In Sweden, a baby girl developed genital changes that looked like a ‘micropenis’ after lying on her father’s bare chest. The father was using testosterone gel, which transferred to the baby’s skin and caused her clitoris to enlarge and her labia to fuse.
Doctors confirmed the baby had elevated testosterone levels due to this exposure. Once the hormone contact ended, her genitalia returned to normal. Professor Jovanna Dahlgren warns parents to avoid exposing children to hormone treatments accidentally.
Medical experts clarify that ‘micropenis’ refers specifically to a condition in boys where the penis is unusually small due to hormone issues. It is not an accurate term for hormone-induced changes in female genitalia.
Stanford Medicine explains that micropenis is diagnosed when a newborn boy’s penis is less than 0.75 inches long and may require hormone therapy or surgery depending on the case.
The Swedish case highlights the importance of following safety instructions when using hormone gels and keeping them away from children.
