The study analyzed data collected more than 60 years ago by the Kinsey Institute for Sex Research, and concluded that, on average, the penises of gay men are one-third of an inch longer and one-tenth of an inch wider when erect than those of straight men.

Some gay men have seized on early reports of the study, gleefully emailing friends with the news, but Dr. Tony Bogaert, lead researcher of the study, cautioned against making generalizations.

The data used came from surveys of 5,122 men studied by the Kinsey Institute between 1938 and 1963. Researchers labeled as "homosexual" those men who reported "extensive" same-sex sexual activity, and "heterosexual" those who reported "none" or "rare" same-sex contact. The racial makeup was similar for both groups.

"Based on the data, it seems that there may be a small difference in the average size, but there is a significant amount of overlap," Bogaert told the Blade.

Because each participant in the Kinsey studies measured and reported his own penis size, Bogaert suggested that gay men might have tended to exaggerate their size "in order to conform to an ideal standard of sexual attractiveness."

But Bogaert believes that the survey results are reliable. Not only did the Kinsey researchers emphasize the need for accuracy, but the findings replicate those of a smaller, 1961 study in which a physician conducted the penile measurements, Bogaert says.

So what? The article concludes that the survey results add weight to the belief that prenatal hormonal conditions, which influence genital size, may also be a factor in determining sexual orientation. Bogaert says that further surveys would also be useful in eliminating the possibility of self-reporting bias, but he does not plan to continue work himself.

When HIV first attacked our community, researchers polled gay men to determine what behaviors placed us at risk for infection. At the time virtually all gay men were having unprotected anal as well as oral sex. Although unprotected anal sex clearly placed us at greatest risk for HIV, it became impossible to determine how much of a risk oral sex alone posed. A search of the medical literature yields conflicting results. There are reports that identify men who claim they contracted HIV after unprotected oral sex, but the numbers are small—and in some instances the reports are suspect. (Yes, men may lie to their doctors.) Other studies followed hundreds to thousands of gay men but don’t make the answer any clearer—with some not showing any increased risk of HIV from oral sex, while others document a small but definite risk.

So where does this leave you? Most physicians believe that while anal sex is the highest-risk sexual act gay men perform, oral sex also poses some risk for HIV infection. Clearly, a condom is protective, but as you point out, many men find that it detracts from the experience. Know that each time you have oral sex, you are at risk for HIV as well as many other STDs. If you don’t insist that he wears a condom, then know that you are placing yourself at a small but definite risk.

And one more thing: Your risk for catching HIV is directly related to the number of different sexual partners you have. More partners, more risk—whether you have anal or oral sex.