The Micro Phallus Syndrome
What Is Micro Phallus?
Penis that is of unusually small is known as micro phallus or micro penis. The size is smaller than average i.e. when the penis of a new born child is stretched, it is smaller than the average 1.9 cm.
It is a rare case that occurs in less than 0.6% of the world’s population.
Causes of Micro Phallus
Abnormalities occur due to the complex process of fetal development.The male and female genitalia cannot be distinguished very early. It is only after the production of hormones that the differences occur and sex organs begin to develop. The clitoris and labia-forming tissues in female change to the penis or scrotum in the male child.
The sex chromosomes i.e. the XX and XY chromosomes and the hormones have a big role to play in the development of genitalia. Some of the causes for the occurrence of micro penis are given below.
- There is a deficiency of testosterone after the from the 13th to 42nd week of fetal development. The deficiency and the resultant micro penis may be due to genetic reasons though no gene has been located as such.
- Another cause is androgen insensitivity, where the fetus displays insensitivity to the male hormone.
- Chromosomal abnormalities like Klinefelter’s syndrome, Down’s syndrome or Turner’s syndrome.
Treatment for Micro Phallus
Parents should get second medical opinion regarding the treatment.
When the new born child is detected with micropenis, the parent, in consultation with a medical team comprising of specialists like radiologists, pediatricians, geneticists, endocrinologists and urologists should discuss the treatment to be given to correct the size of the organ. The team should discuss all the options and the outcome frankly with the parents.
The treatment may include the following procedures.
- If the cause has been determined as hormonal, testosterone stimulation is advised. The results are visible within 3 months.
- Surgery is sometimes recommended along with hormonal treatment. Gender reassignment is something that should be left to the child till he mature enough to decide for himself.
- Another option is gender assignment. This does not involve surgery.
When the cause is due to genetic disorder, then the treatment and outcome can vary from one child to another. At such a time, it is essential for the parents to avail counseling. Parents should take part in a medical program to come to terms with the child’s problem.
Social and Cultural issues
The penis defines a man’s sexuality. All men are obsessed with the size of their penis. This outlook influences treatment to a great degree. Gender realignment and surgery was the chief treatment in such cases. This decision was mostly taken due to social issues. The size of the penis was important and if it could not be altered then the next best choice was to realign the genital to female and the increase in production of female hormones was encouraged.
With research and medical advances in this field, there has slowly been a change in social attitudes. However, all this requires a lot of support for both the child and the parents. With support, most men with micro phallus have come to terms with the small size of their penis and have enjoyed an active sexual life.