What is a micropenis
What to know About Micropenis. A micropenis is typically diagnosed at birth. The condition can be caused by irregular hormone levels during the last three months of pregnancy.
An adult penis is considered abnormally small only if it measures less than three inches (about eight centimeters) when erect.
Treatment might involve hormone therapy or surgery.
Doctors diagnose micropenis when a person’s penis is 2.5 standard deviations below the average stretched length for their age and level of sexual development.
Research has estimated that the average penis size for an adult is 13.24 centimeters (cm)Trusted Source or 5.21 inches when stretched. For adults, doctors consider micropenis for a stretched penile length of less than 9.3 cm or 3.66 inches.
When a person has a micropenis, their internal genitalia and testicles are usually normal.
Micropenis is a rare condition that may affect around 1.5 in 10,000 male newborns, or 0.015 percent of male newborns in the United States, according to estimates taken between 1997 and 2000.
The prevalence statistics of micropenis vary between studies. Micropenis and other birth abnormalities can be related to environmental factors, such as parental exposure to pesticides during pregnancy. As a result, this condition may be more common in specific populations.
Hormonal issues are the most common cause of micropenis. Less commonly, micropenis and other birth abnormalities can occur when the mother experiences exposure to pesticides or other toxic chemicals during pregnancy.
Testosterone deficiencies, during pregnancy, are usually the cause of micropenis and may also cause other genital abnormalities.
A testosterone deficiency can arise when a male fetus does not produce enough testosterone, or when the mother does not produce enough human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) hormone during pregnancy. hCG stimulates testosterone development in the fetus.
When testosterone levels are normal, some medical conditions can stop a person’s body from responding to testosterone correctly. This response is called androgen insensitivity.
When any of these hormonal issues arise, the penis of a male fetus may not develop in the usual way.
A male baby will experience a surge of testosterone around 0–3 months after birth. This is a crucial period for penile growth. If this process is interrupted by hormonal problems, a baby may have a smaller penis.
In rare cases, micropenis is idiopathic, which means that a doctor cannot find a specific cause.
Because hormone issues typically cause micropenis, people with this condition may have other symptoms, too.
Some diagnoses that doctors may associate with micropenis include:
Sometimes what appears to be a micropenis is actually due to another problem. For instance, a baby born with swelling in the scrotum may look like they have a micropenis. The penis may also be less visible because of large surrounding fat pads when it is called buried penis and can occur in people with obesity.
The Penuma is a crescent-shaped piece of medical-grade silicone inserted under your penis skin to make your penis longer and wider. It’s provided in three sizes: large, extra-large, and extra-extra-large.
The tissues that give your penis its shape are composed largely of two types:
Your Penuma device will be designed to fit your specific penis shape. It’s inserted into your shaft over the corpus cavernosa, like a sheath.
This is done through an incision in your groin area just above the base of your penis. The device stretches the penis skin and tissues to make your penis look and feel larger.
According to Dr. remmy’s website, people who have had the Penuma procedure report increases in length and girth (measurement around their penis) of about 1.5 to 2.5 inches, while flaccid and erect.
The average male penis is about 3.6 inches long-trusted Source (3.7 inches in girth) when flaccid, and 5.2 inches long (4.6 inches in girth) when erect.
The Penuma could enlarge the average penis up to a length of 6.1 inches when flaccid, and 7.7 inches when erect.
Here are some key facts about Penuma surgery:
As with any surgery, risks are associated with the use of anesthesia.
Common side effects of anesthesia include:
Anesthesia can also increase your risk of:
The Penuma website reports that you may experience pain with erection, and some loss of penis sensation, during the first few weeks. These are usually temporary.
If these side effects last for more than a few days, see your doctor. In some cases, removing and reinserting the Penuma can alleviate these side effects.
According to an evaluation of men who underwent this type of surgery, possible complications include:
Also, after surgery your penis may look significantly bulkier or not shaped to your liking.
Make sure you discuss realistic expectations for your penis appearance with your surgeon before you have the procedure.
According to the Penuma website, the success rate of this procedure is high. Most side effects or complications are purportedly due to people not following surgical aftercare instructions.
The Journal of Sexual Medicine reported on a surgical study evaluation of 400 men who underwent the Penuma procedure. The study found that 81 percent rated their satisfaction with their results at least “high” or “very high.”
A small number of subjects experienced complications including seroma, scarring, and infection. And, 3 percent needed to have the devices removed due to problems following the procedure.
1: What is micro penis syndrome?
2: How does it affect men?
3: Symptoms of micropenis
4: Emergency contraception (EC)
Takeaway: For most guys – and women – micro penis syndrome occurs from being a bit small. It won’t go away on its own and it can be embarrassing and frightening if you experience it for the first time.
Many people worry about penis size and typically think trusted Sources they are smaller than average even when they are not.
If a person suspects they have micropenis, they may wish to see a doctor, who will be able to take accurate measurements and diagnose the condition. A doctor will usually diagnose micropenis at birth, however.
If doctors suspect micropenis, they will measure the stretched length of the baby’s penis and check for other signs of hormonal abnormalities.
If a newborn’s penis is abnormally small, a doctor may perform tests to assess the cause, including:
Several other conditions can make the penis appear smaller than usual and may be confused with micropenis. Some of these can happen after circumcision.
Alternative diagnoses to micropenis include:
Treatments aim to increase the penis size to ensure a person has a fully functioning penis and that they feel confident.
A doctor may recommend the following treatments for micropenis:
Testosterone treatments can often help the penis to grow. Applying testosterone cream to the genitals during infancy, or giving intramuscular testosterone injections can increase penis size.
Testosterone treatments are more effective before puberty than later on.
Doctors may considerTrusted the Source that a good response to testosterone treatment is a 100 percent increase in the penis length or an adequate response as a 3.5 cm increase in length.
Different hormone treatments may help, depending on the cause of micropenis, so it is important that a person gets an accurate diagnosis.
If hormone treatments do not work, surgery may help. A doctor can put an implant into the penis, which may make it look larger than before. However, this surgery carries a high chance of complications.
Most people with micropenis have normal sexual functioning. Micropenis does not affect a person’s ability to urinate, masturbate, or orgasm. Some people may find it more difficult to urinate standing up.
Anxiety about penis size can be a barrier to enjoying sex with a partner. Men may remain unsatisfied with their appearance even with treatment, though research showsTrusted Source that many men have normal sexual identities and functioning. Even so, people may benefit from counseling or sex therapy.
Sexual intercourse is just one of many ways to enjoy sex with a partner. If a person has difficulties with sexual intercourse, this does not have to be a barrier to sexual pleasure for men and their partners.
According to research from 2018, just 18.4 percent of women can orgasm with vaginal penetration alone Focusing on other sexual techniques, such as oral sex, may help a person feel more confident about sexual interactions, which can be a positive for both sexual partners.
Outlook
Micropenis is a condition where the penis is 2.5 standard deviations shorter than the average stretched penis length for a person’s age.
Testosterone deficiencies during pregnancy can cause micropenis. Less commonly, genetic abnormalities or environmental conditions can cause the condition.
Micropenis is usually diagnosed and treated in infancy. Testosterone treatments in childhood show good outcomes. A person with micropenis may not obtain an average-sized penis, but this does not usually affect sexual functioning and identity.
A wide range of penis sizes is normal. People with smaller-than-average penises can still have healthy, active sex lives. Counseling and sex therapy can help people to overcome anxieties about penis size or sex.
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