Q. Doc, I am a guy of 18, and I am still a virgin - unlike all of my friends. I am sure that they are laughing at me because of this.

The reason WHY I have not had sex is this. Whenever I go near a girl, I start thinking about the size of my organ. I just know that it is far, far too small. I am certain that any female would reject me if she saw it.

Last Saturday, I met a real nice girl of my own age. We kissed and cuddled a little, but when she indicated that she wanted something more, I just stood up and told her "Good night." I was certain that if she felt my penis or saw it, she would laugh at me and make fun of me.

When I am in the changing room with other guys, I look around at them and I can see that they are all much bigger than I am. So I always hold a towel in front of me, to keep them from seeing that I am so small.

Doc, I measured myself last week. I found that when I am not erect, I measure only three inches from one end to the other. And when I am erect, I am just over SIX inches.

To be honest, doc, I am not too sure where you are supposed to measure from, so maybe you could give me a good advice about that?

I have seen on the Internet that there are many devices that will give a guy a longer organ. They seem to be really expensive, but should I save up my money and buy one?

A. If it is any consolation, your email is similar to many others I receive from young males. Boys and younger men spend a lot of time fretting about the length of their organs, and that is so in nearly every country of the world!

Now ... let me present you with a few medical facts.

First, any doctor will tell you that when a male looks at other guys' organs in a changing room or shower, then glances at his own, he is inevitably on the receiving end of a slight 'optical illusion.' If YOU look up 'penis length' on the Net, you will see that all medical authorities agree on this.

What happens is that you are seeing the other guys 'sideways on' or from in front. So they look quite long. But when you glance down at your OWN organ, you are getting what artists call 'a foreshortened view'. So to you, the penis looks shorter than it really is.

Now let us turn to this matter of MEASUREMENT. Like so many young men, you have got yourself a ruler or a tape measure to try and find out what your dimensions are.

I must tell you that sexologists say that measurements of the flaccid (that is, non-erect) penis are virtually meaningless, because so many factors can dramaticall the length of it: air temperature, exercise, anxiety and so on.

For what it is worth, I can tell you that United States labs have found that the average length of an adult male when non-erect is around 3 3/4 inches. However, few sex experts would bother to make a measure-ment in the flaccid condition, because it is so unreliable.

The next medical fact you should 'take on board' is this. A penis which is small when non-erect will often expand MORE than an average amount when it becomes erect. Therefore, surprisingly enough, most erect penises do not differ all that much from each other in length.

So what length should the erect organ be? Well, once again the Americans have done the research for us, and they have found that in a grown man, the average is between 6.0-6.5 inches.

You say that you are over six inches long, so that puts you definitely in the AVERAGE group. Also, you are only just 18, so it possible that you still have a little more growing to do.

Now, you ask about how to do the measurement. Most sexologists take it from the base of the penis - on the side which is nearer to the belly when the organ is erect. They then measure to the tip of the phallus, just where the urinary opening is.

Finally, you ask me whether you should buy 'penis-enlarging' stuff on the Net. The answer is a resounding "No!" There are many thousands of traders in various countries who are trying to rip off innocent young men like yourself by exploiting their fears of 'having too small a penis.' Have nothing to do with this useless junk.

My last word to you is that - like many young males - you have got yourself convinced that women want a big penis, and would laugh at anything less than that. This is just not true. Admittedly, quite a lot of ladies are attracted by the idea of a sex partner being well endowed.

But many others are actually terrified by the notion of a large penis penetrating them - and fear that it would rip them apart. Bear that in mind next time you are with a girl.

Email editor@gleanerjm.com or fax 922-6223, attention Doctor's Advice.