Micropenis

Editor-In-Chief: Prab R Tumpati, MD
Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
Founder, WikiMD Wellnesspedia &
W8MD medical weight loss NYC and sleep center NYC

Micropenis
Synonyms
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	N/A
Symptoms	Penis significantly smaller than average
Complications	Infertility, Psychological distress
Onset	Congenital
Duration	Lifelong
Types	N/A
Causes	Hormonal imbalance, Genetic disorders
Risks
Diagnosis	Physical examination, Hormone testing, Genetic testing
Differential diagnosis	Hypospadias, Chordee
Prevention
Treatment	Hormone therapy, Surgery
Medication	Testosterone
Prognosis	Variable, depending on cause and treatment
Frequency	0.6% of male births
Deaths

Micropenis is a medical term used to describe an abnormally small penis. It is a rare condition that affects approximately 0.6% of men worldwide. Micropenis is typically defined as a penis that, when flaccid and stretched, measures more than 2.5 standard deviations below the mean for age, or a penis with an erect length of less than 7 cm (2.76 inches) for an adult male.

Causes

Micropenis can be the result of several factors, including genetic, hormonal, or environmental influences during fetal development. Some of the potential causes include:

• Insufficient production of testosterone or issues with testosterone receptors
• Abnormalities in the genes responsible for penis development
• Exposure to certain medications or environmental factors during pregnancy
• Conditions such as hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, Klinefelter syndrome, or androgen insensitivity syndrome

Diagnosis and Treatment

• Micropenis is usually diagnosed at birth or during childhood through a physical examination and measurement of penile length. A thorough medical history and additional tests may be performed to determine the underlying cause of the condition, such as hormone levels or genetic testing.
• Treatment for micropenis depends on the underlying cause and age of the patient. In some cases, hormone therapy with testosterone or human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) may be effective in promoting penis growth, especially if initiated during infancy or early childhood. In adult men, hormone therapy is less likely to have a significant impact on penile size.
• For some individuals, surgical options such as penile lengthening procedures or penile prostheses may be considered. However, these surgeries come with potential risks and complications, and their effectiveness varies.
• Psychological support and counseling can be beneficial for individuals with micropenis and their partners, as the condition can have a significant impact on self-esteem, body image, and sexual relationships.

See Also

• Penile enlargement surgery
• Testosterone
• Klinefelter syndrome

References

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