Latest news with #micropenis
The Sun
11-07-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Baby girl grows ‘micropenis' from laying on dad's bare chest as doctor make stark warning about parents' medications
A BABY girl grew a 'micropenis' after lying on her dad's chest that was covered in a hormone gel. One expert says the bizarre case should serve as a warning to all parents. 2 Swedish doctors said the newborn was accidentally exposed to dangerously high levels of testosterone during skin-to-skin contact. The unidentified father had applied a hormone gel, often prescribed to men suffering from low energy or sex drive, sometimes referred to as the ' manopause '. Soon after, he placed his daughter on his bare chest, unknowingly transferring the drug to her skin. This triggered dramatic changes to her genitals. Her clitoris grew longer, resembling a small penis, and her labia fused into a shape similar to a scrotum. Local media called it a 'micropenis', but the term is incorrect, as it only applies to underdeveloped male genitalia. The baby's worried parents took her to doctors when she was 10 months old. Blood tests quickly revealed the cause - dangerously high levels of testosterone. Once the dad stopped accidentally exposing her to the hormone gel, her genitals began to shrink back to normal. Professor Jovanna Dahlgren, a specialist in paediatric endocrinology at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, said the case, which happened eight years ago, was one of at least six similar incidents she has seen. Bizarre medical case reports Speaking to Swedish newspaper Göteborgs-Posten, she urged parents to be more aware of the risks hormone treatments can pose to children. "I don't think people always understand how potent these treatments are," she said, according to MailOnline, which has seen the piece. "The parents become completely desperate when they understand what has happened." She said in another case, a 10-year-old boy developed breasts after being exposed to oestrogen cream his mother was using. New popular treatment The warning comes as testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) surges in popularity in the UK, with a growing number of private firms marketing the hormone to men. Happy Mondays star Shaun Ryder has previously said TRT 'changed my life'. 2 The 61-year-old, who once admitted to 'trying every drug around', now uses testosterone gel to boost libido and energy. Testosterone, which is prescribed on the NHS, is usually reserved for men whose plunging levels aren't lifestyle-related, suggesting they have late-onset hypogonadism. The rare condition causes delayed puberty and small testes, according to the NHS. Studies estimate that just two to six per cent of men suffer from late-onset hypogonadism. Dr Channa Jayasena, an endocrinologist at Imperial College London, previously told Sun Health that the NHS is seeing more men who have either started testosterone illegally or have been put on it by private clinics. "Most of these men should never have been on testosterone in the first place," he said. Taking testosterone unnecessarily can increase the risk of blood clots, high blood pressure, and cholesterol, he added. For these men, using testosterone is like "putting a plaster over a cut," Dr Jayasena said. "It'll mask the symptoms, but in reality, you're still unwell." How to safely use testosterone gel Testosterone gel is sometimes used by men with low sex drive or energy - but if misused, it can put others at risk, especially children. This is because the hormone can rub off on other people if the gel isn't applied properly. This can lead to serious side effects in kids, including genital changes, early puberty, increased body hair or aggressive behaviour. To stay safe, users are told to apply the gel to clean, dry skin, usually the shoulders, arms or abdomen, and always wash their hands straight after. The area should be covered with clothing once dry to avoid skin-to-skin contact. If someone else touches the gel within a few hours of application, they should wash the area with soap and water immediately. Experts say if a child begins showing unusual changes, parents should seek medical advice and mention any exposure to testosterone. Testosterone should only be used when medically necessary. Using it without proper guidance can lead to high blood pressure, blood clots and other serious health problems. Sources: NHS + Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
Daily Mail
11-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Baby girl suffers bizarre reaction after absorbing testosterone from her father during cuddle-and thousands more could be at risk
A baby girl grew a 'micropenis' after laying on her father's chest in a bizarre case medics say should serve as warning to thousands of new parents. The case—described by Swedish medics—involved a baby girl who lay down on her father's bare chest. This is an important part of newborn care called skin-to-skin contact, and which has several health benefits. However, in this case the father was using a testosterone gel product, an artificial version of the male sex hormone. This is a drug commonly prescribed to help men combat low energy and lagging sex drive as they age, colloquially called the 'manopause'. By laying his daughter on his bare chest the man unwittingly exposed her to abnormally high levels of testosterone. This led to profound changes to her genitalia, with her clitoris growing longer—looking like a small penis—and her labia closing over resembling a male scrotum. While local media described this a 'micropenis' this isn't medically correct as that is a specifically male problem that can develop in the genitalia of both boys and men. The concerned parents of the girl—who was at this point 10-months old—took her to medics who quickly uncovered the source of the problem via blood tests. Thankfully, after the man stopped accidently exposing the girl to his testosterone gel her genitalia shrank down. Professor Jovanna Dahlgren, an expert in paediatric endocrinology at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, said the case, which occurred eight years ago, was part of a half-dozen similar incidents she cited in her warning. Talking to the Swedish newspaper Göteborgs-Posten, Professor Dahlgren said she wanted to raise awareness of the dangers hormone treatments posed to children as more and more parents are taking them. 'I don't think people always understand how potent these treatments are,' she said. 'The parents become completely desperate when they understand what has happened.' She added there had been another case where a 10-year-old boy developed breasts after being exposed to a female sex hormone treatment his mother was taking. The warning comes amid a booming industry of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in the UK with firms a number of private firms marketing the hormone to men. Testosterone therapy was once reserved for a small number of men who suffered from low levels of the sex hormone. However, it now being pitched as a drug which can help men as young as 30 with a variety of minor symptoms, from fatigue to muscle-growth and stronger erections. WHAT IS TESTOSTERONE? Testosterone is the male sex hormone and is mostly made in the testicles, but also in adrenal glands, which are near the kidneys. It causes the voice to deepen, body hair to grow and the genitals to become larger during puberty. As well as affecting sex drive and sperm production, it also plays a role in developing strong bones and muscles, and how the body distributes fat. Women also create small amounts of the hormone in the ovaries and adrenal glands, and it affects their fertility and bones and muscles. Testosterone levels which are too high or too low can cause various problems. Low testosterone in men can cause erection problems, low sex drive, infertility, weakened muscles and bones, body fat gain and hair loss. Too much testosterone, however, can trigger puberty in boys under the age of nine, is linked to aggression, and can increase the risk of prostate problems, including cancer. Male testosterone levels tend to be highest when he is around 20 years old, and decline naturally with age. While it is unknown how many men are taking private prescriptions of testosterone NHS data suggests about 80,000 men are prescribed it on the health service alone. The risk of childhood exposure to testosterone and other hormone medications is known in Britain. In 2023, UK drug safety regulator the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), said it had received a report of a British child experiencing 'increased growth and genital enlargement' after being exposed to the testosterone gel product their parent was using. This led the MHRA to request warnings about the risk and warning adults to wash their hands and avoid direct skin-to-skin contact with children be included on testosterone gels, which has been implemented by drug manufacturers. Similar warnings are issued to women taking testosterone and other hormone-based medications as part of treatment for the menopause to avoid accidently exposure to other adults and children. Testosterone is produced by both men and women. While women produce less, it still plays a crucial role in certain bodily functions. For men, it is vital for muscle and bone growth, as well as triggering the bodily changes connected with puberty–the appearance of body hair, the deepening of the voice and the arrival of a sex drive. Research suggests that, after the age of 40, men's testosterone levels fall about 1 per cent every year. For the majority of men, this will not mean any noticeable changes. However, some men experience an extreme drop, leading to a condition called hypogonadism–also known as the male menopause or the 'manopause'. These men often report depression, loss of sex drive or erectile dysfunction. Other symptoms include poor sleep, brain fog and increased fat around the belly or pectoral muscles, leading to 'manboobs'.
