“Is my penis too small?” That’s a question that people aren’t likely to ask their friends or sex partners.
But behind the closed doors of a doctor’s examining room, it’s a common question.
It’s quite common to worry about your penis size. Doctors refer to this as “small penis syndrome.” But in some cases, someone may be born with an abnormally small penis, or “micropenis.”
What Is a Micropenis?
A micropenis is a medical term to describe a penis that’s much smaller than average. It may be caused by hormonal or genetic factors. Micropenises are very rare. Studies show that globally, only 0.6% of people have the condition.
Your doctor will usually diagnose you with the condition if your penis has a stretched penile length (SPL) of 2.67 inches or under. An average SPL for adults is 5.25 inches.
Micropenis vs. average penis size
| Age | Maximum SPL of Micropenis | Average SPL of Penis |
| Infant | 0.75 inches | 1.4 inches |
| Adult | 2.67 inches | 5.25 inches |
What Are the Symptoms and Causes of Micropenis?
An early sign of micropenis is a penis that’s less than 0.75 inches in length at birth. The average SPL for a newborn is 1.4 inches.
At birth, you might have other complications alongside this disorder. This may be because of the hormonal issues related to micropenis. The specific symptoms will depend on the cause of the micropenis.
A micropenis usually happens because of a lack of fetal testosterone. This could be caused by many conditions, including one called hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. This disorder happens when your brain’s hypothalamus doesn’t make enough hormones to stimulate your testicles. Without these hormones, your testicles won’t create enough testosterone for regular penis growth and function.
In other cases, you could be born with a micropenis because of a genetic syndrome. Some cases may have no obvious reason at all.
How Do Doctors Diagnose and Treat Micropenis?
Your doctor usually diagnoses micropenis through a physical exam. You may be diagnosed when you’re an infant or a young child. Your doctor will measure the length of your penis and compare it with what's normal for your age.
There isn’t a cure for micropenis. But if your doctor finds that your child has a micropenis, they can give them hormone therapy to help the penis grow. The chances of the treatment being successful are greater if your doctor finds the condition when you’re an infant.
Your treatment will depend on the cause of your micropenis. Treatment options include:
Testosterone. This is what doctors use first to treat micropenis. They’ll give your child a brief course of testosterone to see if the penis responds to the hormone. Your child’s doctor will either inject the testosterone or apply it as a gel or ointment.
If testosterone doesn’t help, your doctor might try other hormonal treatments.
Surgery. Doctors consider this only if other options don’t work. Phalloplasty, or surgical reconstruction, of a micropenis can be risky for young children, but it is a lot more common for young adults and adults.
If your child’s micropenis is a result of a hormonal issue, their outlook is good. They’ll usually respond well to testosterone therapy. With treatment, they’ll notice penis growth. But it may still be slightly below average in size.
Your outlook may not be as great if your micropenis happened due to other, nonhormonal disorders.
What Is an Inconspicuous Penis?
An inconspicuous penis is one that's hard to see. Micropenis is the rarest of the conditions under the umbrella term “inconspicuous penis.”
Other forms of inconspicuous penis that may stay untreated until adulthood are webbed penis and buried penis.
Webbed penis. This is when your scrotum is connected to the underside of your penis. When this happens, it pulls your penis inward.
Buried penis. It happens when your penis is hidden below your skin. This can happen if too much belly fat droops down to cover the penis. It can also happen when the connection to your scrotum is gone and your penis goes inward toward your pelvis. In some cases, a large foreskin can also make your penis look buried.
Doctors can treat a webbed penis through surgery. A buried penis may require weight loss and liposuction. Some surgeries can also correct the problem.
What Is Small Penis Syndrome?
Penis size is a key element in your self-image. Although they may say otherwise in conversation, the average person greatly underestimates the relative size of their penis. You may have small penis syndrome if you worry a lot about your size, even if you have an average-sized penis.
Body dysmorphia disorder happens when you worry so much about your body image that it interrupts your daily life. If you have body dysmorphia or small penis syndrome, you may need professional psychological help. But most people only need reassurance that they are, in fact, normal.
Many people worry about the size of their erections, and even more worry about how their penis looks when it’s limp, studies find.
One reason may be that people don’t know what a normal-sized penis looks like. When asked to guess, most people are wrong.
Another reason is pornography. If you read or watch a lot of porn, you may have a distorted picture of normal anatomy.
How to Measure a Penis
You may be surprised to learn that penis length isn’t measured on the erect penis. Too many variables are involved.
Instead, the most reliable penis measurement is through SPL. The longer the person’s SPL, the longer their erect penis length.
To learn your SPL, measure your penis while it’s flaccid, or limp. Press the ruler tightly against the pubic bone at the base of the penis. Don’t just measure from where the penis separates from the scrotum. Now gently, but very firmly, stretch the penis as far as it will go. Measure from the pubic bone to the tip of the stretched penis.
When Should You Consult a Pediatrician or Urologist?
If your infant’s penis measures 0.75 inches or less, you should talk to your pediatrician. They may do a physical exam and order blood tests to see if it could be related to a hormone disorder. Your doctor may refer you to a pediatric urologist or a pediatric endocrinologist, depending on the results of their exam.
The specialist will go over treatment options with you, which might include hormone medication or surgery, depending on the underlying cause.
Takeaways
A micropenis is a rare condition where a penis is smaller than average. This is usually diagnosed in infants or young children and is usually caused by hormone or genetic factors. Treatment may include hormone therapy or surgery.
Micropenis FAQs
What is the best hormone for penile growth?
In young children with micropenis, testosterone and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) may be used. If your child has a growth hormone deficiency, human growth hormone (hGH) may help alone. Once you’ve reached puberty and the growth plates have closed, hormone therapy cannot help with penis growth.
Does a micropenis affect an individual’s ability to urinate normally?
Although a micropenis doesn’t affect your ability to urinate physiologically, it can make it more difficult to direct your stream when standing up.
Does a micropenis impact fertility or the ability to have children?
Yes, for some people, a micropenis can affect sperm count. A low sperm count can lead to fertility issues.
Can an adult with a micropenis use testosterone therapy to increase their size?
No, once you’ve passed puberty, hormone treatments cannot affect your penis size. However, there are surgical options if you are a candidate. Talk to your doctor.
