title: Sexual quality of life after hormonal and surgical treatment, including phalloplasty, in men with micropenis: a review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The term micropenis encompasses a range of congenital and acquired conditions that result in an abnormally short penis. Small penis size may persist into adulthood, becoming a major cause of dissatisfaction.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To review the literature pertaining to the effects of hormonal and surgical treatment on psychosexual functioning and quality of life (QoL) in individuals with micropenis who were raised male.
  
  
  METHODS
  Long-term psychosexual and QoL outcomes after hormonal and surgical treatment, including phalloplasty.
  
  
  METHODS
  PubMed search for relevant publications (1955-2012) on the role of hormonal and surgical treatment in sexual QoL in adult men with micropenis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multiple variations in the etiology of micropenis make it difficult to draw firm conclusions that fit all of the patients within this disparate population. However, the literature review supports the conclusions that (i) male gender assignment is preferable for most 46,XY infants with congenital micropenis because of the likelihood of male gender development and genitosexual function; (ii) small penis size persisting into adulthood and dissatisfaction with genital appearance jeopardize sexual QoL; (iii) there is no known intervention, apart from phalloplasty, to guarantee that the penis will become normal in size; (iv) early data suggest that the phalloplasty technique considered the gold standard for gender reassignment in the transgender population can also be transferred to 46,XY patients with micropenis; (v) psychological support should be an integral part of management in order to alleviate the distress and impairment of QoL experienced by these individuals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further publication of series with large numbers and longer follow-up is needed. Specific outcome kits should be designed to measure more precisely patients' degrees of satisfaction with cosmetic, anatomical, and functional variables. Only if health-care professionals fully appreciate the impact of this condition can optimal care be provided.
authors: Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Ghent University and University Hospital Ghent, Ghent, Belgium.
authors: Nina
authors: N
authors: Callens
authors: Griet
authors: G
authors: De Cuypere
authors: Eline
authors: E
authors: Van Hoecke
authors: Guy
authors: G
authors: T'sjoen
authors: Stan
authors: S
authors: Monstrey
authors: Martine
authors: M
authors: Cools
authors: Piet
authors: P
authors: Hoebeke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005832:Genital Diseases, Male / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010413:Penis / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery; D011788:Quality of Life; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D046468:Sexual Development; D013739:Testosterone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013521:Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone
keywords: Disorder of Sex Development; Hormonal Treatment; Male Genitoplasty; Micropenis; Phalloplasty; Quality of Life; Reconstructive Penile Surgery; Review; Sexuality