Triphallia, an extremely rare birth defect, affects approximately one in 5 to 6 million men. This malformation is characterized by the presence of three penises, whether it is a partial or total duplication.
An astonishing find was made during an autopsy at the University of Birmingham in United Kingdom. A 78-year-old man, who died and donated his body to science, hid an anatomical secret: he also possessed three penises. The two additional, smaller genitalia were located inside the scrotum. THE penis The main one was 77mm long and 24mm wide, while the other two were about half that size.
In 2020, an Iraqi infant was born with three penises. This case, unique in its kind, was documented in the scientific journal International Journal of Surgery Case Reports. Doctors performed surgery to remove the two excess penises.
The mysteries of triphallia
Scientists are perplexed by this anomaly. How to explain this malformation? Several hypotheses are put forward: problems with cell migration during embryonic development, genetic anomalies or even hormonal fluctuations.
According to the researchers, this malformation results from a problem that occurred during embryonic development, particularly during the first trimester of pregnancy. Several theories are put forward, including anomalies in developmental genes, errors in cell migration or hormonal variations, particularly testosterone. The case of the septuagenarian showed that the urethra, which was initially supposed to form in one of the penis additional, finally migrated to the main penis after the failure of the development of the other two.
Health consequences?
While triphallia is a medical curiosity, it can also cause health problems. People with this malformation may suffer from recurrent urinary infections, erectile dysfunction or fertility problems. Researchers believe the urethra, the tube that carries urine and sperm, did not develop properly in the Brit’s case, which could explain some of the problems.
Triphallia remains a medical enigma. As the cases are extremely rare, it is difficult to study this anomaly in depth. However, advances in genetics and developmental biology could ultimately provide a better understanding of the mechanisms causing this malformation.
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