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GuideWisdom™

This WisdomCard managed by: Tara Salamone

Absent penis, also referred to as penile agenesis or aphallia, is when a baby who is genetically male is born without a penis. The main options in response to a case of absent penis are either surgery to add a penis or the rearing of the child as a female.

Fast Facts:

• --Absent penis is very rare, occurring in fewer than 1 in 20 million boys.
• --In absent penis, the scrotum and testicles usually form normally.
• --Treating an absent penis will involve a group of doctors including a geneticist, endocrinologist, urologist, pediatrician and mental health experts.

5 Great Resources on Absent Penis

• eMedicine: Genital Anomalies
• DrGreene: Inconspicuous Penis
• The Magic Foundation: Newborns with Non-Typical Genital Appearance
• Mayo Clinic: Ambiguous genitalia
• A.D.A.M. (via New York Times Health): Overview of Ambiguous Genitalia

What is Absent Penis?

• Wikipedia: Aphallia
• Intersex Society of North America: Aphallia Definition
• DrGreene: What is Meant by the Term, “Inconspicuous Penis”?
• Wrong Diagnosis: Introduction: Penis Agenesis

What Are The Symptoms of Absent Penis?

• Mayo Clinic: Signs and Symptoms of Ambiguous Genitalia
• A.D.A.M. (via New York Times Health): Call Your Health Care Provider if | What to Expect at Your Health Care Provider's Office

What Are The Causes and Complications of Absent Penis?

• DSD Guidelines: How Does DSD Happen?
• Wikipedia: Causes of Aphallia
• Mayo Clinic: Causes of Ambigious Genitalia | Risk Factors
• A.D.A.M. (via New York Times Health): Common Causes of Ambiguous Genitalia

What Are The Treatments and Medications for Absent Penis?

• Wikipedia: Gender of Rearing | Assignment in Intersex Conditions
• Mayo Clinic: Treatment of Ambigious Genitalia | Coping Skills
• A.D.A.M. (via New York Times Health): Home Care for Ambiguous Genitalia
• Wrong Diagnosis: May Be Corrected by Surgery

What Are The Types, Stages and Survival Rates of Absent Penis?

• Wikipedia: Prognosis and Treatment
• The New England Journal of Medicine: Discordant Sexual Identity in Some Genetic Males with Cloacal Exstrophy Assigned to Female Sex at Birth
• Mayo Clinic: Outlook for Ambiguous Genitalia
• Aetna InteliHealth: Male Infertility
• A.D.A.M. (via MedlinePlus): Anorchia Definition
• Group Health: Absent or malformed testicles

Wisdom, Personal Experiences and Blogs about Absent Penis

• New York Times Health : Exploring What Makes Us Male or Female | When Medicine Goes Too Far in the Pursuit of Normality
• University of California at Davis: Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Center
• Breath Easy: Seventh Blog
• The Social Scene: Nature or Nurture?
• Intersex Awareness: The Great Debate
• Not a Sheep: Gender

Foundations and Support Groups on Absent Penis

• Society of North America: Intersex Support and Education
• Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome: Support and Education
• The Magic Foundation: The Support and Education

Message Boards, Chat and Discussions about Absent Penis

• Yahoo Groups: Intersex | Transgender News
• Google Groups: Intersex Advocates of Austin
• HealthBoards: Children's Health
• eHealthForum: Newborn Babies | Parenting Community
• WebMD: Newborn - 3 Months | Parenting: 6 - 9 Months

Scientific and Medical Journal Articles on Absent Penis

• Indian Pediatrics: Aphallia
• PubMed Central: Absent Penis Articles | Intersex Articles
• Google Scholar: Absent Penis Articles
• Journal of the Anatomical Society of India: Penile Agenesis: A Case Report

Clinical Trials on Absent Penis

• Clinical Trials: Intersex Trials

Related WisdomCards

• Trapped Penis
• Webbed Penis
• Turner Syndrome
• Anorchia
• Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia
• Undescended Testicle
• Micropenis
• Circumcision

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