Micropenis

Of the Micropenis is a male member that is shorter than seven centimeters when erect. It is an underdevelopment of the sexual organ, which can be treated well in early childhood by the administration of male sex hormones.

What is a micropenis?

The main physical symptom of a micropenis is the presence of a very small limb in both boys and men. The ability to erect and ejaculate is basically not impaired in this disorder.
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At a Micropenis, also Microphallus called, there is a particularly small penis. The micropenis is a subgroup of hypogenitalism, the main symptom of which is underdeveloped sexual organs. Not every small penis is a micropenis. In general, a microphallus is present when an adult male's penis is less than seven centimeters long when erect. During development, a disorder of sex development is often difficult to objectively determine.

Doctors usually make do by comparing them with their peers. The penis length is measured from the back of the penis to the tip. While many men feel that their limbs are too small, this is usually not the case. The exact incidence of this disorder is unknown, but it is thought to be less than two percent. When diagnosing a micropenis, the ethnic background of the person concerned must be considered as there are differences.

causes

There are many different causes of a micropenis. Sometimes, as part of the diagnosis, it is not possible to determine the cause; then it is referred to as an idiopathic microphallus. A common form of this developmental disorder of the sexual organs is the so-called hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. This disease means that the hypothalamus or the pituitary gland does not release enough sex hormones.

If the body is androgen resistant, there is a sufficient amount of sex hormones in the body. However, the cells on which the hormones act are partially or completely resistant to their effects. If too little testosterone is produced in the testicles, a micropenis can develop. The most common cause is hypogonadotropic hypogonadism; almost half of all those affected suffer from it. There is also an increased risk of developing a micropenis if male babies experience an androgen deficiency during development in the womb.

Another possible cause is a lack of growth hormones. In these cases, not only the penis but also the body size is affected. In addition to the above-mentioned causes of a microphallus, there are also various genetic diseases that have a micropenis as a symptom. These hereditary diseases include Robinow syndrome and MORM syndrome.

Symptoms, ailments & signs

The main physical symptom of a micropenis is the presence of a very small limb in both boys and men. The ability to erect and ejaculate is basically not impaired in this disorder. Those affected in adolescence often suffer severely from the psychological consequences. They feel shame and isolate themselves from their peers. Problems with self-esteem make it difficult to deal with the opposite sex.

Men with a micropenis can develop mental illnesses such as depression or anxiety disorders. However, a fulfilling sex life is possible for both partners even with a micropenis. Certain adjustments to the position and method are necessary for this. The fertility of a man with a micropenis is not restricted.

Diagnosis & course of disease

The diagnosis of a micropenis is usually made shortly after birth or prenatally. A microphallus can be diagnosed with an ultrasound scan before birth. In most cases, the underdevelopment of the sexual organ is noticeable only after birth. Before diagnosing a micropenis, the treating specialist must consider other possible disorders.

Since various genetic diseases are associated with underdevelopment of the male genital organs, a geneticist is often consulted for diagnosis. Basically, the real micropenis must be distinguished from the pseudo-micropenis. The pseudo-micropenis looks very small at first glance, but on closer examination it turns out to be normal in length. This is the case, among other things, when the limb is under a layer of fat.

In overweight men, a “buried penis” sometimes leads to the incorrect assumption of a microphallus. In rare cases it happens that a greatly enlarged clitoris is mistaken for a micropenis. The examination is carried out by a pediatrician and includes visual inspection and palpatory examination of the penis. Since a hormonal imbalance can be responsible for the disorder, an endocrinologist is often called in to make a diagnosis. The further course depends on the therapy chosen.

Complications

As a rule, there are no particular health restrictions for the patient due to the micropenis. The complaint itself is not a dangerous symptom and therefore does not need to be treated or examined by a doctor. However, most of those affected suffer from psychological complaints and depression due to the micropenis. Not infrequently there are feelings of shame or inferiority complexes.

A reduced self-esteem can also arise and significantly impair the quality of life. Especially with children, the symptoms can lead to teasing or bullying. These can develop anxiety disorders or aggressive behavior. Furthermore, the sexual intercourse of those affected is significantly restricted, so that there are complaints with the partner.

However, a micropenis does not lead to the inability to conceive and has no negative influence on the male's potency or erection. As a rule, a micropenis can be treated relatively well with the help of hormones. There are no further complications. In some cases, however, psychological treatment is also necessary if there are psychological complaints. The micropenis does not affect the patient's life expectancy.

When should you go to the doctor?

In many cases, the diagnosis is made by the pediatrician during pregnancy or shortly after the birth. If parents nevertheless suspect that their infant or toddler has a micropenis, it is advisable to consult the pediatrician or a specialist. If the micropenis is only discovered in childhood or adolescence, it is important to act as quickly as possible. The earlier the diagnosis is made, the greater the chances of success of the treatment. With a micropenis, hormone therapies are usually used.

It is important to start with these at the onset of puberty in childhood. During this phase the chances of a largely complete healing and normal further development are highest. If the men affected have already reached adulthood, it is usually too late for hormonal treatment and they have to undergo extensive surgical interventions. The chances of success of these operations are much lower than that of hormone therapies. Therefore, if you are unsure or if you suspect a micropenis, a doctor should be consulted promptly.

Therapy & Treatment

If the diagnosis is made in good time, hormone therapy is extremely promising and is the treatment of choice in the majority of cases. In this therapy, the child is given male sex hormones such as testosterone. Various studies have shown good results. Affected people who had undergone hormone therapy to treat their micropenis often showed normal development of the sexual organ.

Although the penis was still rather small in adulthood, the length was largely normal. In exceptional cases, treatment is carried out through a gender-correcting surgical procedure. A phalloplasty is performed in which a larger penis is created from the existing tissue. However, there are many risks associated with this measure. Studies have not shown that those affected were happier with their sexual organs after the procedure. For this reason, hormonal therapy should be preferred to surgery whenever possible.

A somewhat unconventional measure is the use of stretching devices that affected men have to use for several hours a day for several months. With this procedure an enlargement of about two centimeters can be achieved. In addition to physical treatment, psychotherapy or behavioral therapy is recommended for older people. The therapy serves to develop a positive body feeling and to strengthen self-confidence.

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Outlook & forecast

Due to the fact that a micropenis is caused by a developmental disorder of the male sexual organ, there is no prospect of spontaneous improvement in any case.The hormonal therapy options also only have a chance of success if they begin before puberty. Otherwise, the development of the genital organ is complete and can no longer be hormonally corrected even afterwards.

Surgical procedures have a very good prognosis for the healing of any scars and injuries. Complications as a result of surgery on a micropenis are rare. However, the subjectively perceived success of the operation depends very much on the person concerned. In the vast majority of cases, however, the surgical procedures can lead to an improvement in self-esteem and greater satisfaction with one's own limb.

The further prognosis with a micropenis also depends very much on the affected man. In some cases, this makes visual and sexual restrictions a lifelong problem that can be countered with therapies, among other things. The reduced self-esteem and the subjective feeling of not being masculine enough can also favor serious psychological problems. Depression and the like occur in this context.

On the other hand are all those men with micropenis who have come to terms with their condition and lead ordinary lives. Important factors here are general satisfaction, a fulfilled partnership and your own resilience.

prevention

A micropenis cannot be prevented with specific measures because it is a complex developmental disorder of the genital organs. In general, it is advisable to consult a specialist when a disorder is suspected. It is best to make a diagnosis immediately after birth. In this way, therapy can be started as early as possible.

Aftercare

In most cases, there are no particular or serious complications with a micropenis, allowing the person to lead an ordinary life despite the disease. Nevertheless, a doctor should be contacted so that the symptoms do not worsen further. The disease itself can usually be treated relatively well, so that the person affected does not have a reduced life expectancy.

With a micropenis, these suffer from a very small penis. This leads to erectile dysfunction and, as a result, very severe dysfunction during sexual intercourse. In many cases, those affected also suffer from depression or other psychological disorders, which can lead to bullying or even teasing, especially among children or adolescents.

As a rule, a micropenis also leads to a reduced self-esteem, which can have a negative effect on the quality of life of the person concerned. Most patients are afraid to tell other people about the disease and feel ashamed of the disease. However, it can be relieved relatively well by surgery.

You can do that yourself

Men with a micropenis cannot make any independent changes to their physical appearance other than medical care or cosmetic surgery. The physical characteristics can only be adjusted by consulting a medical professional. Self-help here lies in building up emotional strength and stability.

The self-confidence and also the self-esteem should be powerful so that a feeling like shame or inferiority does not arise. Conversations with therapists or men who were also born with a micropenis are helpful. In addition, there should be a communicative exchange with the partner, if available. In many cases the size of the penis is an emotional problem only for the person concerned, which can be clarified in a conversation. In the case of sexual activities, there is the possibility of jointly finding techniques of satisfaction in which the size of the penis does not play a central role.

A change in perspective and cognitive patterns are also helpful. The center of life and thus general well-being or life satisfaction should not be dependent on the appearance of a genitalia. As soon as the focus is placed on other areas, skills and talents of the person concerned, in which he experiences fame and recognition, there is a possibility that the micropenis will no longer be perceived as stressful.