Micropenis

The micropenis manifests itself with a very reduced size of the sexual organ and in some cases it can be associated with other anatomical alterations, for example of the testicles or the urethral meatus.

The causes of micropenis can be pathological or environmental. Added to these is the idiopathic micropenis, i.e. the cause of which is unknown.

The pathological causes are decidedly more common and are often of an endocrine nature, i.e. linked to hormonal production. To prevent the physiological development of the penis is always a low or absent production of testosterone. This in turn may depend on testicular pathologies, of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testis axis and on chromosomal pathologies.

Environmental causes are rarer and probably concern exposure during fetal life to toxic substances such as dioxins or pesticides.

Diagnosis A physical examination by a doctor is usually sufficient to diagnose the disease. However, it may be useful to examine the triggers and any complications through specific tests such as, for example: • Spermiogram, useful for evaluating the quantity and motility of sperm • Blood tests with hormone dosage, to quantify the testosterone present.

Treatment Treatment can be: • Pharmacological with administration of hormones. On the size of the penis it is effective only on very young patients who have not yet completed the development phase. In some cases it could be prescribed in adults to stimulate the production of testosterone and consequently of sperm. • Surgical, through the lengthening phalloplasty which consists in cutting the ligament connected to the pubic bone to obtain a few centimeters more length, placing a silicone spacer to prevent the tissues from adhering to each other again.