In a rare medical case, a baby boy has been born in Pakistan with two functioning penises but no anus.
This rare condition, known as diphallia, has been documented only about 100 times in medical literature, making this occurrence exceptionally unusual.
The boy, whose penises are both normal-shaped, was able to pass urine from both orifices, as reported by surgeons in Islamabad.
However, one penis was noted to be 1cm larger than the other. The medical team published this case in a medical journal, highlighting the uniqueness of the condition, according to MailOnline.
The boy was born after 36 weeks of pregnancy and was immediately taken to the Children’s Hospital at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences by his parents, who had no family history of birth defects.
Upon examination, doctors discovered that the baby had no anal opening and two well-formed penises, measuring 1.5cm and 2.5cm respectively.
Scans revealed that the infant had a single bladder attached to two urethras, allowing him to pass urine from both penises. To enable the baby to defecate, surgeons created an opening via a colonoscopy, diverting one end of his colon through an opening in the lower left side of his abdomen.
The surgical team monitored the baby for two days following the procedure before discharging him and arranging a follow-up appointment.
The chances of being born with diphallia are estimated to be one in six million, making this case particularly noteworthy. The first recorded instance of diphallia dates back to 1609.
In their report in the International Journal of Surgery Case Reports, the doctors mentioned that 1 percent of diphallia sufferers also have a defect affecting their anus or rectum.
However, it was not clarified if this child was the first-ever case combining these specific defects, despite the rarity suggested by their numbers.
The medical team did not provide a reason for leaving both penises intact. The exact cause of diphallia remains unknown, and there is no identified single risk factor.
The condition is thought to occur by chance during the development of genitalia in the womb. Diphallia can manifest as complete, where both penises are well-developed, or partial, where one penis is smaller or deformed.
