Health News

World’s First Penile Transplant Works, Man Fathers Child

Penile Transplant Father

A 21-year-old South African man who received the world’s first penile transplant claims that his new penis works and that he’s to become a father, the BBC reported.

The man, whose name has not been released, received the penile transplant after a botched circumcision. The successful nine-hour operation was conducted back in December of 2014 by surgeons at Stellanbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital.

The transplanted organ, which was donated, was attached using the same techniques used to perform the world’s first face transplants.

Dr. Van der Merwe, one of the surgeons who performed the penile transplant surgery, told the BBC that he was “very pleased” to hear that the man’s girlfriend was pregnant.

While there haven’t been any reports of a paternity test, Dr. Merwe told the BBC that there’s no reason to not believe the couple’s pregnancy claim.

Merwe was quoted by the BBC as having said that their intention with the surgery was for the patient to “be able to stand up and be able to urinate and have intercourse,” which is why the event “is a milestone” achievement for the young man. He added that he had expected that the man would be fertile following the operation, as the issue was with his penis and not his testicles.

This is what we intended, that he should be able to stand up and be able to urinate and have intercourse, so it is a milestone for him

The NY Post indicated in a report that such botched circumcisions in Africa leave dozens, possibly hundreds, of boys maimed or killed each year.

Originally, the young man was just 18 years old when he lost his penis in the botched circumcision ceremony which left him with just 1 centimeter of penis. He was sexually active at the time of the incident.

The couple’s baby is expected to be born around October.

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