Baby Boy Born Without Penis In Turkey
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A baby boy has been born without a penis, a condition so rare that doctors say it only occurs in one in every 10 to 30 million boys.
The unnamed boy was born in Turkey with the defect known as penile agenesis.
Doctors at Erbakan University Hospital in Konya said the boy's testicles have both descended and he had no other visible problems aside from not having a penis. Medics have said reconstruction penile surgery would be a 'good alternative' for the baby.
According to a report in Science Direct, only 80 cases of penile agenesis have been reported worldwide.
The boy's rare condition was investigated by a specialist team of medics, including surgeons, just one day after he was born.
Their examination found that the youngster has an 'abnormal connection between his bladder and rectum' - also known as a vesicorectal fistula.
The case study notes: "This is the first report of an infant with the combination of penile agenesis, vesicoureteral reflux, and vesicorectal fistula."
Dr Richard Viney, a urologist based at the Bladder Clinic in Birmingham told the Daily Mail: "It's tempting to think of the lack of penis as a failure of genital development and therefore some kind of intersex issue but this is very unlikely to be the case.
"The failure here is of the development of the lower urinary tract and bowel. In the foetus they share a common cavity called the cloaca.
"As the foetus developed the cloaca splits into the bladder and rectum. The rectovesical fistula is simply where the cloaca has failed to split into bladder and rectum fully.
"This can be corrected surgically. The child is male and any surgery to correct the abnormalities should also include creating a meaningful penis."
The 44-year-old underwent the procedure at University College Hospital London and said he was able to use it with his girlfriend six weeks later while on a romantic holiday with his long-term partner.
He told the Sun: "I'm so pleased with it. It's fantastic.
"I had to test out the function every morning and night and leave it erect for 20 minutes. So, one morning, two days before we went away, it just happened. It was nice and natural - and that's how I wanted it to be."
Featured Image Credit: PA
Topics: World News, Health
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