Skin-to-skin contact is essential for newborns. It helps them familiarize themselves with their parents, strengthens their immune systems, and in general, helps parents bond with their babies. For a long time, that kind of contact was only done with the mother, but doctors have been adamant about fathers participating as well.
Unfortunately, a 10-month-old baby girl from Sweden has now grown a fully formed “micropenis” and what looks like a scrotum due to lying on her father’s chest … sort of. The devastated dad realized he had been using a testosterone gel product, something typically prescribed to men struggling with low energy and sex drive, that negatively affected his baby.
Beginning at about age 40, men’s testosterone levels begin to drop about 1 to 2% yearly, and it can impact muscle mass, cause hair loss, and increase the risk of “brittle bones,” and men may end up on hormone replacement therapy.
Doctors quickly determined that exposure to the hormone caused this infant to have the bizarre “side effect.”
Experts say men who use the ointment should allow it to air dry and then cover the area with clothing to prevent others from coming in direct contact with it. However, the dad unknowingly exposed her to the hormone with their skin-to-skin contact bonding.
Swedish medics stated that calling the growth a “micro-penis” is slightly unfair, considering it is more of an enlargement of her clitoris.
Professor Jovanna Dahlgren, a pediatric endocrinologist who works at the Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, Sweden, is warning parents to be conscientious of what they expose their kids to via skin-to-skin but is NOT actively discouraging parents from skin-to-skin in general.
“I don’t think people always understand how potent these treatments are,” Dahlgren toldThe Daily Mail. “The parents become completely desperate when they understand what has happened.”
Unfortunately, this case isn’t an isolated occurrence. According to Dahlgren, a “half a dozen” of these cases have cropped up in Sweden alone.
Boys are also susceptible to similar fate if their mothers use estrogen cream or testosterone cream, The Daily Mail reported. In fact, a 10-year-old boy grew breasts after being exposed to it.
*Disclaimer: The advice on CafeMom.com is not a substitute for consultation with a medical professional or treatment for a specific condition. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem without consulting a qualified professional. Please contact your health-care provider with questions and concerns.
