title: Penile dimensions of newborns at obio cottage hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
abstract: Determination of normal reference values for penile dimension may prevent overdiagnosis of micropenis and hence reduce unnecessary investigation and parental anxiety. Only a few data exist on the subject in Nigeria.
  
  
  
  The study set out to document the stretched penile length (SPL) and penile diameter (PD) of male newborns in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
  
  
  
  Four hundred and eleven consecutively delivered male newborns were recruited for this study. SPL and PD were measured using the standard methods with a digital metal caliper. The mean values were determined and compared with other anthropometric parameters.
  
  
  
  The mean (standard deviation) SPL from this study was 3.17 ± 0.5 cm and mean PD was 1.07 ± 0.17 cm. There was no significant correlation of the SPL with any of the studied anthropometric parameters, but the PD showed weak positive correlation with estimated gestational age (r = 0.104,P= 0.036), birth weight (r = 0.169,P= 0.001), birth length (r = 0.139,P= 0.006), and head circumference (r = 0.111,P= 0.025). The PD increased significantly across the different weight categories. The third and tenth percentiles for the SPL were 2.3 cm and 2.5 cm.
  
  
  
  It is concluded that the mean SPL and PD of newborns in Port Harcourt are 3.17 cm and 1.07 cm, respectively. A PL of <2.3 cm should be taken as representing micropenis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun; Department of Paediatrics, Obio Cottage Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Jerome Boluwaji Elutayo
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Elusiyan
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Obio Cottage Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Foluke Grace
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Ojetayo
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, Shell Petroleum Development Company, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Akinwumi Oladapo
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Fajola
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005832:Genital Diseases, Male / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria; D010413:Penis / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D012016:Reference Values