| A surgical procedure being pioneered
by University College London (UCL) urologists is enabling
men born with a very small penis to acquire an average-sized,
functioning penis which not only allows them to urinate normally,
but for many, to enjoy a full sex life for the first time.
In a talk to be given on Wednesday 8 December at the European
Society for Sexual Medicine conference in London , Dr David
Ralph will present the results from recent operations performed
at UCL to correct the condition known as micropenis, which
is though to affect 0.6 per cent of the population. |  |
| Whereas the average size of
the human penis is around 12.5 cm or 5 inches, a
micropenis spans less than 7 cm or just over two
inches.
A micropenis can develop from inadequate testosterone
in the 2nd and 3rd trimester of fetal growth, although there
may be other causes such as genetic make-up or androgen insensitivity,
where the fetus begins as a male but is insensitive to the
male hormone testosterone during growth. A number of treatments
are available or alternatively gender reassignment may be
considered.
Phalloplasty or penile enlargement involves
cutting a flap of skin from the patient's forearm and shaping
it into a penis four or five inches long. To maintain erogenous
sensation, the original penis is incorporated into the surface
of the transplanted skin. Patients receive a urethra to enable
them to urinate, and an inflatable penile prosthesis to allow
an erection to engage in sexual intercourse.
UCL surgeons performed the operation on nine men aged 19 to
43 with a range of medical backgrounds, including three hermaphrodites
and two men who had problems with androgen (the group of hormones
which includes testosterone), one of whom became deficient
in androgen after chemotherapy. |
