Many infants are born with different sorts of in-born ailments; one of such congenital conditions is penile torsion. Male infants are often born with a bit twisted penis, which is pretty common among newborn babies. In fact, 1 in among 80 infants is born with this condition.
A few infants have mild symptoms, but a few may have more difficult situations than others. But it really has nothing to do with the sexual or reproductive health of the male child. It can be related to other congenital conditions, but that’s not always the case. Sometimes penis torsion arises along with Hypospadias, and it may be treated, at least to some extent, during hypospadias correction.
Usually, it can be detected at the time of circumcision or any other medical test. It is always wise to consult a doctor if you notice this issue in your child’s penis. Circumcision can reveal the actual issue, but it should be taken care of by a pediatric urologist.
Here in this blog, we will answer all the frequently asked questions related to this congenital dysfunction and clear your unspoken doubts.
Twisted or Rotated Penis: The Cause
It happens when the connective tissue and skin of the penis do not shape right when the baby is taking shape in the mother’s womb. Congenital penile ailments can happen for many reasons, but there is no specific cause behind them. But, excessive female hormone contact can be suspected as one of the many causes. Generally, the penis appeared to be twisted to the left from its axis. It is sometimes called wandering raphe, as the midline raphe of the penis swathes counterclockwise around the axis.
Congenital Penile Twist: Symptoms
If the penis is rotated or twisted less than 90 degrees, it is hard to detect any symptom. The infant may not feel any discomfort, pain, or uneasiness. Usually, parents think that a twisted penis can affect the reproductive potential in the future, but no evidence can second that thought.
How can I measure the degree of torsion?
You can’t. It’s something that only an expert can take care of. The Urologist or pediatrician can tell you the degree of torsion by specific physical tests.
Will my boy feel pain or something?
You will be amazed to know that mild torsion can remain unnoticed for a long time because the infant does not feel any discomfort. Yes, congenital penile dysfunctions like Chordee can cause bleeding, difficulty in urination, spasm, and so on. But Penis torsion does not cause any severe discomfort.
What is the treatment?
It usually does not need treatment, mainly if the rotation or twist is less than 90 degrees. Nevertheless, many parents of male infants with mild torsion may go for treatment for cosmetic reasons.
But if surgery is the only way and highly needed, then surgeons use general anesthetics. 6 months to 18 months age can be considered as the ideal or preferred age for this mild surgery. Only the doctor can suggest you the proper treatment for the condition depending on how severe it is. A plastic surgery called ‘degloving is the most used surgical alternative that doctors usually choose to treat torsion. It generally reduces the appearance of the penile twist by repositioning the penile skin. Doctors do not correct this alone if it’s less than 90 degrees. Typically, doctors repair penile twists at the time of performing circumcision.
Is it same as Chordee?
Many people, especially parents, mistakenly think this torsion is going to cause Chordee. A few even do not understand the difference between the two. To put it simply, Chordee is a different sort of penile issue that can cause bending of the penis. It can be noticed during erection mainly. It can occur if the baby is born with congenital Hypospadias.
If your boy is born with any of these above-mentioned conditions, then surgery is the only way. But do not make your own decision when it comes to your kid’s health. It is better to consult a pediatrician before you come to any conclusion.
Can it affect my Boy’s Future?
If you are asking this from the perspective of sexual well-being, performance, and reproductive health, then there is nothing to worry about. Industry experts have conducted several studies in this regard.
But if the appearance or aesthetics is what is bothering you, then you can definitely talk to your doctor. Yes, after growing up, your boy can feel embarrassed or ashamed, but it entirely depends on how your boy perceives the whole thing. It is just like having a crooked nose or uneven teeth. Degloving only changes the appearance of the penis, and it does not make it right.
Can Adults have this condition?
Well, if this condition remains unnoticed during childhood, then an adult can just find it out. But it’s congenital, so it just can’t occur suddenly in one fine morning. If your penis appeared to be bent, then talk to your doctor. It can be a different penile abnormality.
I have untreated penis torsion; can it affect my erection?
We have already talked about this from a different angle. Dysfunctional erection can be the result of many things like lifestyle, stress, sexual issues, emotional issues, etc. If you have torsion and facing erectile dysfunction, then it is nothing but a coincidence. There is no correlation between these two.
The Final Thought
If your kid is born with penile torsion, talk to the Urologist or Pediatrician before having a few nightmares. Your kid is not cursed or anything. Your baby is as healthy as any other child. It is a prevalent congenital issue that does not need to be worried about. It will never hamper the kid’s future sexual life. But if you are really bothered about the appearance and think that it can affect your boy’s confidence or anything, and then you can opt for surgery. However, only your kid’s doctor can guide you through it. Having a baby is a blessing that you need to cherish. Don’t ruin the moments by worrying about any insignificant thing.