is obvious to me that I am smaller than them. They have not said anything to me, but these days I am so embarrassed that I dangle my towel in front of me - so that the guys will not see how tiny I am.

I need hardly say that I am a virgin, doc. So far, I have not dared to kiss a girl, in case she discovers that my penis is so small.

I cannot see how any woman will ever want me, because from what I know about sex, I feel sure that I could not satisfy a girl. This is real depressing, doc.

Recently I borrowed my mother's tape measure and tried to find out exactly how I size up. My results were these:

This is clearly not good enough, doc. So is there some medicine that could help me grow bigger? Or would those Viagra pills be useful - if I could get hold of them? I am so depressed that I am not sleeping at nights.

A: Anybody who is as depressed as this must see a doctor. If you are very embarrassed, you don't have to tell the doc precisely why you are fretting - but I hope you will mention your fears about your penis to him/her.

The doctor will almost certainly put you on a short course of anti-depressant tablets - which I hope will improve your mood and help you to sleep better at nights.

Now, let me turn to the question of the size of your organ. You have fallen into a 'trap' which affects so many teenage boys. You have looked around at other guys in the showers and have concluded that they are all much bigger than you.

But as any doc will tell you, when you compare yourself with other males in a locker-room, it is real easy to become the victim of an 'optical illusion'. That is because of the fact that when you look down at your own penis, it seem like it is shorter than it really is. However, when you glance at the other guys, you are not looking directly downwards. Therefore, they tend to seem longer than you.

Next, let me give you a few statistics:

Therefore, you can see that at six inches you are not abnormally short. You are actually within the normal range. You may find that real difficult to believe. However, if you can overcome your embarrassment and get yourself checked out by a doc, he will tell you the same thing.

Incidentally, he will not give you Viagra, as that would be no help at all. Finally, let me tell you that it is true what they say: that 'size isn't everything!'

Admittedly, quite a few women do prefer a large penis. But - and this is less well known - there are many ladies who are real scared of being penetrated by a larger organ, and would much prefer a more modest-sized one.

I can have sex with her, and satisfy her. In fact, I can satisfy her a lot - because I can go on and on for hours! She says she has never known a guy who can 'last' so long. One night, I had intercourse with her continuously from 6 p.m. till midnight.

So what is my problem? Well doc, I just can't discharge inside her. I know that sounds crazy, but I have always been like this. From I was a teenager, I found that I could give girls a great time and have sex with them for hours - but not discharge inside the vagina.

I can discharge elsewhere - for instance, by masturbating on my own. And occasionally, I have discharged in a girl's hand. But I can't do it 'inside.'

Doc, what is wrong with me?

A: Well, you have quite a common condition called 'Delayed Ejaculation' or 'DE.' Guys who have it usually give exactly the same story as yourself: they are virile and potent and can get a real good erection. But they cannot discharge inside a woman.

In a few cases, the problem is due to some drug the guy has been taking. But in most cases the cause is not clear. Probably it is something to do with the brain refusing to 'give up control'.

If you look up 'Delayed Ejaculation' or 'Retarded Ejaculation' on the Internet, you can learn a lot more about this disorder. But as a rule, the best treatment is obtained from a psychologist. He can kind of 'train' you to gradually learn how you can discharge nearer and nearer to your wife - and then eventually inside her. Good luck.

A: If you have not had any other sexual activity, then it seems very likely that you have caught it from that young man. People can 'carry' it in their mouths and noses - and this guy was probably a carrier. However, you will be OK if you have been given the right antibiotic treatment. Can I suggest that you contact the young man and tell him to get some treatment too?

A : Well, I fear that this guy may have caught 'crabs', which are pubic lice, in Miami. And it sounds like he has given them to you. Both of you must see a doc. If it is 'crabs,' then the doc can prescribe a special lotion that will cure you both. No sex till you are cured, please!

A: It is usually best not to resume till around eight weeks after the birth of the child.

Q: Would going on a fruit diet help me to lose weight, doc?

A : It would be real dangerous to go on a 'totally fruit' diet for more than a couple of days. But simply making fruit a bigger part of your diet would help you lose weight.

A: No! To get a tattoo taken away, you really need to take a delicate skin operation. This procedure is difficult - and real expensive.

A: Yes! It could well be that the lady has had a heart attack (a 'coronary'). Get her to a doc immediately.

A: Unfortunately, there is no simple way of curing bad-smelling wind. However, ask your local pharmacy if they have anything containing charcoal - which can absorb certain gases. You should also try to avoid eating too much food that contains fibre.