The challenge of a micropenis

MANY men boast about packing a good deal in their trousers, but for those not so well endowed, they may not think many options are available to live a satisfying life.

But urologist Dr Gareth Reid told All Woman that there are options from birth to adulthood which parents and adults can explore if they or their child have a small penis.

Dr Reid said that men with small penises may have a condition called microphallus or micropenis if the stretched penile length is below the norm for their age.

“In practical terms, that is approximately less than 2 to 2.5cm in a full-term newborn male, or less than 4cm in an adult male,” he said.

While Dr Reid explained that the condition is not common and occurs in about 1.5 in 10,000 children born, the main cause for the disorder is a low secretion of testosterone when the foetus is developing in the uterus.

“Testosterone is responsible for penile growth and development. Without this hormone the penis will not develop properly and will lead to the condition. Other causes include a problem with the foetus being able to respond to the testosterone produced. Some genetic syndromes are also associated with a microphallus,” he said.

Regarding treatment options, Dr Reid said they should begin in infancy or early childhood with the use of testosterone replacement therapy in the form of a testosterone injection.

“There is good evidence that if testosterone is replaced early, then most children will go on to develop normal-sized genitalia during puberty. But testosterone replacement therapy in adulthood is unlikely to have as beneficial results as during infancy and childhood.”

Another option, according to Dr Reid, is penile augmentation surgery, which can be used to give a relatively normal-looking penis, as well as prosthetic devices, which can be used to stimulate erections for intercourse.

Dr Reid said there is little or no evidence to support the use of penile stretching devices or the use of any penile enlargement exercises or supplements in the treatment of this condition.

“The key thing is to recognise this condition during infancy and let the child be evaluated by a paediatrician or paediatric endocrinologist in order to determine the cause so that it can be treated early,” he said.

The urologist said if this condition is detected in adulthood, the treatment options are mainly surgical and should be performed by a specialist in this area.

— Kimberley Hibbert