Topically applied testosterone and phallic growth. Its effects in male children with hypopituitarism and microphallus
E. Ben-Galim, R. E. Hillman and V. V. Weldon
Topical application of 5% testosterone cream for 21 days resulted in
enlargement of the penis to normal size for age in five boys with normal XY
karyotype who had microphallus and hypopituitarism. In four patients,
testosterone cream was applied locally to the penis and in one to an area
of skin in the right axilla. Serum testosterone values rose from infantile
levels before the start of therapy to normal adult male levels on the last
day of treatment. All patients were receiving human growth hormone at the
time of therapy with testosterone. No additional acceleration of linear
growth and no advance in osseous maturation occurred during or after
treatment. Application of testosterone locally for this brief period is a
safe, effective, and simple means of stimulating phallic growth. Our
findings suggest that topical testosterone causes penile growth
predominantly through its systemic action.
