Penile size in term newborns in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Abstract

To determine the normative value of stretched penile length (SPL) for Ethiopian newborns and to set a cut-off point for micropenis. A total of 221 term newborns were included in the study. Stretched penile length was measured in the first 72h of postnatal age in neonates with a gestational age of 37-42 completed weeks. SPL < -2 SD was taken as micropenis in this study. The minimum and maximum penile length were 2.5cm and 5cm, respectively, with a mean ± SD of 3.28 ± 0.42. SPL at -2 SD and +2 SD were 2.43 and 4.12 cm respectively. A significant correlation was observed between penile length and body length (p= 0.005). Neonates born via instrumental delivery had larger SPL compared to those who were delivered by caesarean section (p= 0.01) or by vaginal delivery (p= 0.006). The mean stretched penile length in our study mirrors findings from other African studies. SPL < 2.43 cm can be considered as micropenis in our setting. Therefore, routine genital examination and interpretation at birth is crucial to identify micropenis which might herald a serious underlying condition that needs further investigation.