Sweden: In an unusual and alarming medical case from Sweden, a 10-month-old baby girl began showing signs of genital masculinization after prolonged skin-to-skin contact with her father, who had been applying testosterone gel to his chest. The case has sparked serious concerns among medical professionals about the unintended risks of hormone therapy exposure within families.
The incident came to light after the girl's parents noticed an unusual change—her clitoris had become significantly enlarged, resembling a small penis. Medical evaluations revealed that the child had been repeatedly placed on her father’s bare chest, the same area where he applied testosterone gel as part of his treatment for hypogonadism—a condition marked by low testosterone levels that commonly affects older men.
Although the term "micropenis" was initially used in sensational headlines, doctors clarified that the girl had not developed male genitalia but had instead experienced virilisation, a condition in which female genitalia take on more masculine characteristics due to excess androgen exposure.
Doctors quickly identified the source of the hormonal imbalance and instructed the father to discontinue using the gel. Encouragingly, once the exposure stopped, the child’s genital changes began to reverse.
“This case shows just how powerful these hormone treatments can be—even small, indirect contact can have a profound effect,” said Professor Jovanna Dahlgren, a pediatric endocrinologist at Sahlgrenska University Hospital.
Professor Dahlgren also revealed that this is not an isolated case. She has encountered at least six similar incidents involving children exposed to hormone treatments via parental contact. In another case, a 10-year-old boy developed breast tissue after absorbing estrogen cream that his mother was using.
Medical professionals are now urging greater awareness around the handling and use of hormone-based medications in households, especially when young children are present.