Abstract
BackgroundGenital measurements are a useful adjunct in the early detection of various endocrine conditions including hypopituitarism and disorders of sexual differentiation. Standards for genital sizes have been published but racial/ethnic differences exist. This study was done to establish norms for genital sizes in term Ghanaian male newborns.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study of all apparently well full-term newborns of postnatal age < 48 h and birth weight between 2.5 and 4.0 kg delivered at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital within the study period. Anthropometric and genital parameters were documented for study subjects as well as parental socio-demographic indices.ResultsA total of 644 male newborns were recruited between May and September 2014. The mean penile length (MPL) was 3.3 ± 0.5 cm and the mean penile width (MPW) was 1.05 ± 0.1 cm. An inverse relationship was found between maternal age and MPL (correlation coefficient −0.062, 95% CI −0.121 to −0.002; p = 0.04). MPL was also significantly different (p = 0.04) by mode of delivery, with babies delivered by caesarean section having the lowest MPL. MPL correlated positively with both gestational age (p = 0.04) and birth length (p < 0.001), while MPW correlated proportionally with birth weight and length (p < 0.001 for both).ConclusionsUsing the conventional definition of micropenis as stretched penile length (SPL) < 2.5 standard deviation (SD) below the mean and macropenis as an SPL > 2.5 SD, a Ghanaian term newborn may warrant investigation if he has an MPL < 2.1 cm or > 4.4 cm.
Highlights
Genital measurements are a useful adjunct in the early detection of various endocrine conditions including hypopituitarism and disorders of sexual differentiation
Penile length abnormalities consist of micropenis and macropenis (‘large penis’)
Micropenis has been defined as a stretched penile length (SPL) < 2.5 standard deviation
Summary
Genital measurements are a useful adjunct in the early detection of various endocrine conditions including hypopituitarism and disorders of sexual differentiation. Standards for genital sizes have been published but racial/ethnic differences exist. This study was done to establish norms for genital sizes in term Ghanaian male newborns. Penile size is a reflection of the adequacy of exposure of the male fetus to androgens, right from hypothalamic/pituitary gonadotropins down to testicular androgens. Normative standards of penile sizes are useful for the diagnosis of genital/endocrine abnormalities [1]. Penile length abnormalities consist of micropenis and macropenis (‘large penis’). A micropenis is an abnormally small penis with a normal configuration [2]. Micropenis has been defined as a stretched penile length (SPL) < 2.5 standard deviation (SD) below the mean for age with normal function and structure. An SPL > 2.5 SD is considered as a macropenis [2, 3]
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